p. 24 | Unwholesome Reading

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 18, 1913

Unwholesome Reading

The gruesome and sickening details of crime and scandal published continually in the daily newspapers certainly afford anything but profitable reading. A few years ago all the revolting details of the crime of Harry K. Thaw in the murder of Stanford White in New York City were paraded before the public. The secret and shameful life of himself and his wife was laid bare. It is to be regretted that the public must again be treated to continued chapters in the experience of this unfortunate man. Whether he is responsible or irresponsible for his crime, whether he should have paid the penalty in the electric chair or have been sent as he was to an asylum for the insane, is not the point. In either case the minds of our youth and children would be a thousand times better off without having brought before them continually this, and records of similar experiences.

The parent who feels that he can place with impunity the daily newspaper in the hands of his children, and allow them to peruse it at will, seriously mistakes the character of the reading and the influence it will have upon their minds. We are deeply indebted to the daily newspaper for much in the way of valuable information. We need, however, to exercise discrimination in the time which shall be devoted to the reading of that which is worth while and that which is positively demoralizing in its tendency. Particularly do we need to safeguard the easily molded minds of the youth with respect to this matter.