642 THE K I NG ' S BUS I NESS that which is vilest in man and woman, are utterly out of keeping with such a serious age as that in which we are living. The movies ought to go. The men and women engaged in this enormous business are needed in more important depart ments of life. While they amuse they also corrupt. They are beyond a question one of the most corrupting influences at work in human society today. They are making more wounds and deeper wounds in human morals than the saloon as fearful an agent of evil' as it is. The minds and the morals of more men and women and boys and girls, are corrupted and putrified by “ the movies” than by any other agency in the present day. They are wrecking homes and manufactur ing thieves, thugs, libertines and prostitutes. And they resent all attempts at control or censorship. They demand the right to let their painted and almost nude women roam at will in public places, on streets, in parks, to be seen by inno cent boys and girls whose parents have sense and decency enough to keep them from attending these vile shows. They have spoiled more than one place as a residence for a decent family by making that place their habitat. B enefits of the war War is a devilish thing, and the present war is the most devilish war in all history. The wrong and loss and misery that this war has wrought are beyond any possibility of computation; but by the grace of God good has come from the war in many ways. The war, for example, has caused a simplicity in the way of living on the part of the great mass of men and women that preachers and reformers have been urging for years without much success. God has compelled men by the stern hand of war to do what He has been pleading with them to do through His written Word and His faithful servants, but pleading in vain. Men would not heed the Word, so they have had to heed the rod. Many are complaining because they are compelled to use less sugar, but it is beyond a question good for them that thy cannot get the sugar. Almost every American boy and girl and woman and man consumes too much sugar for their own physical welfare. Sukar is an invaluable food, it is the great force food; but we need only a small amount of it and too much is exceedingly harmful. Too much sugar is the principal cause of Bright’s disease, diabetes, rheumatism and many other physical ills. Wheat is another food of great value. It is the most valuable of all cereal foods, but too much wheat taken in addition to other starch foods does much mischief in many ways. It is doubtful if any one ought to eat wheat bread, and potatoes and meat, all at the same meal. It is well for most of us that our wheat consumption has been curtailed. But these are minor benefits of the war. The war has transformed a multitude of loafers, rich loafers, and idle and worthless .sons of the millionaire class, and poor loafers, who rather beg than work, into industrious citizens, and it is likely very soon to accomplish far more along this line. It has taught thou sands of worthless females, mere “ society women,” that there is something more worth while for a woman to do than to parade their wealth by putting on costly apparel and priceless gowns and attend silly social functions. It has made women real women, loving ministers to the needs and sorrows and sufferings of others out of a host of creatures that before were mere human dolls. It has awakened the most dauntless courage and thorough going sacrifice of self in a multitude of men and women too, who we would never dream were capable of it. And it has
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