Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/196

 character. It was strictly prohibited to print in the common character any reading of a kind unsuitable for unripe minds. Short of this, there was complete liberty of printing.

On one occasion, when conversing with Utis on this matter of unsuitable literature, I heard him express himself with the utmost indignation in regard to our carelessness about a matter concerning the highest interests. both of state and family. He could not, indeed, find words strong. enough to utter his amazement at the cynical indifference of our legislators in regard to what the prejudices of his education taught him to look upon as one of the most abominable of crimes,—the pollution of the mind of youth by means of printed filth.

"A little more than two thousand years before your time," he went on, the people of a certain great city were accustomed to sacrifice their children to an idol. What was the opinion of your period regarding this?"

"It was regarded by all that ever heard of it as an abomination, a wickedness almost inconceivable," my reply.

"Yet, in my opinion," said Utis, "their conduct was noble and humane in comparison with that of your contemporaries. In their blind way, these people, whom you so abhorred, were doing their duty as they understood it, while yours shamefully neglected theirs.

"There is a certain tragic grandeur in the idea of a father giving up his best beloved, perhaps his only child, to perish in fiery torments, in order to insure the safety of the commonwealth. We pity, we almost admire, even while we condemn. The fathers of your times I cannot