What the hookworm is to the unfortunate troubled by this parasite, the air in the top of the cheap theaters is to the boy and youth. It is worse than the hookworm, for along with the foul air he takes into his system go the fouler suggestions of the stage.
Every evil suggestion, spoken or acted, works great harm to your brain-tools. I do not intend to say anything to you about the moral side of evil――that is the Sunday School side――and I want you to get this fact well in your minds. I am trying to tell you what are the many causes for not getting along, as well as about those conditions of brain that will put you toward success. To do so I have to warn you about evil suggestions and companions. The moral side of your life will be taken care of if you avoid all those conditions which go to make a weak brain and body.
If the girls who frequent the PUBLIC dance halls were your equals, if they were fit to be your future wives, I should have no objections to your going there――provided the ventilation was of the best. But you all know in your hearts that you would not want your sister to go to these PUBLIC dance halls, and that a mother who brought up her daughters in the right way would not allow them to frequent such places and associate with strange men and youths. There are a large number of girls who frequent these places unknown to their mothers, others lie to their mothers about these matters. Now, you can put this down as a fact, a girl who will lie to her mother and disobey her will do the same to you if she becomes your wife.
You know all this, I dare say, but I want it deeply stamped upon your mind by one who has had a large experience with these kinds of girls and women. They are not wholly to blame, but we will not go into this subject here.
Now if this is the solid truth, do you not see that in these associations you are bound to see and hear things which fill your mind with thoughts and ideas which do not help your mental growth; more, they injure it. It is the same fact over again――the brain is a sensitive photographic film.
When you go to dances see that the hall you go to is well ventilated, that no smoking or drinking is allowed and that those you dance with are girls you can introduce to your mother and sisters. For dances and fun you should have, but see that they are of the sort that the next morning when you take up your work nothing evil enters your mind, that remorse and shame do not crowd out the teaching of yesterday and that you feel more ambitious to work to-day than the day before. If this state of mind is held day by day, you are certain to achieve success. If the contrary state of mind takes hold of you there is a going backwards, and kept up, this state means FAILURE.