MENTION IT NOT.

NZ Truth, Issue 245, 5 March 1910, Page 4

MENTION IT NOT.

Persecuted "Truth," "which has to bear the brunt of every Puritanic outburst, now stands amazed at its own moderation m the use of language employed m its policy of exposing social sores. This amazement Is called forth by the almost hysterical howls which appeared this week m Wellington's pure, if, puerile, daily, press, on the dread disease known to medical science as syphilis, following on the recent discussion about this hideous disorder at the Medical Conference. It can well be understood why such a travesty of a daily paper like the "N.Z. Times" would institute and invite discussions on ticklish subjects like the CD. Act' Anything of that description is read, and, if not understood, excites -curiosity, and, incidentally, helps to establish a" circulation. But when we find the editorial columns of "Granny Post" printing frank articles on the ravages of . syphilis, and almost flippantly referring to the harlot of the street— well, "Truth" is moved to cry, m an exceeding loud voice, "hear, hear." The "Post" ifl undertaking a duty that has been left to "Truth," which doesn't beat about the bush, but disregards Puritanic piffle, and tells the people of the eysls afflicting them. Why, such open discussions- spur.d like an era of sanity for New Zealand. But "syphilis !" The daily pagers' acquaintance with the word is slight. They generally disguise it as "a certain disease," "an unmentionable disoasc." Now we get it m all its hideousness. But what have the purists^to say to this strange journalistic frankness m calling a' thing by its right name ?