It is customary to remark that modern problems cannot easily be attacked because they are so complex. In many cases I believe it is really because they are so simple. Nobody would believe in such simplicity¹ of scoundrelism even if it were pointed² out. People would say that the truth was a charge of mere³ melodramatic villainy; forgetting that nearly all villains⁴ really are melodramatic. Thus, for instance, we say that some good measures are frustrated⁵ or some bad officials kept in power by the press and confusion of public business; whereas very often the reason is simple healthy human bribery⁶. And thus especially we say that the Yellow Press is exaggerative, over-emotional, illiterate⁷, and anarchical, and a hundred other long words; whereas the only objection to it is that it tells lies. We waste our fine intellects in finding exquisite⁸ phraseology to fit a man, when in a well-ordered society we ought to be finding handcuffs to fit him.

This criticism of the modern type of righteous indignation must have come into many people's minds, I think, in reading Dr. Horton's eloquent⁹ expressions of disgust at the "corrupt¹⁰ Press," especially in connection with the Limerick craze. Upon the Limerick craze itself, I fear Dr. Horton will not have much effect; such fads¹¹ perish before one has had time to kill them. But Dr. Horton's protest may really do good if it enables us to come to some clear understanding about what is really wrong with the popular Press, and which means it might be useful and which

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