Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1913)

Behold the Fifth Estate, the Motion Picttire. With its birth a new era in world-wide education has been ushered in. The Fifth Estate speaks a universal tongue. Her alphabet is light, motion, color and form — all understood alike by peasant -and prince. For the emotions a-play in the features are peculiarly intelligible to the human mind. The Motion Picture appeals to the most important of the senses — sight. Landscapes, people and organic growth in foreign lands are not easily impressed upon us by scientific descriptions of such. But the name, connected to the visual image, is all that man requires to form a correct concept. This is the mission of the Motion Picture — to visualize phenomena, to true off false impressions and to elevate intelligence. Sight is the sense we exercise most. Any one can look. Our education depends on what we see to far greater degree than what we taste, smell, feel or hear. In fact these latter senses have been somewhat atrophied in modern man. No sense is thus belittled. All senses and the organs, tissues, bones and veins have justification under laws of evolution, else they would not exist ; but the radius of the sense of sight is far the widest. Definitions will not always do. Our mathematical text-*books, in recognition of this truth of visualization, are profusely illustrated. How easier it is to understand the geometrical expression of a parallelogram when accompanied by the drawing! The psychological resultant is that proper concepts go over into proper action. It is important to know this: that morality is not objective, but subjective; not from free volition, but from objective causes which produce subjective effects. Thus the evolution of man to higher planes of action will be superinduced by the objective lessons of the Motion Picture. The Fifth Estate will elevate by a philosophy of optimistic positivism, not pessimism. Augmented, as it may be, by the voice, the Fifth Estate merits an extension of its empire. On a recent visit to what the small boys call a "Nickel Theayter," in Chicago, "The Siege of Troy" was pictorially presented. It was shown in the heart of a Greek settlement, and the " Sons of King George ' ' manifested enthusiastic approval. Ever since, "The Siege of Troy" has been to us a "sure 'nuff happening," not a mere marginal reference. Likewise, the Urban Smith Kinemacolor films have indelibly stamped upon our consciousness the coronation of King George, with its wealth of color, soldiery and military maneuver. Comedy is enhanced by the new estate. The Motion Picture, by tricks of film Connection, is enabled to evoke hilarious laughter. Anything out of its proper place in Nature is comical. The new estate can produce effects that set at naught laws of motion, form, color, gravity and dimension. So here is a great university, teaching, in Nature's Esperanto, lessons in light to all the nations: Greek, Pole, Lithuanian, Scandinavian, Italian and Englishman. A miracle that outmiracles the "gift of tongues." What single influence else in civilization reaches so many variant classes ? Subtly it mingles pleasure with learning. Man grows by what he feeds on, intellectually as physically. He is a product of sun and soil, like the tree. He does not mould, but is moulded. All knowledge arrives thru the avenues of his five senses. This is the manna of his mind. Therein rests the responsibility of the Fifth Estate. By patronizing the Motion Picture we may all be globe-trotters : in India, Norway, Alaska or sea-isles. Ideas of beauty are an invigorating satisfaction to the mind. Toward this end labors the Fifth Estate. 127