The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-21
A Step Towards Reform.

NAtAA may CAlN Ailal NOluEU nave less
charity for the s'fallen" of their own
sex, than for the coz apt and Iicentions
among men. Admitting this to be toe
true, as evinced in practice, if not In
sentiment, are not men the grayer
transgressOrs even here? More than
one gentleman has, in our presence.
lately drawn attention to the shameful
fact that the meanest libertines among
men, so they have wealth, have also in
fiuence, and are not only admitted TO
the best circles in society, but are looked
/ up to, fawned upon and their company
sought for by ladies, as well as gentle
men, of the best society. While wom-
an who has fled the paths of virtue. no
matter what the fatal cause may have
been or how pure-minded and innocent
she was known to be before she "feIl. -
! has lost her reputation, is Stunned and
/ looked down upon by ladies in position,
in many instances the very ones who
smile upon and flatter and admire those
who cOmpassed her ruin. But who first
bring these popular scoundrels into the
! presence of ladies in good sOciety2 Is it
not often the husband, father or brother
who introduces such n creature of
humanity to the family circle, and as a
friend of such, are not the members OF
the family bound to receive him with
courtesy? If the father invites him to
dinner, sh0Nld not the daughter accept
his invitation to attend the lecture
And if the brother considers him a
worthy companion to walk and ride
with, could the sister, in common civil
ity, refuse to dance with him? Yet
men in good standing in society, who
have any regard for their name, would
not be seen in company with "fallen"
woman, or allow their wives, daughters
to associate with her.
good story comes to us through pri-
vate sources, from one of the Eastern
cities, in reference to the injustice and
Inconsistency of men on these points;
which we give, rs il reaches us, while
Withholding names:
y well-tO-do gentleman, half mer-
chant and half farmer, with family of
five, including himself, his wife, clever
lady of Irish descent, while he is him
self an American, a son of fine intellect
and good education aud two brilliant
and witty daughters who are all grown
to maturity, gave ball and supper on
Christmas evening. In the afternoon,
before the guests began to arrive, the
younger gentleman of the house came
in with an intimate friend OF his with
whom his sisters had met before, and of
whom they had heard "hard" stories.
The brother informed his mother and
sisters that said "friendn would be one
of their guests that evening. OF course
they were pleased"-etiquette would
not admit of their being otherwise. As
soon as the gentlemen left, n private
consultation of 4. serious nature took
place among the ladies, which ended in
the elder Miss putting on cloak and
hood and taking a walk down around
the corner. When she returned, after
some little delay, she was not alone.
She and companion were met at the
side gate by her sister-father and
brother were in the front parlor. The
two sisters and their guest, for such was
the third person, proceeded through the
back kitchen up stairs. The guests were
beginning to arrive. In half an hour
the young ladies were ready to Join
their mother receptiOn-rOOm. Choosing
n moment when her son was beside her,
the two sisters approached their mother,
leading their shrinking yet beautiful
guest. With kind maternal smile the
matron extended her hand while the
young man turned away with Mortified
expression, eXclaiming, "POwers of
mercy" As soon as he could find n
chance, he questioned his mother and
sisters as to what in the world had in
dueed them to have that creature pres
ent. They told him she was there on
purpose to meet his "friend;" where
upon the young gentleman declared he
should show her not the slightest
respect. To this his sisters affirmed
that that knavish scamp of a friendp of
his should share the same ut their hands.
The appearance of the "ladyii guest. i'm
the ballroom created quite sensation.
but the ladies of the house paid her such
attention that their other guests could
not slight her And several "respectediI
gentlemen who were well known TO be
absolute in their habits, were severely
cut by the brave mother and daueh-
tiers when they observed in the father or
son any signs of insurrection. The cir
cumstance has been lesson to the
whole neighborhood, but most and best
of all, to the 'fallen" girl who was the
guest of the sisters, and who, our in
formant states, is entirely reclaimed.
The experiment was a serious if not a
dangerous one, and would not do for
many people to repeat, but it illustrates
the gross injustice of society in the
treatment Of men and women who NAV
have fallen into evil WAYS, and shows
clearly the necessity for reform begin
ming with the male members of families,
who should shun the male sinners with
equal horror to that with which they
expect their wives, sisters and daughters
to shun the female sinners WOmdn's
Exponent.