The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-24
Social Responsibility of Women.

Young men are only too willing to
push upon young ladies a great respon-
sibility for the gentlemen's conduct,
and am inclined to believe that girls
do not generally realize how great this
responsibility is.
OF course young men owe just as great
duty TO girls, as girls do to them. But
AS society is very lax i'm regard to young
mems duties, we will not look at that
view Of the question for the present, but
look only at the one presented so often
to US by the sympathy-requiring yoang
men.
Ever since civilization began, there
has been theory that woman was the
chief instrument of civilization, and
this / viii not dispute. There is also
another, and that il is woman's duty TO
reform any refractory man belonging to
the family, or even those outside of it,
If they are her acquaintance. This I
also accept / only differ from the ad-
Vocates of this theory in regard to the
mode OF reformation.
Young women do not blush 10 be
seen in company with young men who
are acknowledged to be Every hard
cases." because their influence is so
good. They fondly believe that these
same young men dOte upon what they
say and try 10 follow the advice given
them. But as soon as they have de-
parted, these young men laugh ut the
advice, and ridicule the faith of "the
trusting little fools"
OF course, almost any young man will
be pleased to have the confidence and
trust Of the girls Of his acquaintance, if
for nothing more than TO tell of it.
Kindness will sometimes effect more
than anything else. But there is a class
q IL. i
wasted, because they are already spoiled
with too much indulgence. If woman
can in any way help brother in So
ciety, that is evidently her duty, and
woe be unto her who shall place q
stumbling-block in his path!
But II Is always well TO remember
that if man has not manhood enough
to keep him out of the mire, it is fiat
terry to believe that he will do so for any
woman.
If a young man is only pleasant,
dresses well, and can talk decently for
q few moments, society will wink at his
faults and pronounce him a good fel-
Iowa little wild, maybe, but he'll
settle down all right" But one cannot
undo a wrong committed. Sowing wild
oats is dangerous proceeding. Could
We follow all the sewers through their
lives, We should see sorrow and shame
resulting late in life, from their youth
ful excesses. When the seeds Of moral
and physical disease are sown, they
grow rapidly, and fearfully do they
ripen. Many 4 man, grown wise by
painful experiences, regrets bitterly his
foIlies in early life.
Society does a great wrong in encour-
aging this crime. Girls, in treating
dissipated young men as EQUALS. do a
wrong that they can scarcely realize.
Such men should be made to feel that
until they redeem themselves, until
they walk with eOrrectnes and honor in
the path OF right, good people will
stand aloOf from them. Girls who re-
spect themselves will not be seen with
such young men, and will decline to re-
eeive them on the familiar footing of
friendship. IL is a mistaken Kindness
TO poultlce when caustic is needed, and
am inclined TO think that a little
sharp decision on the part of the girls of
to-day, would 60 far TO correct the gem
eraI looseness Of the morality among
young men.
Our responsibility as women is first
Tor ourselves; our duty TO young men
does not require us TO associate with
those OF immoral character, or who are
"a little fast" Our first dutyis TO select
companions who will do us good and
improve MS, while we are trying 10 help
Others IN the same manner.
ii young men once find out that So
ciety Will ostracise them for their trans
gressions, they will find less pleasure in
violating the laws Of health, morality
anu ddecency.-4UgUSfts .SlOcltHi IN Hon-
ans Journal.