The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-11-11
RICHMOND,
rBE PURSUING AND THE PURSUED.

er. | was so young. God forgot me,
and | fell" Ofthese, great numbers
have been infamously betrayed. AT
an age when they we're utterly igno-
rant of the relations of the sexes, with
no foreshadowing Of the fatal conse-
quences of such an error. believing
and trusting, they have gone to their
doom. So unjust is public sentiment
in this regard, that the only. door
which is open to young girl, decelv-
ed and betrayed. is the deep-down,
dark door of he'll. "Who enters here
leaves hope behind" oftentimes she
fully comprehends, but feels that for
evermore hers are fateful feet. She
turns upon the world that has so cru
ely used her, and becomes its worst
enemy. Yet the world goes on. in
creastng the number of its deadliest
enemies, with sublime Indifference to
the awful hazard. The world is con-
tent with state of society wherein
the penalty Of sin, committed by men
and women alike, falls on women
alone, and falls SO grievously on her
that recovery is well-nigh impossible.
A man may have as many loves as he
has neckties, wear them as lightly,
change them as often, cast them aside
as easily at the last. Does it debar
him from any profession or occupa-
ton? No! Does it forbid his en-
trance into any society? No! Does
it interfere upon his choice OF wife!
No!
On the other hand,
IFA WOMAN CHANGE HER LOVERS
with her ribbons, what occupations
are open to her? None! What socie-
ty may she enter? None! What
choice of husband is possible to her?
None! If woman marries a man
who proves unworthy, what must she
do? She must be patient, bear with
him, and save him; it is her divinely
appointed work, she is told. So she
lays down her youth, her hopes, her
happiness, her life, if need be, in such
endeavor. If a man marries woman
who proves unworthy, what does he
do? He thrusts her forth from his
love and confidence, heaps Ossas and
Pelions of scorn upon her, regardless
| OF her blanching cheeks and paid
lips, proclaims her disgrace to the
| world-to the pitiless world-which
repeats the story so vociferously that,
turn she east or west, or north or
south, its echoes reach her affrighted
ears. If, hunted down, she turn, des
perate and defiant, like an animal at
bay, we call her brazcn, and many
another word our lips should never
utter we hurl as missile to beat and
bruise her. Is Daniel needed to
come to the judgment, that this sin
has no sexuality exclusively feminine?
ENDEAvoRs TO REFORM THIS CLASS OF
| WOMEN
are regarded by the world with great
| disfavor. SOME believe reform i'm
possible; many consider the work not
altogether respectable; most deem it
a work of supererogation. Philan-
thropists who undertake it meet with
almost as much contempt and con-
tumely as the outcasts themselves.
In the seat of the scornful there is no
unoccupied place when the mission
aries for this work pass by. Yet those
who have perseveringly labored in
this cause know that reform is always
possible-is generally secured if the
right course is pursued Positive
knowledge of results is obtained by
continuing in communication with
those believed to be safely started
anew in the world and observing
closely their manners of life If any
hold on them has been secured, they
earnestly desire the continuance OF
the kindness, protection and guidance
which they have learned to value and
appreciate. Labors in this field have
made clear the fact that generally
these women do not desire to reform
not because they prefer the wretched
: existence, whose wretchedness no one
of them fails to discover more quickly
than is generally supposed, but be-
cause they believe the undertaking
hopeless with our present social laws
In their better moments they long fo1
, release; seeing no way Of escape they
put away the good thoughts and con
T tinue their evil ways. Can you blame
them?
WHAT CAN THEY DO UNAIDED AND FRIEND
LEss2
, Sometimes one tries it, bravely tellin!
/ her history. Cold, averted look
, freeze her courage. repelling word
= drive away her hopes, and closed door
I shut out from her hollow eyes tn
| sight of happy homes, from her hun
/ cry heart all dreams of the possession
j. of such home by herself in the fu
!. ture. SO then she tries it concealin
l her history. She gets on little Will
). till some one recognizes her, and hast
ems to warn the people about her
I against her-when she is at once or
dered to move on, sometimes roughly
sometimes scornfully, sometimes gent
ly, sometimes pityingly, but she is al
f ways ordered to move on. And sh
O moves on, the burden of her histor
v falling on her over and over agair
r till at last crushed she crceps back t
|. the old haunts, fearless with despair
e The unjust sign of the world exact
; from her an endurance involving til
y possession on her part of Spartan firm
: ness and heroism, while the demora
+ izing circumstances of her life hav
o rendered her infirm of purpose, vaci
h lating and dependent. Few of us al
It brave to heroism, even when circun
d stances are not half so strong again:
j. us. Not only, therefore, 1t is necess;
y ry to animate them with desire |
= reform, but to
: ENCOURAGE THEM WITH THE ASSURANC
o that they shall be befriended and a.
} sisted in the undertaking. Never Gan
}, to promise this assistance until yo
y have power and strength sufficient |
J. give it through every vicissitude. II
4. withdrawal of hand that has bee
} extended to them undoes the labor ,
e years. 1t is mistake to suppose the
g destitute of human feeling. We mu
st give them no invitation publicly [
r, come among us which we retract pull
IS licly because they acceptit. We mu
l. not call them painted and perfdious
J, in the public prints, because, whe
le they come in answer to our Invitation