The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-16
FALLEN WOMEN.

ern paper several days since, found an
article entitled "Fallen Women" and
giving a description of the traps and
snares set by them to lure and lead
away "virtuous young men," land I
suppose "virtuous' old men, also,) and
they are very sure to be entrapped.
Now, do not wish to find fault with |
the very good advice given to the fallen
women and frail daughters, but as there
is never an effect without a cause, let US
look into the matter a little. In the |
first place, what is a fallen woman ?
The answer is easily given; 'tis a wom-
an that is lost to virtue, that makes it
the aim of her life to lead and lure away
"virtnous" men, young or old. But
stay; there must be a cause for any
woman making a life business of such
things as these. Did not some "virtu-
ous'' man, young or old, "lead and lure''
her away in the first place? Did not
some man come to her, and by VOWS of
eternal love and promises of marriage,
"lead and lure" her from virtue, and
then in her hour of greatest need desert
her, and perhaps be the first to point
the finger of scorn and call the atten-
ton of the world to her faults and fail
ings? In ninety-nine cases out of one
hundred this is the case, and just as
long as the seducer of young girls and
the defamer of women is tolerated in
society, invited to pass social evening
in our most respectable homes, permit
ted to escort our daughters and sisters
to places of entertainment, and treated
In a way that only "virtuous" men
should be, the ranks of fallen women;
will grow larger and larger until there
will be no remedy.
Let US suppose case. A young girl
of respectable parentage, well educated,
beautiful, refined, the idol of her home,
beloved by large circle of acquaint-
ances, an ornament to society, perfect
woman everywhere. Her beauty, grace,
and innocence attracts the attention OF
young gentleman, one she has known
from childhood, perhaps a schoolmate,
and well received in the best society,
4 and considered by all her friends to be
a "model young man." At first she re-
ceives him kindly, without a thought
Il of love; soon she listens eagerly fol
> his footsteps; the sound of his voice
y thrills and sets her pulses throbbing
l. with unwonted quickness; she listen:
: tremblingly and happily to his word.
IL of love, his vows of eternal truth ant
! fidelity, his promises of speedy mar
u riage. Slowly, but surely, he winds hi
u tolls around her, "lures and leads" he
70 on, until trusting his love and believin!
u his promises, she falls. The weeks ant
u months pass on. With tears of agony
y she begs of him to fulfil his promises
:, to make her his wife before the worl
brands her with shame; but instead c
fulfilling his promises and shielding he
- from shame and disgrace, he leaves hel
. coolly informing her that "when h
=. marries he wants Uirtuous woman fo
- his WIFE" "a fitting mate for virtu
y GUS woman.) Soon the world know
- all; turned out of doors by her fathe
and mother, cursed by her brothers an
'0 sisters, Stunned by all her acquaint
ances, unable to provide for herself an
Vi child, what can she do? If she apple
Vi to an old acquaintance for employment
b the dainty lady only draws her robe
~ closer about her, puts on the air of
- am holier than thou" tells her there
~ so much sin, misery, and trouble in th
- world that she don't know what it
:, coming to; that she might have know
better; she ought to suffer, she can
II, give her employment, and hopes 81
- may reform. Day after day the broker
hearted girl tries in vain to find hon
- for herself and babe, no kind hand
-, stretched forth to save, no friendly do
~ open to receive her. The effect is "fs
n len woman
m But how fares it with the man who
the cause of all this that has added Of
more to the ranks of "fallen women
Is he turned out of doors, cursed, al
Stunned, thrown out of employmeI
4, banished from society, and considered
., '"0 blot upon the fair face of the eartf
- All! no, the world goes very we'll wi
IS him; society pats him on the back al
says: "a man will be q man, y,
.'o know" lie is ''only sowing his wi
OATS" '"tisn't his fault at all, gil
i'0 oughtn't to be such FOOLS" etc., e
-" ~ The dainty lady that refused to empl
~ .T'o his victim, invites him to her houl
.no 1 cordially welcomes him, introduces hi
iu to her daughters and her young la
friends with, "He's little rogueis
~ u but a nice young man, Think" a
gives him chance to add another
'oO the list of "fallen women" Now, il
as long as these "nice" young men &
' s petted, eourted, or even tolerated in
~ ~ ciety by mothers, daughters, and siste
Just so long the ranks of "fallen wo
en-" will be extended. The only way
'' to treat seducer and sedueed alike, or
ecu least, treat the weak, frail girl w
GA kindness, take her by the hand, let
., know she has friends yet, speak kinC
w 'ne and gently to her, give her chance
live, and there are but few that will I