The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-04
THE PROTECTED SEX

One day last week a young girl Of
good address and comfortably attired
presented herself at the Helpers Home
on Columbia street and asked admis-
sion, saying she was penniless, among
strangers aud sick. The kindly matron
at once OWNED the situation aud or
dered her % report 10 the President Of
the society. This was done, and a cat
was chartered in hot haste to drive the
poor unfortunate TO the hospital where,
~ short time, her babe was born.
The account she gives of herself is
the old, old story. She bad loved, not
wisely, but too we'll; and the man who,
under pledge Of marriage, wrought heI
ruin, had failed to ratify his part Of a
most solemn obligation, despite the fact
that the seal of paternity had affirmed
The contract.
The man who thus stultifies his self
hood by denying protection, respect,
sustenance, aud eOuntenanee to bis
child aud its mother should be entitled
TO- aud compelled to receive far greater
punishment and far greater infamy than
The midnight assassin.
We have no word Of apology for the
injured aud suffering girl. All expert
enee should teach such that there is no
protection for them where virtue fails;
but, alas, for the psychological power OF
mans unholy desire over woman's un-
selfish afiec.ionl The old, old story il
repeated for aye, and the betrayer OF
love and innocence goes forth free and
honored, while his victim bows her
head in suffering and sorrow, aud il
left to struggle unaided to support the
child Of the worse than monster who
forswears allegiance to his own of
spring.
After few weeks lying-in at the hos
pital, an institution that proves man to
be far more merciful in the aggregate
than individually, this young girl will
90 forth penniless and child-burdened
TO life's rugged battle. Who will give
her employment? Where will this spec
linen Of the protected sex fiud shelter
for herself aud babe?
Thank heaven there is a Home for
homeless infants in the city, and a tenn
porary asylum for destitute working
girls-respectable, only, at the Helpers
Home above named. But there is no
retreat for this wronged and ruined
girl, where she can be welcomed back
10 social life aud honorable work with
the welcome plaudit, "Thy sins be for
given thee; come, and sin no more"
Nonder goes the blear-eyed strange
woman, with bedizened array and
shameless features. Women shun hel
as they would viper Men make hel
the victim Of their witless jokes. The
church, to her, is as a sealed book. So.
ciety closes its doors upon her, and well
il might, for her very presence breathe.
a moral pestilence. Trace her history
back to the days OF her teens and you
will find a time when she, too, was low
able, loving, young and guiltless; when
her IOnu heart founded the basis Of a
judgment that only proved its own un-
doing. Like the young girl above cited,
she trusted, and was betrayed. Doors
We're thenceforth closed against her,
and she, in desperation, became the fell
destroyer, the dread avenger, from whose
presence mothers teach their daughters
TO turn in loathing. Cannot something
be done to save the comparatively in
nocent, though not less unfortunate
girl in question from fate like this?
Until women help to make the laws
they ca1Rd hope TO bring men to jus
ne in such cases, but they can give
shelter and employment to the unpro-
tected girl, who under the shadow of a
great shame is struggling, unaided, with
destiny.