St. Landry democrat., 1879-12-27
Girls who do Not Work.
New Orleans Times.

And We approach the subject with
caution we'll knowing that it may cause
inflammation we'll knowing, if it do
cause inflammation, that the same will
be of the most unreasonable nature and
therefore more than commonly disa gree
able. sNeyertheless we approach it con-
vinced that some one should have said
these things long ago. We therefore
appear as votive offspring in the alb
sence OF a more willing or more avail
able sacrifice. And we say boldly and
fearlessly:
There is scarcity of female help in
families in this city. May be this fear
less thought has heretofore struck the
reader hereof stuck and lodged in the
middle of his Cor herr diaphram; lodged
reader, the sc0opful Of tears to have
mingled with thine, Let Us wipe the
slistening lashes and twang the loud
.catarrh; and proceed.
Per contra, there are numbers of young
girls whose parents are not able to sup
port or educate them who are not able
to support or educate themselves. They
exist on sutterance, surrounded by perils,
and feebly guarded against temptations
which lead many of them to ruin. Not
that their parents or friends are less
willing or less anxious to guard them
than are the parents and friends of the
more fortunate ones. But it is utterly
impossible for them, under the circum-
stances, to be guarded so effectively.
Their chief danger is their position Of
utter dependence without the means
to crafty their most modest aspirations.
There is no feeling known to humanity
more Aretched than that none that
leaves its victim so feebly guarded
against temptation. The alternative
may be hard to some, but it will be
blessed to many, if earnestly accepted
and used. 1t is for those girls to seek
service in respectable families. Domes-
tic service is nowhere SO Wretched and
inadequate as now in this city. Nowhere
would an Improvement in its quality be
more gratefully recognized or rewarded.
Thousands of those girls could easily
exchange their wretched and dangerous
ly idle existence for one Of usefulness
to Others and profit and protection to
themselves. Thousands of families
would be but too glad to get such help
and givein exchange comfortable homes,
good wages and efficient protection.
Good and efficient girls can earn wages
i'll this city, which, all things considered,
ti otetSi Citu Vic VI tIC CIdSC
laboling man throughout the world
she can live in greater comfort, eat bet
ter food, wear better clothes, enjoy
more privileges. Then why will she
persist in idleness which leads to want
and ruin ? Good homes and good wages
are offered all her class. The main
cause, We apprehend, is that cursed
notion of semi-barbarians that it is
to work. In their eyes,
dependence, miserable make-shifts,
frauds OF every name and style are pre-
ferable to the so-called disgrace Of earn
ing an honest living. They are barbar-
ians who think so; whether they live in
Zulu-land or in London or in New
Orleans. Earning an honest living by
honest labor is the solid rock on which
all real civilization and refinement stand.
Some thousands of young girls in New
Orleans can help themselves to good
homes and honest lives by resolving to
work for their living when they have
opportunity, and the opportunity is be-
fore them eyery day,