The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-16
THE CARE OF GIRLS.
Dangers OF the Freedom Pernl ted
American Young Women

Hhk CAKE OF GIRLS
Dangers OF the Freedom Perml ted
American Young Women.
The solution OF what was known for
months as ''the Lynn mystery" by the
arrest of the criminals, has revived the
painful interest taken in the communi-
~ IN thst painful case. l, recalls the
surprise with which we learned the vast
number OF persons who viewed the
corpse TO see If it was not that Of some
dear one who had disappeared. Il
brings to mind the words of the chief
OF the Boston police, who expires ,ed
the opinion that not less than GOO or
500 women, brought up in Compare
lively good circumstances, are leading
lives in or near the city of such a kind
that they prefer to hide from their
families. This Is by no means the
number .of abandoned women WHO
constitute much greater legion. II is
the number of women whose families
are not far fIom the city, whose rela-
tives are respectable people, aud who
have still sufficient sense of shame &
desire to be unknown to their parents
and brothers and sisters. The number
OF women who lead lives of shame is
greater in Europe than America, but
they come usually from the low classes.
10 Europe poverty presses harder on the
po II than in this country. In Europe,
also, there is larger class of men
ready to tem9t and desroyt those whose
fully exposes them To moral danger
But it may be doubted that the num-
Der of women who fall from families
living in comfort is greater there than
here. Ii may be doubted that class
similar to our "Lynn mystery" should
il occur near Liverpool or Lyons, would
call forth Inquiries for missing women
from SO many households of comfort.
And our opinion is based on some ac-
quaintance with life and scclal statis-
tics of both continents. In the educa-
ton of the European girl the chief en-
phasis Is placed on three thines-abso-
Lutte innocence, habitual dependence,
and amiability of temper. Her abso-
lutte innocence is secured 10y the con-
stant compaDionship of the IN ther, or of
some elder.v woman employed for the
purpose. She is not permitted to place
herself for a single moment IN situa-
ton where 1t would be possible for any
one to tempt her. The companionship
Of which we speak is not made irk-
some; on the contrary, it is so pleasant,
so friendly, 30 youthful in It's manner,
so sympathetic, that it is delightful.
While the girl is brought sp in such
absolute innocence she is not ignorant
of the duties she may he called upon to
perform as wife ard mother; on the
contrary, she is carefully instructed
concerning them. The System of COM
panionship with the mother, or with an
elderly friend whom she respects, must
necessarily create habit of depend
ence and Difference, and disposition
to which amiability is q marked trait.
The rigidity of the system, the care of
the parents TO carry it cut during every
moment of the girls life, is quite sur
prising to the American who observes
1t fer the first time. The writer of this
was once, on Sunday morning, laugh
ingly refused permission to walk to q
church in plain sight with two English
girls, who were sisters, the mother re-
minding HIM that it would be improper
innovation. II eny ona asks how such
system can exist in the light of the
nIne.eenih century, the mother would
reply that the light of the present CEN
,ury Is the best justification. More
over, the young VINO wants wife de-
m4nds one of whose Innocence he ha 8
absolute guarantee, whose am ability
is unquestioned, and whose habit of
Difference 1: established, and the system
is supported by his preference for a
wife who has been brought up in the
strictest conformity TO its conditions.
The weslthier families in America, we
are told, are beginning to adopt it in a
modified form. How different our
care of girls has been, everybody
knows. The European plan is regard
ed with the utmost scorn by the large
majority of our people. NJr could we
follow it in all its features. Yet we
have no question that part of it
might be transplanted to American
society with great advantage. Our
methods have certain tendencies that
we fear. The European system does
not work i'll. We might suppose that
a girl brought up under It would be a
weak and aimless creature, insipid,
charact srless. But the French wife,
on the contrary, is proverb;ally active
and capable /; nor does the i iglish wife
lack charms. The cou.mon idea that
at marriage the French woman leaps
from her innocence into life of doubt
full propriety, is true only of those
whose homes are in Paris boarding
houses, and whose husbands have
learned the vices of the capital. Those
who have formed hn extensive Euro
peau acquaintance do not find that the
system of educating girls is objection
abe; on the contrary, there is grow
ing appreciation of it among Ameri-
cans who have examined it thoroughly.
And when we think how many OF our
girls will be permitted this week to
take long walks or rides in the country
with gentlemen who are not rela-
tives, now many, when they return
from the country, will go TO the thea
ter in the same manner; how many
will be sent into the parlor alona to
entertain the gentleman caller; how
many next winter will ..go in groups,
with as many j,lly SouDg men, to
drive in sleighs until late at night,
and, perhaps, to alight at some hotel
to warm themselves and partake Of
some refreshments before returning
We cannot forbear shudder. All these
things are considered a part of the
independence which properly belongs
tn a gtrl. We di.sent empbat-
ically. No mother should indulge her
daughters in such inds pendeuce. No
girl should desire it. The chief care
in thSDeducation OF a girl should be
the development of character, proof
against tempt,tion and vice; but al
least secondary interest should be
IL : kaza- N az .eEpsl a,,akdsssd rest raiats
In the effort TO fortily the chaTscEeF dF
her daughter, the American mother
excels. and il she has paid too little at
tention to other things, her good sense
will lead her tn confess hsr fault and
TO amend her methods, when she Is
convinced Of the dangers to be avoided.
Ths sehaol ofQ uIaey. N sssnehu etts
There are seme Like it ln Tei as.