Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-28
THE CARE OF GIRLS.
Dangers Of the Freedom Permitted
American Young Women.
Boston watchman.l

learned the vast number of persons
viewed the corpse to see if it was not
that of some near one who had dis
appeared. 1t brings to mind the words
of the chief of the Boston police.
who expressed the opinion that not
less than six or eight hundred women,
brought up in comparatively good
circumstances, are leading lives in or
near the city of such kind that they
prefer to hide from their families.
This is by no means the number Of
abandoned women, who constitute
much greater legion. 1t is the number
OF women whose families are not far
from the city, whose relatives are
respectable people, and who have still
sufficient sense of shame to 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 in America, but they come,
usually, from the lowest classes. ln
Europe poverty presses harder on the
poor than in this country. In Eu-
rope, also, there is a larger class of
men ready to tempt and destroy those
whose want or folly exposes them
to moral danger. But it may be
doubted that the number of women
who fall from families living in com
fort is greater there than here. 1t
may be doubted that a. case similar to
our Lynn mystery" should it 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
acquaintance with life and social sta
tistics of both continents.
In the education of the European
girl the chief emphasis is placed on
three things - absolute innocence.
habitual dependence and amiability of
temper. Her absolute innocence is
secured by the constant companion
ship of the mother, or of some elderly
woman employed for the purpose.
She is not permitted to place herself
Tor single moment in situation
where it would be possible for any one
to tempt her. The companionship of
which we speak is not made irksome {;
on the contrary, it is so pleasant, SO
friendly, so youthful in It's manner, so
sympathetic, that it is delightful.
While the girl is brought up in such
absolute innocence, she is not left
ignorant Of the duties she may be
called upon to perform as wife and
mother; on the contrary, she is care
fully Instructed concerning them. The
system Of companionship with the
mother, or with an elderly friend
whom she respects, must necessarily
create habit of dependence and def
erence. and a disposition in which
amiability is marked trait. The
rgldity Of the system, the care of the
plrents to carry it out during every
moment of the girls life, is quite sur
prising to the American who observes
it for the first time. The writer of
this was once, on Sunday morning,
laughingly refused permission to walk
to church in plain sight, with two
English girls, who were sisters, the
mother reminding him that it would
be an improper innovation. If any
one asks how such a system can exist
in the light of the nineteenth cen
tury, the mother would reply that the
light of the present century is its best
justification. Moreover, the young
man who wants wife demands one
OF whose innocence he has an absolute
guaranty, whose amiability is unques-
toned, and whose habit of Difference
is established, and the system is sup
ported by his preference for a wife
who has been brought up in the strict
est conformity to its condition.
The wealthier 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 Nor could we
follow it in all its features. Yet we
have no question that a 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
girl brought up under it would be a
weak and aimless creature, insipid,
characterless. But the French wife.
on the contrary, is proyerbially active
and capable, NOR does the English
wife lack charm. The common idea
that at marriage the French woman
leaps from her innocence into life of
doubtful proprlety, is true only of
those whose homes are in Paris board
ing houses, and whose husbands have
learned the vices of the capital.
Those who have formed an extern
sive European acquaintance do not
find that the system of educating girls
| is Objectionable; on the contrary,
there is a growing appreciation of it
among Americans who have examined
it thoroughly. And when we think
bow many of our girls will be permit
Ted this week to take long walks or
rides in this country with gentlemen
who are not relatives, bog many,when
hey return from the country, will 10
the theater in the same manner,
Nv many will be sent into the parlor
one TO eptcrtain the gentleman caller;
SOW many next winter will 90 in
groups, with as many young men, to
drive in sleighs at night, and, perhaps,
to a!i0ht at some hotel TO warm them
selves and pa17.tske Of some refresh
ments before returning, we cannot
iorbear' shudder All these things
arc considered a part of the independ-
ence which properly belongs to a girl.
We dissent emphatically No mother
should indulge her daughters in such
Independence. No girl should desire
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