Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-24
Sex and Morals.
BY JOHN WILLIAMSON.

1t is generally admitted that the so.
cial position of the female population
is sure index to the civilization of a
community. The barbarian treats his
wife with no more respect than he does
his dog or his horse. Many of the half
civilized nations treat their women with
more respect, but think it unsafe to
trust them with an education. In
British India scarcely one respectable
woman in ten thousand can read or
write, or practice any of the accom-.
plishments that grace the ladies' of
Christian countries. Occasionally some
of the bad women in the cities, having
| no restraint and much curiosity, learn
to read. The men think that if wom-
an can read and write she will be sure
to have illicit correspondence with some
one.
AS we advance in civilization the
| women are better educated. In our
own country the public school system
makes no distinction in regard to sex,
and We find that the girls are able to
cope with the sterner sex in the acquire
ment of knowledge. Notwithstanding
all this there are but few that are will
ing that the sexes should be governed
by the same code of morals. Even the
ladies themselves think it allowable for
man to practice many things that they
would not be guilty of !; and most all
men habitualiy do those things that
they would not allow their wives to do.
Any man would feel disgraced to find
his wife " loating" in the store sucking
a tive.cent Havana. No one would re-
spect woman who would he guilty of
such conduct, but in men these things
are allowable. once heard lady say
that she never objected to her husband s
smoking because she thought that if he
did not smoke he might do worse, for,
she said, Every man must have some
bad habit"
! For a woman to nse rrofane language
disgraces her among all classes, but a
man can habitually take the name of
his Creator in vain and be respected.
The woman who commits adultery is
disgraced beyond all hope of recovery.
Even her more fortunate sisters look
upon her as being too vile for them to
recognize, and at the same time admit
her seducer to their society and treat
him with respect.
Does true morality require separate
code OF morals for each of the sexes
Does "The Good Book" say ,comen
shall not take the name of the Creator
in vain and allow the same in men Are
women commanded not to commit adul-
terry, and men allowed to follow the
dictates of their low passions? We
should not respect the woman who does
these things, but the man who is guilty
of the same sins should be equally con-
demned.
According to the true standard of
morals, sin is sin. The habit that dis
graces girl should not be followed by
her brother. If a man would feel dis
graced by his wife or sister or mother
loupging at the store smoking or chew
ing or hearing or relating vile anecdotes,
let him think if he is not disgracing
them when he does the very same
things.
We should strive to build up code
of morals that will require pure lives
of all, without regard to sex. The boys,
as we'll as the girls, should be taught to
avoid all habits that detile either mind
or body. Every young man should
strive to be as refined in his habits, as
chaste in his conversation, and as pure
in his thoughts as he wants his lady AS
sociates to be; and every young lady
should require this purity in her gen.
tlemen friends.-Ihe Household.