The Portland daily press., 1881-09-06
TEIEi PRESS.
The Truth of the Cramer Case.

Kew London Ielegran.l
Tho sad ,ate of Jennie Cramer presents
warning not only to ''poor little fools" who are
TAINTED as she was TO cast aside those en-
treachments Of modesty and pure mindedness
which are the only safeguards of womanly viz
tue, but to parents who have sons and daugn-
tiers exposed TO like temptations and to similar
influences No doubt to the father and moth
er OF the poor girl the manner of whose death
is still unsolved, the discovery. made upon the
sands at West Haven was a shock as startling
and unexpected as it was to the general puohc
who saw in the tragedy only another "unfortu-
nate gone to her death" under peculiarly as
stressing circumstances. Parents are proVerp-
iably blind 20 the faults of their children, ana
doubtless the Craners never dreamed OF the
oonseouences toward which their indulgence
and lack of restraint were tending, and the
friend who would have cautioned them about
the fsnake in the grass would have been re-
pulsed with contempt and not unlikely with
anger. Had he ventured to suggest the impro-
priety OF young and pretty girls going unat-
tended with such questionable company as the
Malleys for an evening drive to Savin Rock,
dining there and returning after midnight I'M
questioned to her home, ho would have called
forth an indignant remonstrance for suggesting
a possibility which must reflect either upon
the virtue of their daughter or their own lax
discipline. The fact that the girl was able to
satisfy their questoniDgs with such stories as
are commonly contrived to aliay the suspicious
OF anxi0ns parents, in no degree lessons their
responsibility for her DEATH The first wrong
step was taken before that evening at west
Haven when the girl lost her virtue and her
lie. 1t began in the lack OF home training, OF
motheriy counsel and parental restraint Whicn
alone makes possible an end ike DerS. IL
crew with that carelessness which suffered her
10 spend evening after evening away from
home in society of her own inexperienced
choosing, and it eliminates in what, but Tor a
gracious providence, such course must always
eliminate in. There is no assurance OF virtue
in any ones child. Birth, station, ercum-
stances, social ties are only comparative re-
straints, even when supplemented and fortited
BY CAREFUL home training and example; Dut
when the untried character is left to meet
temptation without any such supports and pro-
tecting influences, the result can be foretold
with a sadly certain accuracy. The story OF
Jennie Cramer's life differs not whit except
for It's tragic ending, from the story
of thousands of ether young girls
as attractive and progressing as she
was, being written nightly in every city OF the
land, story familiar TO every one who cares
to study the faces of the girls and young won-
on who throng the sidewalks OF any consldera-
bic town to late evening. The faces of these
young girls need to be seen bat few times
upon the street before the story begins to de-
velop to the mind OF the observer. The clear,
frank, modest look is transformed into per-
sisient, impudent stare the soft curves about
she mouth and eye harden into lines that can
never be mistaken for innocence, and the
blush which has been laid aside with short
dresses give place to mock modesty more
CHASTITY than brazen vice 1t is no exaggerated
picture this. Here in New London there are
scores of young Jennie Cramners, whose hab-
It's and haunts are as familiar TO the police, to
the street loungers or to those whose business
OF pleasure calls them up town in the evening,
as hers were TO the habitues of Hills, and per-
haps as unsupported by their parents. Not
long ago the chief of police said TO a gentleman
whose attention had been called to this mat
ter: Why, sir, you would be surprised to
learn the number of young girls in this city
who are no better than professional street
walkers. My men and / could tell good
many people in New London who pride them
selves ON their daughters some stories that
would startle them, but we wouldn't be be.
lieved, and would only get insulted for our
pains. 81 have myself" continued the Chief.
within the past two months warned three
young girls, the Oldest of whom was hardly 10
years, that If l caught them walking the
streets again at such an hour and with such
companions, would take them home to their
fathers and mothers and tell the whole story
The hour was nearly midnight, and the girls
companions were sailors from the Minnesota.
These were the daughters of respectable peo-
Pile, who would, as the captain said, have in
suited him for his pains had he told what he
had seen.