The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-09-26
PROTECT THE GIRLS.
Perils of Sitting on the Lap of
Bow-Legged Men.

There is a case coming up before a
Chicago court that will be of great in
terest to thousands of people who have
long desired decision on some of
the points that will be developed. 1t
seems that a young man, member of
one Of the Chicago clubs, gentleman
of wealth and refinement is to be
sued by the father of young woman
for $50, 900 damages for injuries that
his daughter received while in his
society. The young people had been
keeping company for some years, and
the carriage Of the young man was
often seen in front OF the Michigan
avenue residence of the lady. Last
December he ceased visiting her, and
since that time she has been an inva-
lid. and has been treated for a spinal
difficulty. and the father will 60 into
the courts, it is said against his daugh-
ter's wish, to have the matter of re-
sponsibilty settled. 1t seems that the
young man is bow-legged, 50 much so,
that it has always been considered
dangerous for any one to sit on his
lap, for fear they would fall through
on the floor and break some bones. 1t
is said that the young man knows his
failing, aud that he usually holds any
person who may he IN his lap, with
his arms, SD that there is no danger Of
their falling through, but that in this
case he forgot the danger, and let the
girl slip. The father claims that the
young man, knowing how fearfully
and wonderfully he is made. should
have adopted some precautions. and
in his complaint he will swear that OIL
several occasions he has warned the
Young man that he should place a
board across his lap, or some day his
parentbesis legs would let somebody
through. In answer to the complaint
the Young man will say that his legs
are Just rs nature made them. and
that anybody who sits in his lap takes
their chances. He adds that if the
girl had used precautiOn that one in
so dangerous a position should use,
and thrown her arms around bis neck,
as others have done, there need have
/ cen no danger. aud while he sympa-
thizes deeply with her and her family,
owing to the alleged injury, he cannot
consider himself responsible. Of
course there are two sides to every
question, and both sides will have
sympathizers-
While we do not wish to take sides
on this question, there are some things
connected with it that it seems a duty
of the pious press to agitate. The
country is full of bow-legged young
men, going about seeking whom they
may hold in their laps, and the wonder
is that more such accidents do not &C.
cur. There should be some law to
protect girls from bow-legged men.
We throw safeguards around our trap
eze performers by compelling the man.
ayers to place nets under them, and
why should we not provide by law
that the bow-legged young man should
string q hammock under his boone
rang legs. to catch those who may
lose their spring balance. turn a sum-
mersault and fall in the winter of their
discomfort. 1t would net he pleasant
to the bow-legged young man to be
compelled to carry hammock when
he went to see his girl, but it would
be safer for the girl. We have known
a careful young man, who was bow
legged. t" lay a press board. or a
chess board, or sewing machine leaf
across his lap before he would let a
girl sit down amongst him; but where
one young man is thus careful, there
are hundreds who never think Of the
other hearts that are liable to ache.
Inventors have studied in vain on q
device for protecting people from the
dangers of bow-legs, and doctors who
strsighten cross-eyes have tried to
straighten bow-legs, but nothing seems
to avail. Hundreds of girls and WON.
en- as they read this will shudder at
the narrow escapes they have had from
falling through man-traps. and they
will unite with US in the hope that the |!
law will protect them. o, of course.
there are some who would never fall
through, though the legs were bowed
twice as much as they are. but many |
are so careless they are never safe
Burlington Hawkeye.
The Boy at Communion Service.
chat Sile Difenderfer won't be
very apt to take his kid to church |
very soon again" observed Spuggle-