Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-09-09
The Perils of Ignorance for the Young.

The parliamentary measure for amend.
ing the law in England so as to change
the age Of girls in that country from
thirteen to sixteen years for consent,
has caused great deal of discussion in
this country with regard to the adOp-
ton of similar measures for protecting
the purity of American girls against
brutality and libertinism. TIE age for
consent is too low IN all or nearly all
the States in this country. In Texas it
.is no higher than ten. In other States
IL is not higher than thirteen That the
evil to be combatted exists in this cOun-
try to an alarming degree is too evident
for equIvOcation or argument. As an
evidence OF the interest taken in the
matter, movement is on foot in Chi
cago for the formation of society to
amend laws for the protection of young
girls and generally assist in the enforce
ment of laws against Outrages on deeen-
cy and civilization. II Is proposed
there to make the age of consent eigh-
teen years Instead of twelve, and to see
that all parties convicted of outrageous
assaults on young girls are vigorously
prosecuted and properly punished. The
Chicago Inter Ocean is Jealous advO-
cate Of this movement, and thinks that,
if judicuously conducted, the work
cannot fail to be successful. 1t would
be well for friends of morality and
purity in other States and cities to pro-
fit by the examples set in Illinois by
good citizens of Chicago. So much
time has been given of late to deplOring
the depravities of other countries that
like conditions in this country have
been allowed to sink in comparative
oblivion. Reform, like charity, should
begin at home, and before looking else
where for corruption and vice it would
be more consistent to look our own
moral and social situation squarely In
the face. To destroy deeply-rOOted
evil of this character necessarily re-
quires concerted and deliberate action
on the part of those who assume the
task. But while various methods are
prOpOunded for throwing safeguards of
law about persons who have no appar-
ent means for protecting themselves, it
may be well to reflect upon circum-
stances. commonly overlooked, which
cOnspire with other causes to bring such
persons into peculiar peril. There are
numbers of girls raised IN the belief
that the world resembles their own
home and its associations, and who,
perhaps, have been taught by over
scrupulous parents and guardians to
look upon life from a purely idealistic
point of view. Many a romantic young
1alas ~s.l
is bitterly disappointed, when brought
into actual contact with the harsher
side of the world All of this class have
their pet ideas, ideas perhaps CLEANED
more or less from world of garish and
morbid literature in which they have
dreamed and dissipated. Such girls are
like hOt-hOuse flowers shut in from the
elements of outward nature. and they
know no more of the real world or of
passing events than the lady Of ShalOtt
weaving pictures from the shadows of
her mirror. Tne hot-house flower may
be fair enough and safe enough while in
its native habitat, but it may wilt at
the first touch of strange and untem-
pered atmosphere. So it is with the
unsophisticated young girl, who has
never been allowed to CLEAN the slight
est information regarding matters
which are of vital Importance for her
future protection and welfare. 1t may
be argued of course, that full knOwl-
edge of certain crimes and their cOnse-
quences in the young and innocent will
make them precOciOus, and destroy the
artless simplicity which ought TO be the
inseparable companion of youth. But
is it not far greater danger to have
them brought up in Ignorance OF sur
rounding evils, and leave them unpre-
pared to guard themselves against wiles
and pitfalls set for their ruin = After
considering this question In al its intri-
cacies, it would seem that Information
is conservative, pointing the way to
safety, and ignorance condition lnvl-
ting every form of peril and disaster.
The people capnot know too much:
young people cannot know too much,
especially young girls, who are apt tC
have distorted ideas from fragments OF
Information, which is great deal worst
than knowing the whole truth. Con
slider the case OF Vassar girl. or an
educated Boston or New York girl,
who has seen great deal of the world
and knows little of almost everything.
She may coneeivably betray herself,
so to speak, but she will not be entrap-
ped by the wiles of any william. She i,
fully equal to any emergency, and ap-
parently is none the worse for 1t. Un-
derstanding the world so thoroughly,
she knows just how much good and how
much evil to expect in it. And know.
ing this does not make her unhappy, but
rather stimulates her to good intentions,
and, unlike her hOt-hOuse sister, she vii
not be disappointed should events moi
shape themselves to her expectations.
While moral and social reforms are
sOrely needed at the present juncture,
the need of a more liberal system OF
educating the young how to meet the
trials and perlls of the world as it i:
should not be overlooked