Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-05-28
OUR DAUGHTERS.

Written for the Reading Dispatch by MARY
w. NORTON.
Almost daily we see in the newspa-
pers accounts Of elopements OF betray-
ais of young girls, which Invariably
bring the name and honor of woman
into reproach, and almost make pure,
good women think there Is no virtue
or honor in the rising generation Of
young women. Every day we can read
of the downfall of some young woman,
or the runaway marriage OF some
young girl who should hardly have been
allowed to 80 beyond the parental
threshold alone, much less form the &C.
quaintance Of men, and especially men
unknown to their parents. Such
things seem to be becoming more fire.
quent every day, and it is time that
parents make an effort to check 1t, and
the sooner they realize the duty they
should by no means neglect, in the
proper training and education of their
daughters, the sooner will such things
be unknown. In the first place, we
should try to make our homes such
that our dauhgters will reluctantly
leave them, even after we have given
our consent, and never wlthoat. We
should condemn any action whereby
the name Of woman is degraded in the
presence of our daughters, and implant
into their minds hatred for anything
of an immoit tai nature. We take great
pains In securing them good school ed
ucations, so the world may think them
accomplished, and yet we leave them
go on to learn through sad experience
that which might have been averted
had parents exercised a proper care and
influence over them. Do we not fire.
quently allow our daughters to 20 to
places where they see sights and hear
language which should make any wo-
man blush And worst of all, we
allow then to 60 upon the streets alone,
and comfort ourselves with the belief
that will molest them or that they will
do anything wrong because they are
our daughters. True, lady may ap-
pear upon the streets unprotected, but
when she is often observed promena-
ding, especially after dark and alone,
there are always those who are quick
to notice it and form opinions which
are anything but favorable to her char
acter. and they at once lay traps aud
schemes for her moral destruction. Is
it not shame that young men and
boys are allowed to loaf around street
corners and various other places, who
make practice Of insulting and max
ing indecent remarks about every
young lady who must pass alone Can
parents allow their daughters to 60 a.
bout at night, when they know that
such is the case, and never feel any
concern about them. or feel that they
should warn them of such danger ?
Mothers. let US try TO make home hap
py and pleasant for our daughters, SO
they will have no desire to 60 upon the
streets, and under our care guard zeal
ously the name and honor of those near
and dear to US. They should know
that there are those who are constantly
watching for an opportunity to lead the
innocent and unsuspe citing away from
the paths of virtue and honor, and pa
rents should especially impress upon
the minds of their daughters that a
woman's honor when once gone is gone
forever. Let us explain to them the
ways of the wicked wso would rob
them of that honor which woman holds
most dear and sacred, and not rest sat-