The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-11

4 OH Tue DfOIefstf0U WHICH ING I8bH6Ee PURSE
as well his house affords, and seek 70
make their own way in the world, as 1t is called
They enter shops, factories, or work-rooms OF
various kinds aud earn little pittaLce which
buys Them more or better clothing or, perhaps.
replenishes in some degree the family Golfers
4 They are commended for this and encouraged In
/ an eyer degrading desire simply to earn money.
The many enthusiastic advocates of selfsupport-
] ing women seem to imagine they have dlscov-
| cred a new thing. as we'll as panacea, for wom-
ans wrongs. Unfortunately it has been the
| plan among the lower classes of society, where
women are most abused in our own country and
| elsewhere, to consider all children, with
/ out regard to sex, so much capital.
| or as money-making tools. Ignorance and
| thoughtlessness alone can excuse the cruelty of
parents who permit their daughters, in the
| most delicate, emotional, susceptible and every
way helpless period of their lives to expose
themselves to so many possible dangers in the
| struggle for their own maintenance. 1t makes
ones heart bleed and arouses the fercest indigna-
| ton to read of the terrible things which are
constantly happening to young working 6 ris,
| many of whom have natural protectors. Close
confinement and constantly standing on their
1 feet are particularly dangerous to women and
| girls; and because of their lack of great physi-
| cal stamina, as well as the nature of their
| dress they liable to be the worst
sufferers from factory fires. and are
| perhaps in greatest danger of being injured by
machinery. But the pre-eminent danger. a dan
| ger which is not fully realized, which many
| would, indeed probably deny as having real ex-
| istence is the moral danger to which young
working girls are constantly subjected. The
| testimony of those who have the best opportuni-
| ty of knowing benevolent men and women de-
| voted to the reclamation of fallen women, seems
| to prove that the ranks of these degraded Great
| ures are recruited chiefly from working girls.
And we-scarcely need this testimony, for the
| daily press is constantly reporting stories of
young factory girls and girls at other work
| which takes them from home, who
have been led astray. 1t will be said
| that these are chance occurrences that
| such girls would, in all probability. have lost
their virtue if they had not been working girls.
A moments thought will demonstrate the fallacy
| of such a statement 1t must be very poor
home that does not afford girl more protection
and freedom from temptation than public work
shop 1t is the working girl who has home and
natural protectors who perhaps most commonly
becomes the prey of vicious men. Fathers and
brothers of the wronged girl nearly always ap-
| pear upon the scene after the mischief is DONE
| to threaten vengeance upon men who took their
daughters or sisters at something of their own
valuation.
Still there is no dsputing the fact that many
| girls must work starve, or accept worse fate
Every day sickness and death deprives many
girls of their accustomed dependence. Every
day girls are thrown helpless upon the world to
engage in a fierce struggle for which they have
been in manner fitted. Fathers who are gem
tlemen take care of their daughters in such a
overlook the possibility of circumstances COM
polling these DAUGHTERS to be self-supporting.
And others who are in manner Indifferent
whether not their girls earn their own living.
| and even those who expect them to do so give
| them little or no special preparation therefor.
The fact that it is cruel to permit young girls to
expose themselves unnecessarily to tempta-
| tions offered working girl, makes it a
| particular kindness to arm her with
| some special training to meet such an exposure
| when the necessity arises Girls sometimes
permitted to attend school little longer or to
| take few more music lessons in order to be-
come teachers themselves. Or, in these latter
days, they are sometimes sent to a business col
| lege that they may be better prepared to take
| care of themselves. But in few or other ways
| is money expended or special pains taken to
make girls capable of self-support. Ineficiency
| is in itself dangerous and weakening to charac-
ter, and unless struggled against is sure to lead
| to loss Of self-respect
I ut there is thing Of much greater i'm
portance than any special training and which
will of itself almost inevitably produce efficiency
l-thoroughness in all, and especially In primary,
education. 1t is the foolish fashion or tho day
| to call girls educated and accomplished il they
| can simply show diploma or have little
| knowledge of French or music. This is almost
bad as the fashion followed by totally ignorant
people, of calling man scholar who can read
and write No girl is educated, in any proper
| sense, who has not learned to think. No girl is
| accomplished who cannot do some one thing
well-not well from the standard of the anna
| teur, but of the professional Girls therefore
4 need careful! protection in their student life
protection from their own caralessness. They
| need the constant and watchful care of parents
1 who will know whether not they are making
| real progress in mental attainments, or, at best
are giving thoughtful and earnest attention to
| whatever they undertake. The capacity to think
| gives girl or boy grand start in life; such
| capacity may perhaps be called an education.
| But there is one other thing which should
| more commonly be impressed upon girls minds,
| that all worthy work is in itself valu-
able beyond any money it may bring.
| Teach girls that usefulness is a glori-
GUS thing in itself to strive after, and
| their happiness. and. in nine cases out of ten.
| their livelihood will be assured. The world
needs useful people, and is usually ready to ac
cept their services in return for at least bread
| and shelter. This is not contradicted by the
| fact that SO many willing men and women find
| it difficult to earn living. Perhaps compare
| lively few people have from early youth thought
OF and sought usefulness as end. and it is only
| in this way that its results and rewards are
most surely attained Girls of the better classes,
| so-caled, should be disabused Of the idea that
( any work is simply something by which money
may be may be made, and therefore in itself de-
grading. One of the most promising signs of
the times is that women no longer either in
reality or effect separated into two classes. the
| idle and fashionable and wage arners and work
ing women. Dilettantsm, even in artistic or
| literary pursuits is no longer scarcely toerabe.
1t is not good form to talk of serious reading or
study, etc, simply as means of passing away
time An earnest purpose, a determination to
| do ones best in whatever is undertaken is being
more and more demanded of all people, women
as well as MARY E. CARDwILL.
NEW ALBANY, Ind.
Cremation in England.