St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-16
SOCIAL PURITY.

or securing social purlhcatlOn more
commendable than the various organi-
cations established by the good women
of this country under the names of the
''White Cross" the "Sisters Of the
Good Shepherd" and other forms OF
organized charity having for their pur-
pose the redemption of woman and her
protection against the evils which beset
her pathway through this wicked world.
1t will be observed, however. that most
of these organizations are purely OF a
remedial character, without any distinct
effort to apply preventive measures.
The good they have done, and
are doing, cannot be overesti-
mated. and they should receive
every encouragement to go forward.
Still their field of usefulness can be
widened and the benefits of their work
increased by eliminating some of the
more distinctively theoretical and
purely sentimental features, and reduc-
ing their efforts to more practical
basis. 1t is in this connection we have
been gratified to note a communication
signed by JESSIE A. SCHLEY, printed
in the last issue of the Northwestern
Chronicle, which is so full of practical
suggestions on this subject. we regret
that want of space prevents its republi-
cation in full. The salient point in the
communication is the suggestion that
the homes for young working girls
which have been established, and
which are to be established,
should be homes in the full ac-
cePtation of the term. AS now estaD-
lished, they are little more than board
ing houses where girls go and come as
they please, and where the only special
interest manifested in them is 10 see that
they are in at proper hours and are
quiet when they are in. The good ladies
vino have the management of these in
situations imagine That their duty is
performed when they see that the or
binary rules of propriety are observed.
1t is Just here that Mrs. SCHLEY points
out the mistake that is being made.
These homes for working girls should
not be boarding houses or boarding
schools-they should be homes; real
homes, in every sense of the word.
They must be made attractive like
our own homes. The lady writer
suggests that the girls must be permit
ted every innocent amusement at home.
so they will be glad to return to 1t after
the days work is over, and not forced to
seek their pleasure on the street after
dark. And what strikes us as re-
markably practical suggestion is that
the girls be permitted TO have their
beaux and their little parties just as
other girls have. Woman is sociable
being, and there is no reason why the
poor working girls should be considered
an exception to the sex. Persons who
have visited reformatories and have
interviewed the inmates have learned,
as this lady states, that nine
tenths of them come from the
working classes. The story of their
downfall is the same in each case.
They will tell You that short time be-
fore they were innocent young women,
who started out with pure hearts and
| bright prospects to earn living. Then
comes the story of being thrown out of
| of the want of friends. In many in
stances, the downfall is traced to dan
gerous acquaintances made in low
| down boarding houses, or other places
where poverty forced them to seek a re-
treat. Yet, in every instance, is the
conspicuous fact that the poor girl
had no home, no place she could
| call home, while there is no want
planted in the feminine heart stronger
| than the want of a home. Because
| there was no friend to take mothers
place by sympathizing with them and
| listening to their troubles. they are
! drifted by poverty and disbursement
into the current which sweeps so many
young women into the maelstrom of so
cial iniquity. Comparatively few
women go to the bad because of their
natural inclination TO do so. The great
mass of the fallen ones have been brought
to life of shame because the good peo-
pie of this world have neglected
to establish safety stations along theiI
pathways. The old principle that an
ounce of prevention Is worth pound OF
cure has a peculiar application in all
work having for its object the accom-
pishment of social purity. 1t is easier
to lead the young away from tempta
ton than it is to deliver them from the
evil after they have fallen its victim.