Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-30
BETTER WORK THAN STUNNING.
Ohienno Post.

Chicago Post.
How much unvicious women need
know about vice is one OF the questions
of the day. There are good, honest
souls who sit at home and brood over
the wrongs of their sisters In humanity
until they are blinded by their own
tears. and then they go "s!umming"
with the midst still obscurinG those
mild orbs. and If there is any eyesight
left working It is still further darkened
by the wool which the "untortnnates'
they are trying to redeem pull over
those luminaries. The question IS OF
such a delicate nature that am
not going TO say that women must not
discuss it, but that they must, only
dclicately. There is no good whatever
to be gained by going out into the night
and blazoning themselves as reformers
or sisters or what not, and praying
with women who are so lost to decency
that they would pray with you one
minute and pick your pocket the next
At least that is how 1t appears TO an
observer. Like all other evils, Topping
of the branches is only temporary
and insufficient measure; and 1t is not
at all certain that even twig has been
amputated by the ridiculous and senti-
mental measures resorted TO by the
Christian Temperance women.
1t is not to be wondered. at that the
missionaries were well received. One
can imagine the advent Of seven anxious
and unhappy ladies at weird hours act
ing as a advertisement TO those upon
whom drink and so forth have begun to
pail. l don't pretend to know much
about IL, but one fancies that con-
slant association with boys OF fifteen or
sixteen-for so the investigating women
represent the majority Of the frequent
ers Of the gided halls-would be irk-
some to grown women.
No, put oway the temptation TO be
fippant and satirical. The subject is
too deep and too serious; the women
were too much in earnest to deserve any
Gugs. But they did and do make them
selves ridiculous; and what shall be
done to prevent their distressing them
selves uselessly again? 1t Is too late, L
believe, TO reform women when they
are found dancing, drinking and smok-
ing In horrible hauhts and Haunting
their lack Of modesty IN your
face, Whosesoever fault 1t
may have been originally, it
is not only their own now but their de-
light. Don't believe them when they
say: ST used to be good once and go to
church, but l can't go any more. .
pLo-o Il NOR cburcb In town now
where they would not be received with
JOY and gladness, and there are phllan-
throDsts without number who would
set them on their feet again and jump
at the chance To do it. And these wo-
men are well informed enough to know
that. The old-Iashioned horror Of
stained women hardly exists now, except
for young e iris contact; and long. in
deed forever, may our lambs be folded.
1t is respectfully and modestly sug-
gested that a good rule for big hearted
reformers who feel the Impulse TO tear
down structures aud rebuild on the old
site In a single night would be to curb
that tremendous emotion and start in
with one single investigated case first.
There is not much glory In 1t, and vic
tory does not always perch upon the
uplifted banner; but months OF
steady assistance, persistence and en-
confinement will sometimes work won
ders with bad cases. Five dollars care
fully invested under ones own super
vision will accomplish more, often, than
sos sent through unknown emissaries
to Borrloboola, Cha. Also, the house,
keeping lady who sets ont on her mid
night jaunt TO find out the statistics
herself with a view to remedyng the
enormous evils Of vicious dens might,
if she staid at home and kept her eyes
about her, be scotching the downward
wheels Of an unsophisticated Irish or
Swedish peasant, new to town, in her
own kitchen.
For It is prevention and not cure
which is TO do the deed, If IL is ever
done. Miss Jane Adams, in her mag
nificent sacrifice, now grown to be a
real Joy to herself, at Hull House, is
doing more to thin the crop for the hor-
rible places than seventeen women out
on weeping, praying crusade one night
could do. The poor women with three
or four little children cannot amuse or
interest the older ones, now seeking
their pleasures outside at cheap enter
tainments with haphazard escorts or in
beer saloons. They may not be so
very poor, either; but they are tired,
listess and unamused themselves,
these mothers; and constant call
for services and steady lack Of consider
alton do not make them unselish ordin-
arlly. II is for unemployed, irresolute,
vain girls and for unframed youths that
the cry foes up for help. They really
prefer Innocence in their hearts, all Of
them. To employ them, make them
responsible, pet and praise them a
little, is to save them from vice a thou
sand times over. The rich crave enter
taiument perpetually; the poor are Of
the same humanity; Of course they
crave it, too. But they are not shelter
ed, they walk through bad thorough
fares to 90 to their cheap and possibly
immoral fun, and are easily turned from
their course by tempters. And then
MANY of them DO not need 10 be tempt
ed, but are inherently wicked and tempt
others themselves. To make their hours
Of recreation animated, and not simply
duly instructive, is merely to supply a
natural need Of the young.
OUR NEW STORY.