The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-26

Seattle, Aug. q. 1853
To the Editor: In your issue Of Sunday
last I read an article headed social WI
garitv." and beg leave 70 congratulate
you on the expression OF such opinions as
therein were contained Well would II De
If newspaper publishers generally devos-
Cd space and time I'm inducing parents TO
pay proper attention not only 20 the edu-
cation OF their daughters. but also 10 the
society they are permitted 10 associate
with. for. as you intimate, in the carry
days Of girIhood the seeds OF future re-
spectabIiIty or the contrary are sown- and
IL parents shirk the responsibility OF keep
ing a watchful eye on the proceedings OF
daughters at that stage OF their lives the
blame OF future misconduct rests on them.
and whatever may betide they and not
their offspring should receive the cen
sure.
7. sir. am the proud father Of a number
OF grown-up daughters, all natives of the
Pacific coast, and are respected by all
who know them. and have often been
hard spoken of by young men with whom
/ would not permit my daughters 10 asso-
cfate, for although not a wealthy man
nor member OF the Four Hundred. no
person. male or female, was ever permit
ted the entrance to my family circle I'M
less / was certain as TO their respectable
ity. and this practice earnestly recon-
mend to the heads OF families. no matter
IL wealthy or otherwise.
Scarcely can a newspaper be taken in
hand nowadays but in its columns appear
accounts of seduction and its concomi-
tant miseries, and nearly all such cases
can be traced 10 parental non-watchful-
ness.
As a rule the good mother raises vir-
tuous daughters. and well is it for the
young man seeking matrimonial alliance
TO become thoroughly acquainted with the
history and character of the maternal side
OF the family before engaging himself. A
woman who for societys sake neglects
her home. is careless as 10 the training
OF her daughters, permitting them 10 as
sociate with whomsoever they may be-
come acquainted with, REGARDLESS of re-
spectabiIity, is unfit to be a mother and
should have no commiseration for what
ever calamity may be the result. What
glorious thing il is TO hear young wife
say, LAS my dear mother raised me, so
do I intend doing with mine. should / be
blessed with children. Mother was good.
virtuous, and my desire is to emulate her
in my married life"
Mothers half a century ago, no matter
what their circumstances were, insisted
on their daughters acquiring A thorough
knowledge of housekeeping, and it was
not considered derogatory TO young
lady's responsibility to see her engaged
in kitchen work or making her own
dresses, but in the present age the per-
Torrance of such work would cause the
ostracism of the lady from society. Worse
than all, the poor mother will slave at
the wash tub to supply her daughter with
the means to dress in fashionable attire,
and scorn the idea of working for a re-
spectacle family. Is not the above true?
Aye, pity tits. it's true
Now, Mr.. Editor. l have written the
above few lines hoping that through the
medium of your very excellent and wide
~ circulated paper the attention of pa
rents may be given to them, and that
benefit may accrue TO the rising genera
ton therefrom, for truly these are fear
full times for the rising generation, and
unless parents determine on exercising
proper authority in the subject matter
above referred TO crime will continue
rampant, modesty and virtue laughed at
as by-words and matrimony ignored. Let
all editors take up the subject and handle
IL as ably as has the Observation-Disclosures
and the result may be a complete reform
in the management of young females. Re-
spectfully. A FATHER.