Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20

when they are Ynubbed, as they were by
both the girls at once. With frigid bows
aged to be invited to our house once to
school day fete, both girls turned on them
and walked OFF to the spring, leaving the
book and boys to my mercy. I disposed OF
mucl, worried e.think of the one as they
told me how they had been almost persc-
cuted by the others. 1t gives me chill
every time I think how those two girls
might have behaved had they been less
well dispositiored II those two boys had
been well-bred men Of the world, how do
know, how does any mother or sister know,
what might have been the result OF half
dozen such meetings? Or even two or
three?
Since then have been Roses shadow. If
she suggests the park, she goes, and SO do
she wants mt Tip down the riysr I've we
to have outings and pleasures, and we
think they are unreasonable about them
sometimes, but have registered a solemn
vow that when this small sister of mine
gets an outing now, get one also 1t Is
the only safe PLAN. One day last week we
went down the river. and in a secluded
corner of the boat, later in the pleasure,
grounds, and again coming back, saw
with a young lady-one old enough to know
better-a man who has been forbidden her
fathers house.
Forbidden Acquaintnnces.
The family is away, and the girl is sup
posed to be with an aunt in the suburbs.
Nobody wants to tell her needless mother
that sorrow. perhaps disgrace, is hanging
over an hcnored family name At the con-
cert in the White House grounds last Sat
urday evening an interdicted lover Of
malodorous character conversed with his
sweetheart for ten minutes, he on one side
of a big tree and she on the other with her
sister and mother. When they were aim
lessly looking about and paying no atten-
ton to her at all. she was leaning forward
and interchanging condolences with him.
There is not night of the week, Sunday
more than any other, that the grounds
about the Smithsonian and Agricultural
Department are not peopled with young
girls "out for an innocent airing" but
forming most Objectionable acquaintances.
laughing and singing SO as to attract
human hyenas which are ever lowering in
the vicinity of such prey. While some of
these girls have been well bred and know
better. but seek the questionable notoriety
that such actions bring, the parents and
guardians who should watch over them are
They should forbid absolutely these
after dark strolls. And If it is impossible
to free the public parks Of unattended and
unchaperoned girls Of tender age, then
some law should be passed, such as obtains
as an Ordinance in other cities, which
makes 1t Unable offense for young girls
to be out alone after or o'clock. Car
riding, one of the cheap and ENJOYABLE
serious problem for solution. when one
notes, night after night, the scores of heed
less girls who ride in them, sometimes in
parties, unchaperoned, and often one by
herself, smilingly making the acquaintance
of the quick-witted "masher,' who guesses
In an instant that girls who are free to
CAD about in that manner are his legitf-
mate prey. The car conductors will tell
you that there are men who ride after
dark for the avowed purpose of getting ac-
quainted with silly girls, who have no
more sense than to feel fattered by their
blasting attentions.
The Congressional Library presents an
other pitfall for young girls. They go there
ostensibly to get books, but In reality to
meet appointments, and they stroll by the
hour through the Dark lower corridors Of
the Capitol, where the committee rooms
and restaurantsa located. and not in
frequently entEr bind lunch with their
whlom male frie4ds, a proceeding that
would NIL their parents with quite as much
dismay as theiflo visit to the deserted
galleries or trips TO the dome, favored
trysting place. ~,
what Girls Read.
Then, about the books that girls read!
have shown you how was the unwilling
means of introducing to two girls the books
of an author whose best works are men
toned in whispers when girls are arc ind
and whose philosophy of life is scented
with birthstone. No girl can read a book
of that character and remain unsullied. If
she thinks at, air. have my doubts
whether even d whitman of mature years is
not wasting Herr time reading the trite
diatribes against established customs and
of the "gilded' adulteration called "soul
| love" Yet the same mothers who howl
| long and vociferously about ballet picture
! boards and birds on our bonnets will let
their daughters read the most abandoned
| trash that is printed in the name Of a nov
| ell, and never once question the ACCESSIBILITY
| of the thing.
| 1 don't believe in letting girl pore over
| book all her leisure time, and 1 think
| it is safe to say that when a mother re-
! marks complacently that Minnie always
] has her nose in a book and her head in
! the clouds there Is a girl whose read
! ing should be edited severely and her
| brains set to work on something else. More
| than likely there will not be u respectable
| book in the long list whose contents have
numbered her brain with Objectionable re-
| fuse, and ideas which make moonlight
| strolls strange men and hasty elopements
| desirable.
1 have made up my mind that RESPONSE
| bility for the actions OF those younger in
years and judgment than ourselves never
| ceases. What do you think about it?
| SONORA SARA.