, 1899-12-18

fruitful source of this crime is legis-
lation. A few years ago l made a care
full study Of the age OF consent laws
of the various states. l was surprised
and disguised at the conditions then
existing. 1t seemed that the laws were
framed in the interest Of the paramour
and seducer, and against the sacredness
of the home and society. In 1894 only
two states had placed their age of con-
sent laws at a period suggested by rea-
son and decency, and Wyoming was
one of them.
In 1885, when Mr.. Stead made in the
Pail Mall Gazette, his startling revela-
lions of the social conditions Of Lon
don, America threw up her hands in
perfect horror. But Investigations are
the part Of the w. C. T. U. revealed the
fact that conditions were very much
worse than in London. After much
hard work, the age of consent laws in
several states were raised. In one state
a little girl could onsent to her ruin
at the shockingly low period of seven
years. Let your little seven year old
prattler from the primary school stand
before you that o may realize the
awful infamy Of this fact.
Bad economic and social conditions
are as fruitful as bad laws.
One of the most noteworthy features
of modern social conditions is the
%crowding Of thousands of girls into
shops and stores. Few Of these girls
earn more than S. per week. To live
within their income and dress as they
board at home, requires more ingenuity
than most of them possess. Few would.
from choice, enter upon lives of de-
bauchery and sin. They go because
they are forced there because it is a
question of starvation, suicide, in
fanny. Led on by the hope of being able
to abandon the life of sin, and by the
suggestion chat no one will be the wiser
they enter upon the downward road.
But like the victims Of others, who en-
tered the labyrinth OF Crete, few ever
return. By the Minotaur they are sac
rifced to the Molloch of mans lust.
Every day there are being performed
tragedies. real tragedies from real life,
besides which the works of Shakes
peare are child's play. And that too
within the sound of church bell and
gospel preaching. Oh, America, Amer
lea, will the shame ever end?
III. THE REMEDIES.
After discussing the sin and its caus-
es the great question remains, how
shall we get rid of the disease? Ger
tainly not by merely dealing with the
symptoms, but by getting at the root
of the matter.
There are many who argue that the
bawdy house is a necessary evil; hat
without them virtuous women would
not be safe upon the streets. Such
statements are a SANDER upon upon
manhood and womanhood. II they be
true what of the poor wretches who
thus became the saviours Of society?
If they live lives of infamy that your
wife and mine, your sister and mine,
your daughter may be safe upon the
streets, then they are the martyrs of
modern society. Instead OF being fined
they should receive a pension. But II
this sin is necessary, then all sin is
necessary, laws are a mockery, the Cos
pei a farce and the work of Jesus Christ
a failure.
2. Our laws should be made better,
and should be better enforced. Per-
haps, as some argue, our laws are good
enough, but they are not enforced. A
strict enforcement Of the laws, would, |
to say the least. greatly diminish the
evil.
3. Dress reform is needed. The So
called dress reform" of the century
needs to be reformed. Many women
dress upon one occasion in a way which
would bring bushes to their face IN
any other occasion. This holds true
not only in the ball room, but also in
bicycle riding. The Chinese criticim Is
just: Chinese women wear their
clothes to conceal their form; Ameri-
can women wear theirs to reveal their
form" But 80 long as society assumes
the right to make and unmake mod ,
esty, so long will there be degraded
men and fallen women. Many a moth
er is sowing the seed from which she