New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-17
THE LESSON OF 4 TRAGEDY.

The moral of the escapade which resulted IN
the death of young woman at Good Ground a
few days ago seems almost too obvious to draw
Yet nobody who contemplates the growing care
lessness in manners and morals OF young men
and young women in decent society can fail to
realize that the lesson is greatly needed. A
recent murder brought TO light most appalling
account Of the social condition among the sons
and daughters of well 10 do and respectable
families in the Bedford region of Brooklyn, and
must have awakened thousands of fathers and
mothers too late TO a sense of duty This latest
tragedy is another indictment of the lack of
training in the elements of good sense and good
breeding by parents. from whom such training
might reasonably be expected.
The victim in this instance a young
woman Of respectable parentage and good social
position. She was apparently a fun loving. viii
full, but not vicious, girl. Yet she accepted for
her close companions at summer resort two
young married men one of whom was separated
but not divorced from his wife. Her mother
disliked such companionship. and the evening
before the tragedy told the man living apart
from his wife that she did not approve of his
relations with her daughter, only to have the
daughter saucily remark in the mothers pres
ence that he could go with her as much as he
pleased Then she went riding with this man,
and was about with the two. AT hotels, in
riages or boats. till the middle OF the night,
while her mother was abed. During that night
something mysterious happened. The girl and
one man were accidentally drowned We're
murdered. and the other has disappeared.
There is in the newspaper accounts no hint of
suspicious against this girls good character,
but her indiscretion. her reckless readiness to
compromise herself. and the apparent inability
of her parents TO exercise wholesome influence
upon her are as sadly conspicuous fear
they are typical.
Fathers and mothers who permit their girls to
grow up so beyond their control, SO ignorant or
so Indifferent TO the requirements Of womanly
behavior, have no cause for wonder if the result
is death or moral ruin. The traditional freedom
and naturalness of American social relations
have charm and value when under proper
training they are made to promote in both boys
and girls mutual respect and unaffected mod
esty. Doubtless, too that unchaperoned com
partnership of young people which shocks
foreigners results for the most part In virtuous
affections and happy marriages. But this is
something far different from the license and
disregard of decorum which is becoming alarm
ingly prevalent, not among the lower orders in
the social scale but in families which are con-
sidered intelligent and well bred. The manners
of young men have degenerated They will act
and speak in the presence Of women in a way
that would not have been tolerated generation
ago, and young women who are unquestonably
without evil intent will conduct themselves as
no woman could have done few years ago
without serious damage to her reputation. There
is evidently need of revival of the unfashion-
able art of bringing up children Boys and girls
are growing up TO be lawless. Lacking respect