The Newtown bee., 1903-06-19
LOCAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL TOPICS, NO. IS.


In a special sense good society de bends upon the education and position of our young women. Around then as the objects of reverence and pure affection revolveS the social world. IT their keeping are the destinies of tho race. Their culture, and devotion tC the best we can give them, as they shall become the wives and mothers of the nation will determine much o1 vital concern to the coming genera tions. The way in which we treat oul daughters, and the manner iA which they stand related to the world is one of the severest tests of our civilization.
 Everywhere and always, since the creation of man, the purity, modesty, and fair repute of maidenhood has been the theme of the poet, artist, historian, moralist and novelist. The pure virgin is the divine ideal and type of all that is virtuous and good. Casar's wife must be above suspicion; and every man of the least worthy manhood is like Casar in so much if in nothing else. It is one of the worlds proverbs: "A virtuOus woman is a crown to her husband: But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.''
 Accordingly, good society demands the most careful and consistent pro- lection and safeguarding of young women in all their relations. And it is not a mere matter of custom, but the practice of propriety and wisdom. The experience of the world proves it, and confirms it by innumerable illus trations of youthful folly and social disaster. You can scarcely find com munity that does not furnish sad ex- amples of innocence betrayed, reputa- tions blasted, and the happiness of life ruined, simply from the lack of pru- dence and proper watch-care on the part of parents or guardians.
 Mrs John Sherwood in her excellent work on "Manners and Social Usages," remarks that. Europeans, have been in the habit of taking care of young girls, as if they were the precious por- celain of human clay. The American mamma treats her beautiful daughter as if she were very common piece of delft (earthenware) indeed, as if she could drift down the stream of life, knocking all other vessels to pieces, but escaping injury herself"
 "Of course," she says, Ia mother is the natural chaperon of her daughters, and if she understands her duties and the usages of society there is nothing further to be said. But the trouble is that many American mothers are 'eX- ceedingly careless on this point. We need not point to the wonderful Mrs Miller-Daisy's mother-in Henry James, Jr.'s, photograph of large class of American matrons--a woman who loved her daughter, knew how to take care of her when she was ill, but did not know in the least how to take care of her when she was well; who allowed her to go about with young men alone, to "get engaged" if she pleased, and who, arriving at party after her daughter had appeared, rath- CT apOlOgiZed for coming at all. All this is notoriously true, and comes of our crude civilization. It is a transi- tion state. Until we learn better, we must expect to be laughed at on the Pincian Hill, and we must expect English novelists to paint pictures of us which we resent, and French dram atists to write plays/in which we see ourselves held up as savages.' ;
 In another connection she says: ''This business of chaperonage is a point which demands attention on the part of careless American mothers. No mother should be oblivions of her duty in this respect. It does not i'm ply that she doubts her daughters honor or truth, or that she thinks she needs watching, but it is proper and respectable and necessary that she should appear by her daughters side in society. The world is full of traps. It is impossible to be too careful of the reputation of young lady, and it im- proves the tone of society vastly if an elegant and respectable woman of mid dle age accompanies every young party. It goes far to silence the ceaseless chatter of gossip; it is the antidote to scandal; it makes the air clearer; and above all, it improves the character, the manners, and elevates the minds of the young people who are so happy as to enjoy the society and to feel the authority of a cultivated, wise and good chaperon."
 | If we permit and encourage our boys and girls to meet and mix like the cats and dogs in our back-yards and public highways, without advice, direction, oversight, or any restraint, we must expect that they will be "talked about' by people not accustomed tc such standards of social intercourse: suspected of evil by scandal mongers and we need not be surprised if withal | they are led into indiscretions and | follics which may follow them all the days of their life.
 i The Sun Brothers circus, which was scheduled to perform at the Fail grounds on last Friday, afternoon an( evening, put in an appearance late i1 the morning in very wet though moi dispirited condition after a tediou
 drive over the hills from Ridgefield
 The weather condition prevented al
 afternoon show but the big tent wa l ruSha6 m and fha ShnW WaS uiuan il