Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-09-06
PROTECT THE GIRLS.
Dear Aunt Jane:

when they are very small; in fact
when they learn to walk and talk,
80 teach them mOdesty in word,
thought and actions; teach them to
confide in mother, impress it on theiI
young minds that mother not only
knows what is best, but she is theiI
best friend. Be very careful of thei1
youthful associates. Don't suppose,
just because their parents are respect
able, that they are nice, modest, pure
spoken children, for you would be sur
prised and shocked if you knew the
things little girls of respectable, re-
fined parents sometimes talked about
Take no risks. Find out, at the cost
of your friend, if you have to, fof
your child's future welfare Is more
than any friend who would become Of
Tended at your investigations.
Teach your little girls not to have
any secrets from you. Keep them pure
at home, and if they hear things that
are strange to them they will tell
SOu, anu SOlL SGl14 PAOf SLlC b1ASAAA - C1I
forming bad associates.
Train them not to listen to any
dirty, ugly tales, and the habit will be-
come fixed, and as they grow older they
will refuse to listen to nasty stories
children tell very much perverted facts
which they believe to be the truth, and
make a very vivid impression on the
minds of young girls and cause them
70 think Of things they would not have
given a thought, and you know "a lit
tie knowledge is a. dangerous thing"
They naturally want to know all about
it, after they hear part, and they be.
gin to investigate quietly and gain
more of the same kind. Now, you
don't want your daughters mind filled
with such stuff. You want her to be
happy, innocent and pure-minded.
There is but one way-teach her not
to listen to such stories and see what
books she reads. If she cOnfides
everything to you with the knowledge
that you will tell her all she should
know, help her and show her the right
from the wrong and not blame her I'M
heard, she will come to you with all
Aer little troubles ana take your ad.
vice, so pave the way from girlhOod to
young womanhOod.
Now, when she has reached the Pc
riod when you think she ought to
know some things, or If she is not old
enough to need telling, and you see
she is likely to find out for herself, or
from others, tell her Just what she
ought to know, make it plain to her,
explain all the laws of nature govern.
ing the case fully, answer all her
questions honestly. Don't evade them
because of some idea of false modesty.
She wishes to know, and If you don't
tell her some one will. You only ex'
cite her curiosity to no good when you
only half way explain and leave her
puzzled over your meaning. Tell
her the why's and whererores of her
physical nature the laws she must
obey, or the penalties she must pay
to nature
Now l expect I'll step on some OF
your toes, but can't help 1t. l want
to impress it ON the mothers to teach
their daughters to have for their mot.
to in regard to men and boys, Hands
off until after marriage" don't mean
to make them prudish, but not to be
free or allow familiarity from men.
No matter If he is her accepted lover,
let there be no kissing, sitting in his
lap, strolling in the moonlight, and
lingering in the shadows with his arm
around her, and free to fondle her at
his will l know this IS the way it
is done in the novels of the present
day, but not in the old-time novels,
mind you. Women were not so free
with their caresses then. Kisses Civ.
en- in all truth and trust may cause one
much humiliation after awhile.
There is many a sip between the
cup and the lip. Let them save the
kisses until after marriage. The low.
er may plead and urge, but the hus'
band will take pride in knowing that
his wife wouldn't allow even him to
more than kiss her hand before mar.
riage. Men naturally prize anything
more that has to be won by waiting
and working for. If they can caress
and fondle at their pleasure before
marriage, they become accustomed to
1t, until it is an old pleasure, and they
long for something new, and many
seek new scenes and pastures green
because they have had a surfeit OF
sweets.
And then, you can't tell the gold
from the dross. May be the man is
only passing off the time in flirting
with your daughter, with no intention
of marrying. She may be serious in
her intention. Then, when he thus
grows tired of the Irritation and breaks
the engagement, perhaps he will tell
his friends how he kissed and fondled
your daughter. Yes, is would be a
mean trick, but it is done every day.
D6SL NC Ol JiIG sale SIuG ny SINIlSi
him nothing to tell or yourself to re.
proach for if the engagement is not
fulfilled.
You cannot be too particular whom
you trust your daughter with Here
is where the fathers good work comes
in He understands men much better
than you do. Being one himself, he
has better opportunities for finding
out about men than you have, and il
he tells you he don't like such and
such young man to call on daughter
or to go with her, see TO 1t that he
don't.
He is not SO apt to be prejudiced
against him without cause, as a womab
| don't deceive him, because he can't
criyro omv raacon for moi wishing him