The Washington herald., 1908-04-30
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIE w

The other day man was fined in court
for securing money in an unlawfle man
ner. The circumstance was not unusual
save in one feature-he had deceived a
child into believing that her mother had
authorized the loan, the bank account
being the joint property OF mother and
daughter and the child having the power
Nto draw money as she pleased.
According 10 the testimony the mother
was Woodworking woman, nurse,
l believe, and the bank account repre-
sented savings probably made by in
Vulnerable sacrifices. Yet a young school
girl was allowed to spend It as she pleas
ed. 1t seems incredible. but the truth
of the story has not been challenged. The
/ liberties accorded twentieth century
children have been widely discussed and
generally eensured, but I imagine moth
ing as amazing as this incident has ever
happened. 1t is no wonder that children
believe that the world was created for
their sole benefit. and that adults are
to be tolerated only as long as they are
usefuL\
II Is said that the Queen OF Spain lives
In hourly dread OF a violent death for
her young son. There are American
mothers who live in perpetual fear for
something worse. Sons and daughters
do not recognize the obligations laid
upon them by the ties Of blood; they
do precisely as they please and turn
their backs upon the consequences as
they Affect those connected with them.
/ am not including all sons and daughters
in this statement because we ali know
splendid exceptions. but you know as
well as l DO that the tendency Is toward
supreme sellishness. fOsteTed by parental
indulgence.
have an enormous admiration fol aian
or wtma7 who refu5.s TO brins 'hc far'-
iiy into tho shadow Of disgrace which
follows s0me atrociOus deed A few
mothers are watching for the return of
sons and daughters who are either dead
or serving prison sentences, in both in
stances under assumed names which
shield the family from disgrace and hui
initiation. The sins of these poor crea-
lures are well-nigh atoned for by this
generosity. I do not believe a single
clean-minded person has a shred Of re-
spect for the son who drags his whole
family after MIN in the mud Of disgrace
or q man who cOmplacently accepts ald
only possible by dragging TO light family
history that casts a blight upon innocent
persons.
man va~aurfx- .~1a.reI
charge Of wtllful murder by jury which
respected his frmness Ia refusing 20
stand on a plea Of justiheble homicide.
even if it had some doubts concerning
the truth of his defense that he thought
he was shooting at a burglar The trial
took place in a State where the ''unwrit-
ten law holds good, but this man re-
fused TO even battle for his life il his
wife's reputation was TO be torn 20
shreds in the courtroom. She is sin
cerely mourning for the loss of a hus-
band whom she has just begun 10 appre-
ciate. for he has refused 10 allow her
any further share in his life. This is not
the usual attitude of offenders against
the law. however, and the parents Of
willful. wayward sons and daughters have
good cause for the anxiety which goes 10
bed with them at night and rises with
them in the morning. Spoiled children
are no comfort 10 themselves or others. /
but IL is easier to spoil than to train |
them, therefore they are all too COM /
mon, and parents are not the only ones
who have 10 suffer from them Those I
who try TO grow fruit will agree with |
this statement. l think.
BETTY BRADEEN.