The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-01
Thinks on Things
By Yoatng Steady.

Il & 4
columns Of the press and other
wise, that there is in progress
throughout the land great wave
Of reform. The need Of reform in
many branches Of our social rela-
lions is recognized, ,even by the
most optimistic. Many worthy
persons are aevoting both time ard
money to bring about the needed
changes for the bttterment and
uplift of humanity. Nearly every
one is interested in what is being
done to improve the conditions of
1.-THE working girls Of our large cit
/ les, provide education for the poor
but ambitious boys and girls Of the
country, or reclaim the members
OF humanity who have transgressed
the laws of society, and by their
transgression have become social
outcasts. That a great deal Of
good is being accomplished no one
will doubt, much less deny. Still,
the problen is SO large and pre-
sents SO many different sides, and
human nature Itself is subject to
80 many moods that complete
and satisfactory solution seems al
most impossible.
To one removed from the scene
OF action there cannot but appear
many defects in the present system
and many reasons why it should
not prove success. Anyone who
has trodden the path of failure and
tasted of the fruit of defeat, and
even disgrace, know well wherein
reform is needed. He or she, as
the case may be, knows from an
Experience. often too sad for con-
temptation, that the greatest re-
form movement this world can
know does not exist in well organ
lied clubs, but in the home; that
this reform can never be accom-
| lished by societies, however we'll
organized they may be, but that
the need of reform in the future
can best be avoided by the mothers
and fathers of today What is it
that drives boys and girls to ruin?
| We are told. and justly so, that
bad company is the chief cause.
| Then why do boys and girls seek
such Company? 1t is not a matter
of choice with them, for theirs is
the age Of innocence. 1t is more
because they are unable to find at
home the amusement their hearts
crave. Many parents Of the pres
ent day feel they have done their
| duty toward their children when
they have brought them into the
world and provided them with such
advantages as the social custom of
the time vouchsafes. They then
feel justified in turning their at
tention to less fortunate members
Of society, proud in their belief
that they are working for the gen.
eral uplift OF mankind, but un-
conscious of the fact that their
charity is most needed at home.
+ There is not boy or girl in the
J, land, whose feet have not yet trod
Il the downward path, who would not
' prefer to spend their evenings at
home rather than on the street, CT
/, In places of public amusement. II
!; Il part OF the money being expend.
; ed on charity was but used to make
home life more pleasant and at
traetive; if the mothers of today
! devoted less time to clubs and so.
, cieties, whose object is social up.
lift, and more to the children which
God has intrusted to their care, the
need of reform would be less evil
: dent. This may sound like a
strong indictment against the heads
of the homes, but they are often
the unconscious cause Of the down
!, fall of the children they love.
A few dollars spent in making
home life attractive to the children
would do more toward lettering
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