Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-25
Movement Involving Welfare Of
Children Under Way Here.
CRUSADE AGAINST SMOKING
Steps Being Taken to Break Up
Habit in Public Schools.
REQUIRE HELP OF PARENTS
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey and
Others Tell Of Evils and Offer
Remedy.


4 movement involving the welfare of
more than sixty thousand children has
been started by large number Of resi-
dents of Washington, including OFF,
Gals of the public schools and OF vari-
Gus organizations.
Steps for the passage of a "curfew
law an investigation of morals In the
schools and steps to prohibit small
children from vending chewing gum
and the like on the streets at night are
some OF the efforts that have already
been made to bring Washington up to
the standard desired by the civic and
school authorities, and in nearly every
ease by the parents themselves.
The solution of the problem lies
..~gely in the hands of the parents of
tine children said Mrs. Ellen Spencer
Mussey, a member of the board of edu-
cation. today. Take the case Of boys
who smoke. What can the teacher do
when the boys parents allow them to
smoke? Nothing. except to- keep the
hoy from using tobacco while in the
building or near 1t.
Only a few days ago an eighth
grade teacher came to me and told me
II boy she had reprimanded for
smoking. The boy drew a pipe from
his pocket. and said: My father let's
me smoke whenever ] want to-
Opposes Smoking by Boys.
Mrs Mussey says she is not a fanatic
On anti-smoking. She believes that il
grown man wants to smoke, it is his
privilege. but in the case Of a growing
hoy she is opposed to it.
"a boy who smokes may not apparent
~ be affected for year or more" said
Mrs. Mussey. but in the end it will
break him down. i have found from
personal experience that the boys who
smoke have not as good use of their
faculties as the boys who refrain from
it,"
While appreciative of the fact that
there is more or less smoking among
Schoolboys, and that it might be possible
for boys under age to get Intoxicating
liquor. Mrs. Mussey does not believe the
general moral standard in the schools Is
such as to be as alarming as some per-
sons seem to believe.
''Of course continued Mrs. Mussey,
there are degenerates in the schools.
we cannot keep them out. but when
We find that we have one the teacher In
charge does all in her power to redeem
the child. In all cases that | nave IN
vestigated l have found that the child Is
surrounded by better associations at
school than at home. and very often it is
-.ossible to redeem the child. If, however,
after a trial it is found that the child
cannot be helped and is communicating
'he other children we simply get rid of
i'm or her. =
The trouble usually is in the home. In
= recent case that came under my obSer-
walton the child's parents were divorced
and there had been total of no less than
three divorces In the family. What could
be expected OF the child? She was in
much better environment at school than
she was at home"
City Should Wake Up.
A large amount OF this kind Of trouble,
Mrs Mussey stated. was brought about
by hasty marriages. She declared that not
until the same standard Of morals was
laid down for both sexes could condi-
tons be bettered. though" she added.
the schools are helping wonderfully
Albert M. Chesley. Y. NJ C. A. work.
er and a man thoroughly familiar with
boys, stated that be thought it was time
this city was awakening in more ways
than one regarding moral standing
Il went into theater last evening, y
said Mr.. Chesley. where the perform
ances are q vulgar burlesque, to see II
any Of the boys Of the association were
there. Although the performance was
revolving. there were a large number Of
boys there fourteen and fifteen years Of
age. some Of whom were in short trou-
sers."
DR.. Willard s. Small principal of the
Eastern High School. who has studied
boys the larger part of his life, said to-
day that he has had trouble with GER
tain lunchrooIn proprietors in the mat
ter of boys smoking during the recess
period Of his school. AS almost the en-
tire student body lunches i'm a room in
the school, with the exception Of those
who go home to lunch, 1t has, however,
heen more or less easy to keep smoking
during school hours at a minimum.
Parents Must Cooperate.
As to the general morals Of the chill
Gren OF the city. DR.. Small says he be-
iicves the best results can be secured
only by the cooperation OF parents with
the civic authorities. DIR. Small also be-
lieves much good may be done by appeal
ing TO the reason OF boys and girls, and
to that end gives talks. or, as he terms
them, sermons to the pupils Of the
Eastern at frequent intervals on various
vices.
Only a few days ago he spoke to the
boys of the school on the evil effects of
smoking from moral, physical and men
tai viewpoints. He said during his talk
that there were thirty-fve business
houses OF this city, including some of
the most prominent. that would not en-
ploy person vino was an habitual
smoker. lie spoke also of the effect of
smoking on the various organisms of the
body. and the offeusiveness Of the habit
To- non-smolers.
DR.. Small quoted Judge Ben Lindsey
az follows: II have been i'm the i,Ivc-
nile court nearly ten years. and i'm that
lime ! have had TO deal with thousands
OF boys. who have disgraced themselves
and their parents. and who have brough,
sorrow and misery into their lives and
do not know of any habit that is more
responsible FOR the troubles Of these bows
than the cigarette habit"
Curfew Club Meeting Tonight.
Plans TO perfect the campaign for the
enactment OF a curfew law will be dis
cussed at a meeting of the curfew com.
mittee 10 be held at the home of Mrs
O. I. Smallwood. 2lO7 street northwest
this evening. II has been decided TO ash
all pastors 20 make the first Sunday In
February .curfew Sunday" and to speal
Jn this subject.
The officers Of the curfew committe.
are: y. r.. Darnall, chairman: Mrs c;
Il. Smallwood. vice chairman Thoma.
III. Mckee, secretary: w. ii. Lipscomb
treasurer. The executive committee con
sists of Rev. Zed Fl. Copp, Ivory c. Kim
ball. + NJ. Bradley, Mrs. Margaret DIV,
Ellis and Mrs. Emma Shelton