The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-01-19

and instruct the hayward
youth of both sexes, with which every
city is becoming burdened. A re-
port published by one of these clubs,
as they are sometimes called, would
make ''Vox Populi," "E Pluribus
Unum, " anxious Parent and Sub
scriber'' sit up rigidly and take note,
if, collectively and individually, he
would read it.
One of the reports filed showed
that the Society had looked into and
attended to the following cases: Neg
lected, 179; destitute, IS; cruelty
treated, IA; left orphans, II; beyond
control of parents, 81; in immoral
places, 40; truants, IA. There were
other classifcations for cases which
the Society or Club had had under
it's notice, but those cited are suffi-
cient.
Will you note two classes speci-
fically? Neglected. 179; beyond con-
troll of parents, Gland there you
have the question and the answer to
all you may ask Of the need for the
establishing of homes, colonies,
courts and societies for the care or
the cure of WayWard children.
To the normal father and mother
it is appalling to read of parents who
wilfully neglect their children, and
almost impossible to believe that
there are really children beyond
the control Of parents"
There are, unfortunately, in every
city and town, parents whose ideas
of duty toward their children take in
only the physical wants of the Off
spring. When food, shelter and
clothes have been provided, with
compulsory attendance at school, this
class of parent considers duty accom-
plished to the last eXactiOn, and the
child grows as weeds do. By the
natural process of evolution children
are reaching out for new sensations,
new experiences and new associations
almost before the parents have recOg-
nized the child's power to think in
dependently.
At this stage, say the age Of ten
years, how many parents look to
the literature in their homes? How
many have thought it wise to ex-
ercise a kindly censorship over the
newspapers of which every home has
at least one? How many so-called
Sunday" papers are fit, in their en-
tirety, of being read by a child, or
their pictures viewed? This does not
refer to the comic" or colored sup
plement, but to the news" parts.
Normal women, safe in their do
nestle life, read with more or less
interest the descriptions of a demi-
mOnde's wardrobe, jewels, escapeds.
The accounts are fully illustrated
with photographs showing the be-
jewelled hussy in more or less sug-
gestive pOse-and these pictures,
with the descriptive and alluringly
worded text, are within easy reach
of eyes and brains growing more
eager and receptive.
Day after day, week after week,
these stories with their profuse illus
trations are within easy reach.
A kingdom is overthrow by the
tOe-kick Of a dancer. The news
papers eagerly seize every detail of
the dancers life, her personality, the
date at which a kings infatuation be-
came reckless extravaganza, and the
end these are not given in a man
ner to teach anything but the JOY to
be had when a dancer happens on
such fortuitOus circumstances where
by she not only adds to her jewel box,
but to her value as a theatrical as
set
Can a child's mind grasp any of
the horror back of this?
MANY of us will recall the news