The broad ax., 1912-12-28
A WORD TO THE MOTHERS AND
- FATHERS OF CLEVELAND.

To the mothers and fathers of this
city alone rest the responsibility of
the future welfare OF their boys and
girls. 1t is one Of the greatest re-
sponsibilities that could ever befall hu-
man beings, for it largely depends on
the sort of training we give our chill
dren whether they will grow up into
stalwart ren and women to do Us
honor and be a credit to themselves
and their community, or be disgrace
and shame. That the great body of
Afro-Ameriean mothers and fathers in
this city do not fully realize the ire
mendous responsibility resting upon
them in the rearing and training of
their children is apparent to all those
who will take time to observe. And
it is one of the most serious and dis
tressing social conditions which con-
front the race.
The way parents permit their boys
and girls to roam the streets at all
hours and to frequent moving picture
shows, where they make engagements
for immoral purposes, is a sin that will
not be forgiven them either in this
world or that which is to come. Not
many weeks ago we were passing a
well-known moving picture theater on
Central avenue and we heard from the
lips of a young girl, not more than
IA years of age, the most obscene Ian
guage that could ever fall from the
lips of the most hardened tough. Just
think of it, A girl who ought to be
forming all those characteristics of a
true woman descending to everything
that was mean and low. How can that
girl ever evolve into that type Of a
woman that people will admired But
what has the mother of this girl done
to train her in the way and path that
she should got
How can a mother permit her own
offspring, her very flesh and blood, a
being from whom future generations
are to come, to become as common as
the dirt in the street, Are our moth
ers so engrossed in their own pleas
ures; in their own jollifeation and
amusement, in their own quest after
sin to forget the children whom they
brought into the worldf
Mothers should be companions to their
daughters. They should teach them
and train them, not only what is re-
quired to be honored mothers, but also
what is required to be faithful and
helpful wives.
Fathers should be companions to
their boys. A father should teach his
son what is essential for a clean and
pure manhood. BE must teach his boy
to respect womanhood. He must i'm
press upon the heart and life Of his
SON the awfulness Of running the char
aeter Of a girl But in order to do
that the father must live a life that
is absolutely clean and pure. He can
not do this if he lives 8 double life.
Unlessa father has q sacred regard for
the virtue Of women he cannot train
his boy in those things which win
force him to respect womanhood.
The responsibility Of the father in
the training Of his boy is as great and
as solemn as that Of the mother in the
training Of her girl.
Not many weeks ago we observed
another incident which went to prove
that the majority of mothers and IA
theirs in this city among our people
have no conception Of the RESPONSE
bility resting upon them in the train
ing Of their children. It was this: A
young girl about is years of age out
in the street at a m. in the morning,
surrounded BY four or i've boys her
own age, and even younger. Another
case came under our observation, that
Of girl IA years Of age giving birth
BAT AX-Hays-THREE :. :. -.
to child. The girl was permitted by
her mother to roam the streets at win
and, Of course, to associate with any
and every kind Of q man, hence her
predieament. Her mother even sent
her into saloons after liquor. Is ii
any wonder that this child became q
mother at The age Of 14i
Parents ought to have perfect con-
troll over their children. They should
be able to rule their boys and girls, not
necessarily with an iron hand, but with
Armness and intelligence. Parents
should not permit their girls and boys
to rule them, as Is often the ease. II
the girls are to be the future women