The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-03

that, for a long time, have been secret.
ly practiced among US has aroused Us
to Inquire what will prevent q recur-
renee OF similar outrages. Certainly.
not a 5000 fine nor a reprimand in the
Police Court Indeed the chief sim
ner and evident leader in some OF the
cases at present in the public eye was
ordered of Broad Street and fled the
city several years ago for the same
offense of which he is now accused
ostracized as a menace to young girls.
He has waited awhile. and has stolen
back among US to renew his depre-
dations upon the young and foolish
Raising the age of consent, destroy
ing the double STANDARD of morality
dress reform. the enactment OF laws
for the protection OF girls, are among
the measures proposed as remedies Tor
the awful conditions that prevail They
are good. but there is one more neces-
sary than all these, without which all
others will be more or less Ineffective.
In a word, men and women must rise
to their duty as fathers and mothers,
and begin the training OF children
while they are young enough seriously
to be impressed. At present, many
who think they are doing their full
parental duty, let their children OF
both sexes grow up in the street, sub
ject to the most corrupting influences.
learning lessons that destroy the IN
nate innocence and beautiful modesty
habits that pursue them throughout
life. Boys and girls who should be in
bed by o'clock at night are allowed to
stay out till a late hour herded together
on street corners and in front of public
buildings. often saying and doing
things that would shock their careless,
thoughtIess parents. The behavior OF
these youngsters Is nearly always
boisterous and rude. and the language
that many Of them use-from four
years old UPS shockingiy profane
and often obscene. Some of their acts
must remain unmentionable in this
column.
! How can parents expect to save their
children from habits Of vice when they
leave them to the immoral education
Of the streets?
The child raised under such condi-
tions grows up regarding the home
only as a place In which to eat and
sleep. There is little interest for him
In the family circle. and as time goes
by. he seeks his pleasures more and
that he SO early finds his way to the
saloon, to the public pooI-room and to
worse places? Rather the wonder -
that so many are finally rescued from
utter wreck and ruin.
This Is often called the day OF the
child" In every age he should be the
first consideration. for upon him rests
the future. However, the majority OF
parents seem to distort this truth into
an excuse for the indulgence Of their
own offspring to the exclusion OF the
children's best welfare and to . total
disregard of the rights and comforts
of others. In Se.ese days. children are
seldom taught that to any one besides
themselves is due any consideration
whatever They must play and play
and yen and throw stones and break
windows. which they seldom replace.
and give impairment replies to those
who try to check them Every pleas
ant evening. Sundays included. scores
of these young hoodfums. ooth Boys
and girls. scions of Respectable
families congregate IN some Of the
hest sections Of the city, seldom visited
! by the police and till . late hour, make
night hideous FOR uno0enotnG people
who live in the neighborhood OF their
carousals. An afternoon nap. an early
rc,iremns after the cares Of the day @
any work that requires concentrates
OF mind Is an impoS0tbility not TO be
considered: and often people csnnot
carry on . conversassou on tnesr mont
porches. because they cannot make
| themselves heard without great effort
1 The old may faint for rest: the tn
| yaIid.s nerves may be racked: the
working man and women may be
totally UNITED for the next days labor
nothing. for "thc children must play"
Poor little ones! II seems not 70
have occurred TO their parents 70 seseh
them that life u not all play: that IN
a few years they Win be facing the
hattie Of life. and that without eRec-
tive weapons (which they win never
and IN the streess) they must 20 down
in the struggle. They might be taught
also that ali men are brotherS and
,h., the most beautiful traits In .
chfyd are shoughsfulness for the cesn-
Sort Of others and difference 20 the
ooinyous Of elders Instead We are
teaching children TO BE utterly sesmsa
ne %ost Gases. ~ the little ones -
n n largely the fault q nee-
1917 80 vnwSse parents. II takes the
sc.cyersfson of father ana mcener %
maize . home. Cnless the sc.cHsssts",s.
exists and ts nr"iy s Sna sn.s ."Ss