The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
THE DEsPIcABLE "MAsHER."

Washers" are making themselves
obnoxious to married women in st.
Peter. One of the latter writes q
communication to The Tribune of
that city as follows:
last Sunday evening between
nine and nine fifteen o'clock mar
ried lady of this city was crossing
Myrtle street on Minnesota avenue.
AS she reached the, sidewalk man
rudely jostled her, and said in an in
sinuating tone: Can / go with
you kid?' Astounded by the assur-
ance OF the creature she turned and
gave him a well-merited rebuff. He
moved swiftly away and was lost
to sight before a policeman could
be called. 1t is not necessary to
name the man, he knows who he is,
and, a description OF him is in the
hands OF the police, it behooves him
to be careful in the future.
This incident is published with
the idea of showing parents just
what extent the morality Of our
streets is to be trusted to protect
the many, many girls who are per-
mitted to roam them until late in
the evening. Two facts may be de-
duced from such an occurrence:
first, that the morality of the young
people on the streets is at a pretty
low ebb, when it is possible for a
man to .'fccost a lady in such man
ner with the assurance OF this man.
Second, that if parents allow. their
young daughters to roam the streets
at night unchaperoned, they are by
their neglect exposing them to the
mercy of Just such birds OF prey as
the one above mentioned .
I'm this specific instance the only
result was that a suspicion was held
by the lady accosted, as to the safe.
ty of our streets for our young girls,
was confirmed absolutely. Now the
public will say, ''What are we 60
ing to do to mitigate this condition."
In the first place parents are respon-
sibie for their minor children, and
the matter is first of all their con-
Germ. Mother, do you know just
where your young daughter is in
the evening? Have you given her
information that will make her self
respecting, and Of sufficient moral
stamina to resent the advances of
boys and men they attempt to be.
familiar on the streets? Father,
have you an oversight over your
boy? Do you know his whereabouts
and companions? Remember your
children were given into your care
and Keeping for training, and God
will require them at your hand.
I'VE also need more police super
vision. Washers and others of
their kind, need a lesson in this
town, as any causal observer knows.
Policemen should enforce the curfew
ordinance even at the risk Of offend.
ing careless parents. There is too
much OF disposition to wink at
the things that occur night, after
night on our streets, and which I'M
der the law, are punishable as mis-.
demeanors. Let us by all means
clean up orr alleys, and beautify
our parks, but let us go bit farther
in our housekeeping and look after
the welfare of our boys and girls,
and make our city safe place for
them, where they may be able to
grow up to a manhood and a woman.
hood, that shall be clean and honor
able with no faint of the looseness
Of morals, that always exists where
laxness of law prevails There is
much in that communication. which
should be digested by mothers and
fathers in Mankato