The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-12
a LITTLE LAY SERMON.

An ORGANIZATION recently formed Tor
the purpose Of warning girls from
;he country towns of the dangers and
disappointments awaiting them when
they come to the big cities to make
their way" Is one Of the most timely
movements that could be inauSu
rated. 1t supplements the "back-to-
the-farm" movement most effectively,
by striking at the root of the very
prevalent evil. the best way 10 rent
edy a great many mistakes is not 10
make them, and by keeping young
women from coming to the CITY mn
der circumstances which invite 1all-
ure. incalculable good will be ac-
complished This particular move
ment will seek to forewarn young
women of the exact situation that
will confront them when they come
TO the city. filled with the boundlesS
but often ill-advised enthusiasm o.
youth. believing either that there
will be no rough places in their path
or that, If there are, they VIII he
miraculously smoothed for them. Or
the perils of city life the average
girl from the small town or rural
community seems to have no ade-
1uate conception and in the fervor OF
her hopefulness she refuses to ac-
knowledge that any obstacles exist
that she cannot surmount Usually
il takes a very short time to dis
illusionize her, but in many cases II
is too late and a still more misguided
pride prevents her from availing her
self of the rescuing refuge of the
home that awaits her.
II used to be more or less fervently
believed that "God made the country
and the devil made the town" OF
course. there is no truth In the state
ment. The same people-human p~-
ings, mixtures of the good and EVIL
-inhabit both places. The proper
lions are not the same in all the peo-
pie by any means and it may he ad-
mitted that in the big city the temp
tations are far greater than ,n The
more secluded regions beyond the
city gates. But the gap between the
city and the country. as far as in
tercommunication is concerned, is
closing rapidly and this fact makes
all the more depiorable the exodus
Of so many young women from th(
manifold advantages of the farm *
the burdens and pitfalls Of the bis
city. 1t would not be advisable iol
everybody to live in either the city
or the country. Each has a place il
the scheme of things which the othe'
cannot fill But it seems peculiarl!
regrettahe that so many persons, ant
especially young women, who are
totally untitled to cope with the BIZ
citys problems. should rush fatuous
ly away from plenty and safety an(
1oin the teeming throngs Of thos,
who are making those problems more
and more acute.
False notions OF what really con-
stitutes independence ana reasonable
pleasure. an absuurdly distorted con
ception of "a good time" and a more
or less snobbish idea Of what is be
meath" them are responsible for mos
q the troubles Of country girls whit
come TO the city--and of thousand
o' city-botn girls also. for that mat
ter. There is not farm drudge
in the country who work any harde
than the average girl who has .
make her own living in the city, s.
that nothing is gained on that scor
nv an exchange Of occupations. Whll
z certain percentage of countr,
girls come TO the city with an homes
and laudable desire 10 avail them
selves CT its intellectual and othe
wholesome advantages, it must b.
admitted that by far the larger mum
her are lured by the specious craV
ing for excitement and novelty tina
is inspired by the wholly mistaken