The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-12-30
MOTHERS. WARN YOUR
GIRLS OF IIFE'S LURES
BY Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

n Y X u X u X X X X X X M
1t is more than probable that many
parents of young girls will read this
article and consider it an improper"
subject for discussion.
And it is more than probable that
several of these daughters will read
~ and regard it as their own expert
ence, and wonder how their secret be-
came known.
This one young woman whose story
is given here has arrived at a mar
riageable age and is bethrothed to the
man of her choice.
He is several years her senior, but
says he will not be in a position to
marry and establish Il home for two
years.
He has given the girl a ring, and
declares he is most anxious to make
her his wife
Meantime, he asks her to consider
herself his wife in reality now, and
TO show her confidence in him by
giving him all the privileges of that
holy state.
He assures her that her refusal is
proof that she does not really love
and trust him; that she doubts his
honor and his word.
he also assures her that all engag-
ed people regard the matter from his
standpoint, and that her conduct is
prudish and silly.
All over the world such men are to
be found.
1t is their method OF testing the
weaker sex.
In many small country towns.
where American girls are unchap-
eroned and unprotected by foolish
parents, and allowed to go about
fFnRlv Euifh hot
ar1o OF this order is not infrequently
able to engage several trusting girls
at one time, under strict vows of
secrecy and on the plea that financial
circumstances are such that marriage
is out OF the question for years to
come.
This type of man almost invariably
demands the full confidence and proof
or love and trust" as he terms It.
or each of his secret finances.
And, as rule, he never marries
any one of them.
He disappears from the town after
a time and establishes himself i'm
pastures new.
The Rev Richeson was a man of
this type, but he paid for his amuse-
ment in the electric chair
IL seems sad commentary on the
mothers of the land that any girl
could grow to a marriageable age and
not know the truths of life and the
iacts OF the relations of the sexes |
sIrhclently to warn her from listen |
ing TO men of this type. No girl |
whose mother talks to her Familiarity
sweetly, tenderly and purely on these |
themes could believe such man was |
honest or to be trusted.
She would know from the moment
ne made such proposal to her that
he was unworthy of her confidence
ana that ne would in all probability
desert her as soon as he had gained
the tavorS he sought.
Ihe sexual fascination is n power-
1ul one, but that alone never kent a
man and woman happy comrades
and constant lovers for life
There must be other attractions;
other interests; other ties.
Most important of ALL there must |
be mutual respect and absolute con-
fidence.
There must be strong and beauti-
full foundation of friendship in every
marriage which proves happy and
lastingly sympathetic.
About this foundation passion flow
ers will grow and twine; but when
autumn winds blow and frosts come
and the vines perish the strong,
beautiful foundation remains.
This man is seeking to twine vines
and flowers about the fragile trellis
of youth, and the first wind will cast
Il all TO earth and there will be moth
'..g left.
And the vines he seeks to train ,
about this trellis are poison ivy
Let the girl beware of such a lover.
lie is not her friend. He is her worst
enemy. He does not love her. He
loves only his own appetites and pas
sions. The man who really loves
girl guards her not only from all
men, but from himself.
He does not despoil what is his ,
own. He does not strip the flowers
from his own beautiful plants.
Better die OF loveliness and sor-
row than to yield TO such a selfish
and unworthy lover.