The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-21


ADVANCE DEALING WITH DELINQURNTS
/ 1t is an unpleasant and unhappy subject too
much discussed but since all the world is dis
cussing with embarrassing frankness the social
evil" why will not somebody give us exact facts
Every Police court reporter knows that the
great majority of the women rounded up in the
periodical official raids OF in consequence Of some
outbreak Of disorder violence are intensely
ignorant and coarse. A list recently published
here In Richmond by benevolent worker gave
the initials and something of the personal his
tory of thirty odd leases" and but one was
high school graduate. She was paraded as a
remarkable instance of fall from high estate
and subsequent rescue. The truth seems to be
that cultivated and educated women, while some
OF them may be moral deinquents, keep away
from the depths of degradation. A well brought
up woman has instructive daintiness and re-
pulsion against the vile and horrible forms of
vice. Therefore the daughters of the well-todo
class, of the decent and self-respecting working
class and the higher kinds of working women
have few representatives among the submerged
thousands. Those of such classes who do go
OF drugs. Not one In fifty of these women
can write note or letter properly spelled, pune
tuated and expressed.
Much of the investigation and discussion OF
the subject is of morbid and unwholesome kind
curious evidence of the attraction filth has for
excited or unoccupied minds Yet sensible and
clean minded people studying this matter
seriously and with clear eyes and brains-as they
should have courage and honest purpose to con-
slider everything concerning the welfare of society
and of their sister women and brother men
may gather a few definite facts One Is that
ignorance and lack of proper home training are
the most general causes of prostitution. This
applies to both sexes. The boy brought up with
out proper reverence for womanhood and woman
~ purity and the girl not instructed and led by
example and precept to understanding of the
value of character and the necessity for per-
sonal propriety are mutually contributing dan
gers.
Without going too much into delicate and for
hidden details the Sunday-school teacher, of
either sex. may adroitly drill into the minds of
girls and boys the idea of sex responsibility and
mutual respect. The children-especially the
lSiiiS ny CIRCUMSTANCES ana C0QQ1tlOnS are
deprived of education and training. should be
sought. and If they are not being given the right
teaching at home should have urged and i'm
pressed on them the value and meaning Of sex
purity and what good conduct means and the
results of bad conduct~the hospital the river
the cheap poison route, the early death and OBJ
scure and dishonored grave where God and nature
Intended honorable and happy family lfe
ifatherhood aud motherhood. These things can
lie taught, and here in the South they need to be
taught even more in the country and the vii
lagos than In the larger cities. The evil places
are recruited year after year and month after
month from the country. from girls who are
not taught TO take care of themselves and who
through casual acquaintance, attractive strang.
ors or too much trusted friends are led to
shame, inexpressible ignominy mercurial tablets
and the nettle covered grave in corner of the
potter's field 1t is worth the while Of good and
earnest women and men to use their brains
energy and influence to save girls from such
fate surely awaiting them once they venture
from the straight path.