The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-11
MARRIAGE DECLINE
DUE To EXPENSIVE
LIVING STANDARD
Growing independence of Wo-
men and Break Down of
Home Other Causes
IGNORANCE PASSES
FOR INNOCENCE
Reports to Y. C. A. Com
vention on social Moral
ity, Character and
Efficiency

The growing independence Of wo-
men, the stress of business compeu-
ton, the more expensive standards OF
living and the grs dual break down OF
home life were given as the chief con-
trIbuting cause Of the growing disin-
cllnation To marriage among both
men and women" by Mrs. Samuel j.
Murtland of New York, IN her re-
port on Thrift and Efficiency" de-
lvered before yesterday afternoons
session OF the biennial convention of
the Young Wonan's Christian asso~
citation.
The contrast between the ignorance,
mistaken for innocence, OF the leisure
girl and the knowing ness" of the
wage-earner was drawn by the report
on Social Morality" read by Miss
Grace Dodge. the president Of the as
ISOLATION. The formers Thought
IeSsuess in dress. conversation or be-
havior may drive the undisciplined
man to seek and deceive the unpro-
tecied girl" said the report. while the
great need of the latter Is ideals. Edu-
cation and instruction In the vital
matters and character training were
the suggestions she made for the
safety Of both
Reading of Reports,
The reading of three reports, the
discussion HI tHcIA anu tft14f dANEttAotA
constituted the business of the after
noon session. while the selection Of
san Francisco as the place Of meet
ing and addresses and reports on pro-
lection If business women featured
that Of the morning No session was
held last night, hut a reception was
rendered the delegates by the national
board At the Jefferson motel
Social Morality from the CHRISTIAN
xs.a,,tlna{pt@ nv Miss Dodge. Thrift
ard ETt1cienc}. pY Mrs safnael 7:
Murtland. ard Character Standards,
By Mrs stephen Baker. on New oFR.
were the commission reports READ
yesterday afternoon.
Miss podge's report was hTlet' pu1
20 the point and interesting Govern e
every phase OK the subject q the
needs Of every ktsd ~ kHi anu W.
man Of every age The purpose Of
the commission" she said I'm opening,
is 10 recommend that inc resources
Of the association ms a nauohaA organ
ization be enlisted in the present cru
SADIE for widespread knowledge OF
the laws Of health and chastity; and
10 offer and promote "A constructive
program based upon sound and just
standard"
That standard she defined briefly 20
re the single standard with the idea
~ ,oakfng ..the highest standard uni
SFtTJfHAI
,,,str,,l>t3o,, ,,,t,st he enlisted she de-
He'd wttb tho Y " . A the
chnr,,b v5on,en's clubs and other such
o~c-a,,fv,,tnrs as agencies and with
~ y,,1vy,e,, 81 rho country groupetl ac-
earaJ,7sr ~ .ha tvnes of communities
- - - ,,o.r-ia aha no,1}raa tbe
60 y ~ ~, rrkis Ia 10 -oarteke
~ ,t,,~e ~ rre1ir7lnarv work In
~ ''t s r,,,,t,.aa "a +bn
ltv ,.<t.,,s,+ ~ a s>n,,rsa of at,,Sv for
:, l'.I''i.'1 cav .
RH sropps. ,,, r,~x,ora,,c
A.""te'iHc ar" s,a1,S,, s,r,,o
ne ueFe'" -. ~ A., tbo "a
a. romance Was 80, 80 -. stv.ae,
yort LOT eittS " Atott s. " -,
Years Of age i"F yoohs g
fuggested instruction ~ Ihe "a" "a
sex combined WitfT character ana
tfalnlhe' 100. IL, .aa
The leisure GIT sne sA'n' ~
often unprepared Tor NE tNperl-
ences because OF fne mistaken loc1
or her protectors ttFat lshVtaf'tV -
innocence. Her thoushIessnesS III
her dress, conversation or hehaVlor
may drive the unuiscip'iHeu %ouhS
man TO seek ana uecelNS rue un
protected girl, ON the other hano'
no girl is more knowing imam INC
wage-earner, Tor the oideF haiiaS
initiate her early thfoueh the Ni-
wholesale story or annuehoo hSe If
forced to think OF sex matters IN re-
iation oherseH ny inc SUGGESTIONS
made to her OF what she may expect
from suitors or md in mafriage- Her
great need is Ideals instruction IN
the laws Of sex must De combined
with character training. she must ne
taught all that IS necessary Tor hef
own protection and must be put on
her honor for other girls. Both she
and the girl OF the leisure classes
must be taught greater reverence Tor
self, the big sister
Must Enlist Motherhood
we must enlist motherhood pc
tential and actual, in the changing OF