Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-29

registration by the municipal govern
ment. is admittedly failure: sanitary
regulation can only be effective, If at
an, at large cost. and If made so de-
Veiops an attractive and supposedly
sale MARKET thereby favoring vice.
No Suitable Plan
Thus. though the vice commits
sions have generally concluded that
the evil is widespread and must be
stopped, they have, as yet, apparently
@ ny oeen able TO discover a suitable
pan TO lessen the scourge. In short.
the remedies so far applied have la
Inentaoly failed, and the logical con-
cLuslon is that they failed because
they were not the proper ones.
PROSTITUTES are subjects for su-
Preme ity-unfortunate, outcast. and
lor the most part irreclaimable unless
uirected towards good influences early
III thelf careers. The life in a few
Years makes neuresthenics of them.
anu thelr condition becomes patholo-
slcal' Some there are who claim they
are not past saving, but IL this be so
the nethods OF accomplishment have
as yet not shown actual results The
argument that many women leave the
! life voluntarily, and because of mar
rage or for other reasons return to
honorable conditions Is scarcely a
reason for believing that those who
remain would yield to reformative in
fluences
Girls Have Friends"
Almost universally, though thev
stoutly deny it. these girls have
friends upon whom they lavish their
distorted ideas of affection, giving
them of their earnings and sometimes
Willingly receiving curses and blows in
exchange.
Undoubtedly there is a system of
procuration used by these friends,
Tor they compose the cadet class;
put the point to be emphasized is. that
tnls system is not directed towards in
nocence and virtue, but towards sub
Jects who either are already in the life
or by reason of home conditions. in
nate character or force of circum-
stances, lend ready ear to advance
inehIs; II does, and always will, go
hand in hand with prostitution.
Cure Rests With Police
For the curative standpoint. the
laws already upon the statute books
are IN general way sufficient provid-
ing they are properly enforced. A
eIVII service police organization free
rom graft and influence of the men
hlgher up would give the application
OF the law tremendous force.
Inc real question, then, before the
american city to-day is, what can we
90 70 stop the making of prostitutes Z?
with all of our vaunted progress
ana civilization, an observer can not
put notice demoralizing influences in
our conventions. For example, the
dance of to-day enge ged in by society,
and initiated I'm private and public
dance halls, is immodest, to say the
least. The predominating element In
the steps is one of sex appeal. Esthe-
ucs and grace are forgotten - anti
quated. Coupled with this Is the state
OF dress, or rather undress, which
draws little distinction between the
society girl and the demimonde. When
this Is considered. one needs not seek
Tor a reason for the present tango
madness. Undoubtedly a certain
amount OF protection is afforded the
society girl, for the men in her own
! set, dissolute as some of them NAV be
VIII generally let her alone, seeking
instead the attractive side street-girl
Tor whom they have no concern or re-
spect. But the power of form and
custom thus established permeates the
lower strata, and the public dance hall
becomes, bad as it was at best, one of
the great agencies in the demoraliza-
uon OF young. womanhood.
Cigaret Smoking
"Cigaret smoking among the best
! women in our large cities is becoming
alarming, and their lesser sisters by
power of imitation, are taking to the
haplt. Cosmetics are now being used
with boldness and generality that
was comparatively unknown off the
stage a few years ago. In short. the
Shrine of sense-and-sex to-day stands
hlgh in the regard of American ciyili-
zation.
1t is not fair to say that the coun-
try is in retrogressive state, but II
appears that though we are placing
much stress upon the humanities in
legislation, and in the practical appli-
cation in the spirit OF the brother
mood of man. the individual has tenn
porarily lost sight of himself, with the
demoralizing conditions already noted
as a result.
The intelligent mother must realize
the duty she owes not only to her
| own daughter, but also to the daugh-
ters of others. who will be influenced
| by her judgment, or the lack of ii.
The place above all others for modesty
and other protective elements of char
acter to be formed. is in the home; ;
and If the woman of social position
continues in her indiscretions of dress
and conduct little blame can logically
attach to those who follow in her
train.