The Washington times., 1914-03-23

IT am q working .Sirl. having lived
away from homo and made my own
way for three yearA I have made
small wages. but have been able to
keep strsnght. Sometimes 1t has been
pretty hard work. But ind that
tho people who blame girls the most
for going wrong haven't done much
to help mo to keep. straight I have
never had . person speak to mo OF
my dftnger or warn mo since I have
been in Washinston. I don't want
charity, but II my virtue II 30 valu-
able, they ought to keep me informed
30 that I would not lose It."
Tho above letter expresses the
thought Of many that have como to
me, and tn consideration u vital
Tho contrast between the lack Of
interest shown in the protection OF
the virtue Of girls and the flood gates
of vituperation that are, hers whom
she loses her virtue must present .
queer anomaly to the girl alone in
q great city, with no enc who seems
to feel the least interest In her pro-
lection.
Frequently the FIRST attention she
receives II after she has cotton into
trouble Then the neWspapers arc
full Of the dehails Of her life and
everybody II interested. But tell the
same people that there is q friend
less Girl living ne1t door 10 them
who has nowhere to spend her oven
ings and 1hey VIII pass the matter
over As Of no interest
The very people VINO blame gths
the most when they 80 wrong, ars
those who DO the least to help to
kesp them straight.
Show mo Q person who. In time OF
need. Is sympathetic and helpful and
who devotes her energies to making
the world better. and VIII show you
the judgments she pronounces on the
shortcomings Of others. Those who
demand from themselves high
standard arc usually generally those
who fall short Of the standard they
have set for their own conduct.
Tho following fable illustrates tho
toSssy esy IN msag ms tSsrs S,srs rss n,s ,t..
dove that had ono possession Of
which she was very proud. q beaut-
full white pearl She thought this q
wonderful Jewel, and she felt that
she would not exchange It for any
thing else In the world Around her
were Q dock Of hawks and cuckoos,
eagles, and buxzards. She did not
and the partddges and pheasants
were SO shy and kept 30 far away
from her, that she did not get an
opportunity to learn muca from
them. These birds Of prey would
gather about the poor little dove and
tell her that she was . fool to guard
her Jewel as she did and to suffer
It meant nothing to her. and that
she would be Just a. well OF without
It. At last, being persuaded that
the Jewel was only worth what Il
would purchase. she gave 1t 'tp.
But as soon a she had done this,
these same birds began to belabor
her for giving It up and to tell her
should never have parted with It
They began to peck her and throw
mud and stones at her, and spatter
her WITH mire. Even the pheasants
and partTidges that had never como
near her before, now approached
close sncush to help the hawks and
isn't this Q strange world? Tae
thing which I thought was valuable
no one else seemed to value - long
as had Il. but now that have
lost II, they begin to talk about is
value. Why didn't they tell me Of
to keep itr'
This IL the seofy Of many . S:ri;
she might not vodcs II In Just these
terms, but the Same thought and ex-
perience shown IN the fable was
hers.
The precious jswel Of innocence