The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-12-03
T00DLES OF THE
PRIMROSE PATH
MRS. STEVENS WRITES OF CIR
CUMSTANCES SURROUNDING
MISGUIDED YOUNG WOMAN'S
LIFE AND RECOMMENDS NEED
ED LEGISLATION. IS Nc {
"TOoDLEs."
Editor Independent.


re this poor girl, both now and on for
mer occasions. As the Juvenile Of
fcer, whose duty it was to do her best
for her while she was still under 1S,
permit me to tell you why we could
not keep her longer in the care of the
Juvenile Court, and why she slipped so
easily over the precipice, where she
is dashing herself to pieces in her
struggles among the rocks covered
with mud and slime. ..-.
Towner cares, and would gladly help
her if we could. We have tried. !
only speak now because we have an
other girl in our care who became 18
in November Of this year, and we are
doing our best for her; and because
you may have girls to care for-there
are other hayward girls in the state
and this is the hinderance: '-
Under the present abominable law
which raised the age of consent to 10,
the wording is such that as soon as a
girl is 10, she may walk off and do as
she pleases, without let or hinderance.
The Juvenile Court cannot compel her
to report, not once year, far less
monthly, or weekly. The District
Judges believe they have no jurisdic-
ton over her unless she commits a
crime, and one District Judge, at
least, has rooted dislike to sending
a girl to the Reform School.
Over this very case of Toodles, when
the District Judge had been helping
her, and caring for her, and we found
that at 10 she would slip away from
us, we approached the Legislature Of
1918 with a clause to strengthen this
section of the law, and give US the
right to keep a girl reporting till she
was 81, as we now keep the boys do
ing, both in and out of the Reform
school; we got substitute clause in
which our hearts safely rested until
three weeks ago, when we needed to
lean on it, and we found it reed-it
broke. The Judge Of the 9th District,
whose kind heart we know and whose
work our whole district respects.
would not act on it, and another girl is
walking on the edge of the cliff. =.
Poor Toodles! She left home to
wash dishes in hotel, and the first
heard of her was that she was at the
ice cream counter every night and
staying out late in the park. The
women who told of it were forming
a Civic League to help our knotless
threads. Poor Toodles had had no
training. Family prayer had been
neutralized by the clashing of Irish
Catholic father with Norwegian Luth-
eran mother. Other members Of the
family have learned lesson, but she
slipped into careless company and
made plans for the Primrose Path.
The thorns are there, tho hidden for
while.
Now hope fathers and voters will
read this and that they will uphold
our representatives and senators in
amending and Strengthening our law
Section 63306, I believe, but I quote
from memory. The proper detail will
be laid before every member in due
season. am quite sure they will act.
Meanwhile I would plead with the Mi
not parents that they do not permit
their beautiful young people to stay
till the late train, when they visit 9TH
er towns and also that they frown
down late auto rides.
Your most priceless asset in Minot
is your youths; the coming manhood
and womanhood of this great common
wealth of North Dakota. You spend
much on your fine schools and your
admirable Normal. Let none slip thru
your hands. Help them to earnest
ness of purpose, and busy, useful
life.
Satan finds some mischief still for
idle hands to do, and the time from
four o'clock till ten is to be filled.
Yours in Faith, Hope and Love,
Jean McNaughton Stevens.