The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-03-21

n
Seven hundred and eleven young
girls disappeared from their homes
in and around Cleveland during the
past year. Several hundred Of them
were found later. some of them be-
fore they had fallen. others after
they had sfnned. Hundreds of moth
these homes grieved and suffered
until the girls were brought back
to them.
Other hundreds are still grieving
and wondering what these girls are
doing. whether they are still living.
Many ofthese mothers and other rel
atives will never know what has be-
come of their girls. They may have
sought death in the lake or in other
ways, they may have fallen into the
hands of nnscruplIlous men and
women, or they may right now he
starving, or selling their souls to OBJ
tain a slivelihood.
Many will say. ooh. such things
cannot happen in any city. There
are no men and women so wicked
But they do happen. and one to
get the proof has but to call
on officials OF the Travellers
Aid societies, the Salvation Army
+
CARNATIONS who by night and day
search for these unfortunate girls,
and who have been responsible for
returning 10 their homes several
hundred of the seven hundred and
eleven girls who disappeared in1913.
But the greater majority of those
who disappear or leave their home
drop out OF sight forever. and are
never heard of again Mothers al
most daily go 10 graves. their deaths
FASTENED by the knowledge that some
where in this world they have a
daughter, a young girl who left
home years ago. and who either has
committed suicide or has been
ashamed to come back to the home
she left.
And these mothers before death
relieves them pray nightly that their
wayward girl might come back; each
knock. at the door brings an echo
from the mother heart. but eight
times outsof ten the girl never comes
back, the mother fingers. then dies
with broken heart. These girls
who have run away do not under
stand a mother love. They do not
realize that back homo is one who is
eager and anxious To forgive any
thing. II they did, more of them
would return home.
GIRL IS LUCKY If SHE FALLS IL
WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
Lucky is the girl who runs away
from home and falls in the hands Of
any of the organizations which have
done so much good In past years.
And unlucky are the girls who are
lured away by men and women
Ia vI,ty
slave traffic. OF course, there are
very few OF these in most cities, bit
there are some. and no matter how
few they manage to do their share 6f
harm. and then cover their tracks so
clcyerly that the representatives of
these organizations formed to help
girls are baffied.
In most passenger stations one
sees a kind faced woman dressed in
sombre gray. She wears the Trav-
elers Aid badge. On the arrival OF
each train she goes from the waiting
room to the gates and if she sees
any girls coming In alone she asks
IL they have friends in the city, or
if they need help. And if they do.
help OF the right sort is given them.
But one tails to see the other
side-the white slayers, men and
women. who also meet all trains.
and offers the same help to girls
who are alone-providing these girls
are pretty enough. But they are
times they approach a girl before
this kind messenger OF the Travel
crs Aid does. and IL the girl is
alone and friendless she sometimes
accepts these alluring offers OF
friends. and a good position. II she
does she is lost. What becomes OF
her no one knows except those who
have spirited her away.
1t is this that has prompted the
Travellers Aid and other organiza-
lions to have representatives in the
railway stations and boat landings
Members of these organizations
figure that more girls leave their
home after having been betrayed by
men than for any other reason. And
they say that these girls are from all
stations Of life. from the wea1thicst
sthe poorest. Some OF them wish
to hide their shame from their home
folks. others are so miserable that
they leave in hopes that something
will happen TO make them forget.
Some OF them are so fortunate as TO
come within the pale OF a Rescue
Home Of the Salvation Army. the y.
W. g. A.. or some OF the other or
CARNATIONS. and there they are soon
induced 10 tell where they came
from and when released from the
homes. in q great MANY instances
they return to their parents.
GIRLS ARE GIVEN POSITIONS,
.iNDsTHEN FOLLOWED UP.
The best work now being done BY
these institutions is the follow up i
after a girl has been discharged
from one OF their homes. Every girl
Is accounted for. given position and
made se1f-supporting.
The Young Women's Christian
Associat ion also plays an important
part IN the rescue work. takinEcare