The Washington times., 1917-10-14

i u mas oNNNACd
the conditions surrounding the nu-
merous dance halls OF the city. and
the motion picture houses, she has
come to the decision that a ruling
should be made so that the young
girls will understand that 1t Is a
misdemeanor for them to be out late
at night without an escort or q
chaperon.
NeEIectfuI Mothers to Blame.
That the necessity for this ruling
lies directly at the door of Indifferent
and negIectful mothers Mrs. Farling
declares. Absolving young girls
from most Of the blame in nearly ev-
cry instance. Mrs. Farling challenges
their mothers to realize their own re-
sponsibility. to do their duty in car
ing for them, and to take the burden
for their safety and protection on the
shoulders of the police.
Mrs. Farling is herself the mother
OF a sixteen-year-old boy and q thir-
teen-year-old daughter. She is the
true mother" type. Already, her
sympathetic understanding of the
girls problems has made hundreds Of
them turn to her for advice and pro-
lection; and she stands for them, In
many cases, in the role Of foster
mother.
Usually are Orphans.
"I haven't a word of blame for the
little girls 1 find on the streets, and
in the dance halls" Mrs. Farling be-
gan, as she related the experiences of
the past year. "In almost every in
stance 1 find that the girls mother is
either dead or neglectful, tina, she
is not having the proper training or
the proper care. do not hesitate to
put the blame for this condition in
Washington right where 1t belongs
on the shoulders of the parents.
when I take a girl of fourteen or
nfeten home at IL o'clock at night and
find the door locked. and the mother
sound and peacefully asleep then /
say the responsibility lies on that
mother and not on the little inexperi--
enced girl. who is after all, nothing
but a child, and SO needs q child's
protection
Glad Of the Interest.
mot one girl that have spoken
to has resented my action as inter
ference. It almost seems as though
the poor little things are glad to
have some one take an interest in
them.
with the exception of one woman,
the mothers also have been very ap-
preciative.
Some Of them, though. seem to
have no realization OF their own re-
In almost every In
stance the mothers excuse is that the
daughter had said she was going to
a friends house, or to the home Of a
relative. But the fact remains that
that mother did not make 1t her busi-
ness to see whether the girl was tell |
ing the truth.
Neither did she see to II that the |
girl was home early.
"In one case, I found the outside
door fixed with a chair under the
knob. The girl quickly opened It. |
II seemed as though the mother was
in the habit of going to sleep and
when she chose.
Need 0Id-fashioned Kind.
"what has become OF the old.
fashioned mother who couldn't sleep
until she knew that her little brood
was safe in bed, who couldn't close
her eyes in sleep until she knew that
her daughters were where they be-
longed? II the mothers OF today
would do that, the girls would be
more apt to get home early. The
very thought that mother is waiting
up for me- would hasten their steps
not only because OF con-
for that mother, but be-
cause the daughter would know that
the mother would know exactly what
time she came in, and not be willing
to take her word for II at the break
fast table next morning.
Then, too, find that none OF these
girls go to Sunday school or to
That also is the fault OF the
parent and the home training.
I'm afraid I'm sometimes on the
verge OF losing my patience. When
talk to the girls and warn them of
their own danger. and to the mothers,