The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-06

neIghborhOod spirit The girls |
frankly tell us the results of promiseu-
Gus mingling in dances, often vulgar, and
entirely unsupeyvised and lasting until
far into the night The dangers Of pub
lie dancing are apparent to all of us who
work with these girls.
1t is not true that dancing is the only
way Of entertaining young people. Sing
ing under conductor who knows how 10
train the voice as well as the mind is
just as entertaining, is more educational
and has none OF the dangers of public
dancing Girls. don't so wrong because
they want to, but because they have not
been taught how to make their energy
and love of beauty go right. 1t has ia
ken the world long time to find this
out. Girls have a natural love for rythm,
color and ornament. This is the clue to
their natures The great need is more
opportunities for wholesome recreation for
both girls and young men,
Miss Miners investigations convinced
her that the dangerous age for girls is be,
tween Is and IT, This fact was demon.
strated by the work done by the associ
alton among nearly 1000 girls in the last
wear. Some of these had come to New
ork from the country or from sinai
towns in search of better pay and in tht
| hope of excitement or adventure Thes
came into contact with soldiers and sail
ors and many OF them became victims
| The association had difficulty in gettiny
| CONVICTIONS in such cases, the civil au
thoritles manifesting unwillingness I
make complaints against men in the arm,
or navy even when the cases were flag
rant
The military authorities, it is noted b
Miss Miner, have displayed no such hes
tation and have. punished offenders Sc
verely when evidence was submitted t
them. The report mentions number Q
cases in which VERY YONG girls, new t
the city and fascinated by uniform an
the lure of adventure. were mistreate
by sailors or soldiers, these instances b,
ing invariably Of nature too shocking I
be set forth in print The association l5er
scouts busy constantly trying to pr,
vent such tragedies.
The work of the protective officers hf
included scouting in the streets, in IL
parks. around camps armoric; and +
crulting stations; visiting dance halls an
motion picture theatres; investigator
furnished room houses, places Of empio
ment and restaurants: watching railroa
terminals and amusement parks and pc
orally Keeping an eve upon foolish your
women putting themselves in danger. ri
recruiting ship III Union Square has bee
much toe alluring for many young girl
Many We're found lettering there and tai
ing to the men 4 l5-year-old girl -four
repeatedly with different sailors said
one Of the protective officers: Il ju
love TO be seen walking with uniform
he places where special attention w
thought necessary last summer and viii,
VIII be closely observed this summer
the course OF the campaign to prote
young girls were Central Park, Riversi
Drive, Bronx Park. Crotona Park, p
ham Bay, Clason Point. the Fourteen
street district the vicinity of the ma
yard and Of the Atlantic avenue subw
station in Brooklyn, the bridges aero
The East river, the Staten Island fern
boats and boats plying to amusement
sorts, railway terminals, dance halls a
motion picture houses Policewomen
SISTED the protective officers in this wo
and the association asks for the appoil
ment Of 10 more police officers in Skin
The report concludes thus:
During the period Of demobilzati
and reconstruction there is need Of g
ing greater attention to the problem
helping those who are delinquent and
sateguarding young girls The rcturni
soldiers and sailors are regarded as
roes by these young persons and are me
attractive than ever before With I
many celebrations incident to the hon
coming, more care must be taken IL
spirit Of license docs not take the pli
of controlled action The tendency
let down is inevitable Civilian effic
Will find it difficult to enforce regulate
and laws without government help.
Temporarily many women are be
thrown out OF work as men return
their jobs in factory, Office and transp
tation services The New York Pro
ton and Protective association has
creased its work in war time because
tho greater needs. but the needs of
-