The sun., 1919-05-05
PERIL TO GIRLS SEEN
IN PUBLIC DANCING
Probation Association Blames
Block Parties for Much
Of Social Evil.
SUMNER PLANS OUTLINED
Report of Years Efforts Con-
tains Plea for Help to Ex-
tend Reform Work.

The bad effect upon misguided girls
Of war time emotionalism il noted by
the New York Probation and Protective
Association. which had 1854 young girls
under its care In the last year.
One fragrant cause OF disorder" said
Maude e. Miner. secretary OF the re-
formative association. has been block
parties which otherwise were so success
full in promoting neighborhood spirit.
The girls frankly tell us the results OF
promiscuous mlngling In dances, often
vulgar. and entirely unsupervised and
lasting until far into the night. The
dangers In all public dancing are APP
parent to all of US who work with these
girls.
1T is not true that dancing Is the
only way OF entertaining young people.
Singing under a conductor who knows
how to train the voice as well as the
mind Is Just as entertaining. is more ed
ucational and has none OF the dangers
Of public dancing Girls don't go 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 taken the world long time to find
this out Girls have natural love for
rhythm, color and ornament. This Is the
clue to their natures. The great need Is
more opportunities for wholesome recre-
alton for both girls and young men"
Many Girls From Country.
Miss Miners investigations convinced
her that the dangerous age for girls Is
between 16 and II. This fact was dem
onstrated by the work done by the as
ISOLATION among nearly 1000 girls in the
last year. Some of these had come to
New York from the country or from
small towns in search of better pay and
in the hope of excitement or adventure.
They came into contact with soldiers and
sailors and many OF them became VIC
tins. The association had difficulty in
getting convictions in such cases, the
civil authorities manifesting unwilling
ness to make complaints against men
in the. army or navy even when the
cases were fragrant.
The military authorities, II is noted by
Miss Miner. have displayed no such hes
itation and have punished offenders Sc
verely when evidence was submitted to
them. The report mentions a number OF
cases in which very young girls new to
the city and fascinated by n uniform and
the lure of adventure we're mistreated
by sailors or soldiers. these instances be-
ing invariably OF a nature too shocking
to be set forth in print The associa-
ton kept scouts" busy constantly try
ing to prevent such tragedies.
The work Of the protective officers has
included scouting in the streets, in the
parks. around camps. armories and re-
cruiting stations; visiting dance halls
and motion picture theatres investi-
eating furnished room houses. places OF
employment and restaurants; watching
railroad terminals and amusement parks
and generally keeping an eye upon fool
ish young women putting themselves in
danger The recruiting ship In Union
Square has been much too alluring for
many young girls. Many were found
lettering there and talking to the men.
A flfteen-year-old girl found repeatedly
with different sailors said to one of the
protective officers: II Just love to be
seen walking with uniform"
Plan Active Summer Work.
Tho places where special attention
was thought necessary last summer and
which will be closely observed this sum-
mer In the course OF the campaign TO
protect young girls were Central Park.
Riverside Drive, Bronx Park. Crotona
Park, Pelham Bay, Clason Point, the
Fourteenth street district. the vicinity OF
the Navy Yard and OF the Atlantic
avenue subway station in Brooklyn. the
bridges across the East River. the
Staten Island ferryboats and boats ply
ing to amusement resorts. railway ter
minals. dance halls and motion picture
houses. Policewomen assisted the pro-
tective officers in this work and the as
ISOLATION asks for the appointment OF
ten more police officers in skirts. The
report concludes thus:
During the period OF rehabilitation
and reconstruction there Is need OF CIV
ing greater attention to the problem OF
helping those who are delinquent and TO
safeguarding young girls. The returning
soldiers and sailors are regarded as
heroes by these young persons and are
more attractive than ever before. With
the many celebrations incident to the
homecoming, more care must be taken
that spirit of license does not take the
place OF controlled action The ten
dency to let down is inevitable. Civilian
officers will find 1t difficult to enforce
regulations and laws without Govern
ment help.
Temporarily many women are being
thrown out Of work as men return 10
their jobs in factory. Office and trans
portation services. The New York Pro-
DdllOi anu tTOleCtiNe ASSOCIATION has IN
creased its work in war time because OF
the greater needs, but the needs of the
period of rehabilitation and reconstruc-
ton are not less. The association must
raise It's budget to $4,000. It has no
permanent or reserve fund. and is en-
tirely dependent upon voluntary gifts
and membership dues The great task
that lies ahead is in bringing society 10
understand more fully its responsibility
for preventing moral wreckage In the
lives OF young girls. This message must
reach more citizens who have power to
improve conditions
George w. Alger Is president of the
association. with Mrs William Il. Rice
honorary vice-presdent. Mrs. Ruth
Standish Baldwin first vice-president,
DR.. Edward 7. Devine second vice-pres
ident Milton I. d. Einstein treasurer and
Maude e. Miner secretary. Among the
directors are Justice Alfred r. Page OF
the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court. Chief Justice Frederic Kegnochan
of the Court OF Special Sessions, Mrs
Frank A. Vanderlip. Mrs. Charles Cary
Rumsey. Mrs. John T. Pratt, Mrs. Shell
ton Martin. Charles Altschul and George
Gordon Battle. The offices of the asso-
citation are at 100 East Twenty-second
street.