The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-17
ADVICE TO THE
LOVELORN
BY BeatriceS Fairfax

Il went to High school for just two
weeks; but because we hadn't any
money 1 had to leave and go to work.
I'm only Is. but 1 pass for Is and
sometimes for 20. OF course this is I'M
fortunate, but what most annoys me
is that so much has been expected of
me that 1 have simply had to grow
up in mind as well as body.
Father buys me pretty and ex-
pensive clothes. but when I wear
them I feel as If 1 were some orna-
ment with a Please don't touch
other girls-but father is stubborn
about it. 1t isn't my fault that I'm
only Is. If / am big enough to leave
school and go without education,
still intend to have-if I'm big enough
to work. don't you think I'm also big
enough to have little fun once in a
while?"
So writes girl we'll call Ray.
There are plenty of Rays in the
world. I know any number of pre-
cocoious young girls who ought to be
children and who have been forced
by the thing called economic pr esq
ure" out into the world to earn their
way.
Poverty Is a stern task-mist-ess
There are thousands of families IN
our city who haven't enough money
on hand to keep things going. The
children have to sacrifice their care
free youth and their school days and
come out into the arena to earn their
share toward the upkeep of a shabby
| little home.
1t Is a cruel necessity which drives
a, girl of Is out into the world. No
| one can help regrettfng the shortening
| of childhood. Illusions and dreams
and p1aytime are given to folks for a
| short enough time at best.
| But there's nothing to be gained by
| fighting the inevitable. When poverty
| commands youth has to put down its
| toys and march out to take up the
| weapons OF life.
Now, then. why make bad matters
| worse7
A little girl who tolls all day owe,
| notebook Or ledger needs a good
nights rest to keep her youth fresh
! and dewy. 1t is bad enough for hel
| parents to know that by day she's Out
! ION her own" struggling in a world
| that can't help showing her a lot OF
| ugliness and sordfdness and mean
| ness-and downright badness.
| But when night comes the paren
| birds like to watch over the little one
| ("1ittle' TO them even If she's five fee
eight. They don't want to have hel
out in the night life of the city. They
! don't want to have her wearing her
! self out and rushing about in pursui
| of gaudy, tinsel pleasure, with danger
! lurking ready to pounce on the young
ster who-thank fortune = doesn'
know all the dangers and pitfalls O.
life like an ugly. srnirchy book.
| Good times" get to be an awfu
| bore to folks after awhile. Think O
| all the tired, bIase faces that go abou
the eity's streets. Think of all thu
| folks who talk about tenvying yol
your enthusiasms." Ray. Don't the.
give you an idea, of the foolishness o
| trying to drain the cup of life at on
| gulp? Don't they bring home to yol
the misery that comes from grabbin:
at things so greedily that after tim
there's nothing left that seems wortl
| the grabbing?
Truly, L don't believe a girl of 1!
IS a good enough judge of men to b.
| allowed to trot about with those sh
| happens to meet at work or through
| other youngsters. I don't think sh,
has enough experience to enable he
to measure how near people come t,
meaning what they say, and sayiri
what they mean.
| L think It's a dangerous thing 70
her to try to top off her work Will
society. I think she ought to be
little girl after work hours, and wal
- for grown-upness to come and banfsl
all trace Of childhood and it's bAaut.
and dewysyswe etness.