The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-07-19
A DANGEROUS IDEA
TO HARBOR

Once more the American people
are reminded that it is a dangerous
thing to try to make somebody's re-
ltgious beliefs and conduct conform
to the convictions of any particular
person. A good many persons have
been mistaken and honestly so, in
the doing Of very serious things.
At Craighead, New York, pretty
Miss Dorothy Kaufman was stabbed
to death, and no reason for 1t could
| be found by canvassing all the angles
that usually govern in cases of vio-
lence. She had no enemies and the
matter remained q mystery until
somebody advanced the theory that
religious fanatic had killed her to
save her soul, and as the detectives
checked up on this theory and con-
sidered all the circumstances, they
give it as their belief that it was
done for that purpose.
She was a Mennonite, raised in
their strict discipline and required
to follow their simple forms of liv-
ing. 1t is said that they allow no
ornaments dress, and only the
quietest of amusements-no thrills,
no real fun-that would be wicked.
She received her education and be-
came the principal of a little
Mennonite school, but she grew tired
of the restraints and monotony of
her life and finally quit her job and
went to work as a servant, where
she received money for her work and
did not have to set an example. With
her first pay she bought a pretty
dress to take the place of her
severely plain one. Then she was
stabbed to death and her slayer has
not been traced, tho the way her adj
visers had been laboring with her to
keep her from going into the ways
of the world, wearing pretty clothes
with ornaments and color, lends
weight to the theory stated.
But the Menonites are not the |
only ones who started out severely |
plain and stunning sin in the forms
of beauty in flowers and ribbons.
There are several denominations
that are considered quite sane now,
who in their earlier periods, did
things that way. If woman put a
flower in her hair or pinned a polka
dot on her dress, it was the subject
for church trial and a deuce of a
stir. It isn't so very far back to the
days when these severe simplicities
were justified on the ground that
they. could not afford ornaments or
luxuries-this in the face of nature
spreading flowers lavishly where
hey could be had for the picking,
)ut as a poor excuse is sometimes
,etter than none right at the critical
they would make a rule
md ruling, and get away with it
or while, but there would be mo-
nents of reflection when the heart
would rebel, and the church newt
bly, surrendered gradually, very
lowly as forced to, and let the mat
er of difference be forgotten as best
hey could. Many of the American
olonies were started by people who
)ok to the wilderness of the western
orlc to obtain freedom in all such
latters, and in most of the colonies
ley soon got to exercising the same a
polish tyranny which they had left II
urope to escape. b.
If ribbons and flowers and music "a
I'd real fun and hearty laughter n
ere positively sinful and wicked lie
lring the development of the col W
lies and the new states in America,
hat an awful accounting we shall sc
I've to face for the present go-as- T.
'u-please and follow-nature prac- fr
les of today! On the other hand, til
they were wicked then and are all OF
,ht now, when did enjoyment cease OF
be curse and become good for IF
gestion and for mental clearness, w
d purity of heart and soul! of
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