The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-15

slow wheels OF justice to take
their last turn.
Today in Indianapolis a
mother and father slowly are
numbering their daughter. eve are
doing it because we love her." they
say.
The girl is 10 years old and natur-
ally wants to have social contact
with boys of her own set.
But her mother and father forbid
her to have dates with anyone under
any circumstances and the girl with
her life stunted, is rebelling against
the imposition.
The girl points out that her par
ents were married when they were
10 years old and then complains
"and they won't even let me see a
fellow and I'm eighteen"
No doubt the parents marriage at
such an early age was filled with
difficulties. Probably they had to
battle hard for an even break. Life
was not good to them.
And now they are making an eff
fort to protect their daughter from
life. They are sheltering her. She
is being smothered to death with
their love.
That is not fair. Although rea-
sonable amount of protection and
advice is esSential-even a neces-
sity-they should not try to live
their daughters life for her, but
should give her a chance to enjoy
freedom.
Perhaps she will bump into trou-
BILE occasionally. Who doesn't? But
each encounter will leave the
daughter better able to go on living
and coping with the problems of
life.
Under the present system of
"paternaliSrn" the child is narrow
and cramped. Give her freedom;
she will expand and gain knowledge
and she will be able to enjoy the
fullness and richness of life.
There is a law under which that
wife in the first case was prosecut-
ed; there is no law under which
these parents can be brought to ac-
count. There should be.
Here is the letter from the daugh-
ter:
Dear Martha Lee: I am hoping you will
lieve I am the most discontinued girl in
Indianapolis. I soon will be eighteen years
old and I'm not even allowed to have dates
It's not because I don't want to, because
I do. I'm not even allowed to speak TO
a boy. That's not right, because mother
and dad were married when they were
There, is boy who comes by our street
ffreayd of He asked me for Y date not long
ago, but I didn't, give it to him. How
and talks to me. believe he understands.
Miss Lee, really I do care for him.
I could have dates, but If I have to be
don't want any dates at all.
Miss Lee, do all the cooking and r. house Use
work and e2 get day. ng sfay
with the young ones when mother ana
And after all the work is done, mother
doesn't seem to think I have done any
thing at all. Father sides IN with her,
and the children don't even take my side
even talk just have to stand by. myself.
If things don't change shortly, I'm
going some place where no one VIII II, know
happy then. LONESOME PAT.
In the first place, Lonesome Pat,
don't run away from home. I did
once and got as fax as grandmoth-
er's home seven blocks away. I was
mighty glad to get back home again
after one day.
Obviously, my dear Pat, your par
ents are unfair, but you must re-
member that you are very young yet.
It is true that they are Smotherlng
YOU with their love, but it won't be
long until they will give you more
freedom.
Be philosophical cultivate a sense
of humor. You know that your par
ents are wrong, but don't fight with
them about it. And you know, too,
that this vigilance can't last for
ever.
The boy to whom you refer in
your letter must be fine young
man. Keep his friendship, but don't
wind any silly romantic notions
about his head. He isn't young
Lochinvar riding out of the west
come to deliver you from the castle
of the ogre. He is just that nice
fellow from down the street. Take
him for just that and nothing more.
I admire your stand on Sneaking
out for dates without your parents
permission. That is a marvellous at
titude. Any girl with such code of
honor will be happy some day in
spite of everything.
Here is a girl who spoke out of
turn"
Dear Martha Lee: am a girl twenty
years old. There is a young fellow who
works in this same building with me. He
spoke to me once on the street and I
Snubbed him.
think Of no way to let him know how
THE COMO