No, it really is not from the so
cially dangerous classes that the in
sidious peril comes to the lonely, un
wary young girl.
It comes, primarily, from the
vicious double standard of morals.
The indiscretions of the city’s gilded
youth are matters for laughter and
genial chaffing. The indiscretions of
the unfortunate girl mean the tragic
blight of her entire life.
So, analyzing the subject, we find
even yet the general attitude of mind
on the part of most men of the world,
practically all the fathers of families,
is just this: “I will protect my
daughters; but any other man’s
daughters, or any orphan girls, are
no concern of mine. Let ’em look
out for themselves.”
This gives to the gill of a happy,
comfortable home, every advantage.
It strips all protection from the girl
who must make her own living; or
who has special talent to be de
veloped; or whose ambition is burn
ing and not to be appeased by a
pleasantly monotonous existence.
We must be a very weak, very in
efficient sort of people if we can not
dissipate some of these ancient fal
lacies and make every part of these
United States the legitimate heritage
of its girls, as well as its boys.
