ly every girl's life when her cry is to go to
the city, and I think I can speak from personal experience here. It may
be necessary through force of circumstances, or to develop herself along
the line of her cherished ambition, or a thirst for knowledge. If it is
to satisfy the desire for mere personal happiness and enjoyment and
craving for excitement, I say, "Beware!" for here it is many slip and
are lost.
She sees no danger, even though some warnings may be given, it is hard
for her to realize that she, herself, will be in danger, she will tell
you that she is able to take care of herself, forgetting her
surroundings will be vastly different. She finally sees the danger when,
alas, too late. I found an instance of this in a resort where a dear
girl said one night, "we are the fools. It's a broad door to come in but
so narrow to get out of here."
A HIDDEN DANGER.
The danger begins the moment a girl leaves the protection of Home and
Mother. One of these dangers, and one that seems to be well nigh
impossible for parents to realize, is the fact that there are watchers
or agents, who may be either men or women, at our steamboat landings,
railroad stations, everywhere, who seek attractive girls evidently
unused to city ways, try to make their acquaintance, using inducements
and deception of every conceivable kind, offers of helpfulness, showing
her every kindness.
I remember so well one dear girl whom I found in Cook County Hospital,
brought there from a brothel, sold, led away, deceived, from another
town, on the promise of work, who said to me, "Every one in Chicago
deceives you. No one told me the truth until I met you. You are the
first real friend I could trust."
Girls are offered refreshments, either to eat or drink. Many are secured
in this way and the girl has realized when too late, her refreshing
drink was drugged, and she is a victim, a prisoner, and her life ruined.
HUNGRY FOR A LITTLE COMPANIONSHIP.
After coming to the city, homesickness may overtake a girl and even if
in some cases warnings have been given, she may forget, throw off
restraint and pour out her heart freely to those of whom she knows
nothing, but in this unguarded moment the mischief is done.
One little realizes the longing in a girl's heart, who is alone in a big
city. The following incident brings out this point:
In a brothel one night I was talking with a girl who was playing with a
little pet dog. As I continued to ta
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