OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 43, 19 February 1918, Page 2

OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I note- that "8.," in referring to assaults on children, makes the grotesque .assertion that these are due to the mothers' way of dressing their children. This is almost as bad as the excuse of the English Magistrate who sentenced a man' rather lightly for an assault on a girl.of four because "a man never knew ■when he .might be tempted." A man who can be tempted by young children is no longer fit for human society. Again, as to "little girls wandering the streets at will," Well, that means serious danger from traffic, but should. mean nothing else. As to the moral dangers, these unfortunately may occur when there is no real" laxity on" fhe part of the mother. Assaults may' happen in gardens, in steamships, anywhere ; and they happen simply because men can do with impunity here what in other countries, they would be flogged or lynched for.— I am, etc., • ' : ' C.QNSTANCE CLYDE. 17th February. ' :

TO TjM EDITOR. Sir,—With your indulgence I will reply to your correspondent op the above subject on 16th instant. I did riot iiotice the letter he referred to by a mother, but that is'immaterial, a 6it does not alter one iota the grossly wrong attitude taken ■ lip by "B." "B." contends .that'mothers, are themselves largely to blame for the violation of their little girls—i.c._, improper dre66, and allowing their children out too late at night. In .fairness to "B." I will say many children, unfortunately, are allowed out top late at night; but re the first part of his contention,' if your correspondent, alludes to short dresses, might I venture to say that ,to a cleanminded man there is something extremely'beautiful about short dresses.and the sturdy tanned Jimbs of a child, Further, I consider, from a'health point of view, that" short dresses are very desirable at" this' time''of the year. ' The' rapid growth of a child and the limited funds of the average 'working man must also lie considered." ''" ' ' \ But, Sir, does "B." fake up the attitude that because a poor innocent little girl wears a snort dress, or because a negligent mother allows her child out longer thipi it really should be, for these' reasons he might expuse a licentious hog for ruining jtjie. life of a helpless JJtile.girl? ' " : In conclusion, I jvould like to emphatically state that when a, man has sunk to 6ucli a degraded jiipral Jevel as to violate one of God's little ones (unless he js a lunatic). ,ilie law shoulcj be so amended as. to declare —with no alternative—that that ■'man be rendered iucapable of rppeatjtg his nefarious crinie.— 1 ajh, etc., " ■ ' . JAS. 0. BURT. 18th February.