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Show T PITFALLS OF SATAN. (Written for the Intermountain Catholic, J. F. R.) The society world is full of snares and pitfalls to ruin virtuous character. What is style-d as "gentility" and "good breeding" is as apt devoid of principles ! of uprightness as the openly coarse and vulgar. Mere society manners are only surface deep. They are full of deceit and very often used for effect. Many young girls of our day are educated to false ideas of social standing by theiir own mothers, whose main purpose is to havethem ''marry seme society swell." This education is for social prestige, rather than for intelligent nobility of character and consequent usefulness. Mothers do not keep their girls with them as they should, teaching them how to be useful and educating them in every way to make them the most beautiful and complete characters pos sible. "This is what God requires of a mother." The companionship of a godly mother is worth more to any girl than the best that society gives. The less of such a mother is irreparable. Every child ia more exposed to vice who is not well instructed in virtue from a good mother' heart and guardianship. guard-ianship. What a reproach to a mother whose child will say: "My ma don't care. She lets me go out and do as I please. She wants me to be like other girls. She don't mind if I flirt and have beaux." Learn the habits of most young girls who have been neglected, i and it will be found that they are given to sensual imaginings, coming from sensational reading and vicious com- panionhip.. Many are--victim of . morality at an early age. Through these critical years from girlhood womanhood, when they most need the faithful protection of a mother, how often they are left exposed to the snares of society life. Is it any wonder that so many girls are leading a life of vice and immorality? F.ithers. too, are equally responsible for the moral development de-velopment of their children. It is not an uncommon sight in passing along the streets aftei1 night to find groups of boys and girls flirting. Often a girl and a boy, or a. man. may be seen sitting sit-ting alone on steps or in some out-of-the-way place. Perhaps the mother thinks her daughter is in some friend's house, while she has gone to mecit a street appointment. These girls, who never need a mother's companionship, are throwing themselves right into the snares that are set for them. Loss of virtue is almost inevitable, and the mother is responsible. She has not oeen faithful to her trust, and all her tears and future endeavors will not amend the less of her child's character. Too much cannot be said on this subiect-If subiect-If the parents have no high standard of character, they will treat this matter mat-ter as of little account. Your Boy. Does your boy show an inclination to read? If so, provide him with a good periodical. "There are many Catholic weeklies to select from," even though you have to strain a point on something some-thing else to obtain the necessary sub-I sub-I scription price. He is bound to get reading somewhere, and if you do not provide it the chances are that he will surreptitiously borrow trashy papers from some of his; comrades. You do not want him to grow up with a taste for stage robbing and piracy, and a weekly or two and other home attractions attrac-tions will be a small price to pay for guiding him past such shoals. Encourage Encour-age your children to bring their playmates play-mates home occasionally, and give them time and assist them in, having sooial gatherings. It may be a. little bother,, but it will enable you to keep on a I more familiar footing with them and to know their associate's. Convince them that home is the. pleasantest spot in the world. |