At the Country Stations

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 28, 1907

At the Country Stations

In passing a railroad station at a small country place, one often notices that a large number of young girls are there for seemingly no purpose except to see the trains come in and depart. Sometimes these girls merely stand around and gaze with peculiar interest at the strangers they see in the cars, while some move apace and flirt with the trainmen, or some of the male passengers. One instinctively wonders what the mothers mean who permit their daughters to go to a public place of this kind where they can have no possible business. Frequently it looks as if they went to attract attention, for they are dressed in their best clothes, and their actions are loud and boisterous.

These girls are by no means wicked; nor do they mean harm; they are simply frivolous. The station seems to be the only spot in their sleepy little towns where there is any life or excitement; and the young people weary of monotony. But it is a thing to be discouraged, for it would cause them heartaches and intense mortification, could they hear the remarks made about their being there. These young girls should go to the station only when they are going away on the train, or accompanying a friend, and should leave as soon as possible, making themselves as inconspicuous as may be. There is no denying that many very good girls go there solely for the purpose of seeing new faces, something to relieve the eternal stagnation of farm-village life. But, dear girls, you would not be one bit more conspicuous or talked about if you all went down to the village street and sat with the loafers about the town square or post-office steps. Take care of your good name and character, girls, for that is the most precious thing you have, and no one can damage it so readily as yourself.—Woman's National Daily.