Dealing With Sentimentalism
[
Health, Philanthropic, and Medical Missionary Work, 26-28
(1885).]
The guardians of the institution must ever maintain a high stan-
dard and carefully watch over the youth entrusted to them by parents
as learners or helpers in the various departments. When young men
and women work together a sympathy is created among them which
frequently grows into sentimentalism. If the guardians are indiffer-
ent to this, lasting injury may be done to these souls and the high
moral tone of the institution will be compromised. If any, patients
or helpers, continue their familiarity by deception after having had
judicious instruction, they should not be retained in the institution,
for their influence will affect those who are innocent and unsuspect-
ing. Young girls will lose their maidenly modesty and be led to act
deceptively because their affections have become entangled....
The young should be taught to be frank, yet modest, in their as-
sociations. They should be taught to respect just rules and authority.
If they refuse to do this, let them be dismissed, no matter what posi-
tion they occupy, for they will demoralize others. The forwardness
of young girls in placing themselves in the company of young men,
lingering around where they are at work, entering into conversation
with them, talking common, idle talk, is belittling to womanhood. It
lowers them, even in the estimation of those who themselves indulge
in such things....
Let not those who profess the religion of Christ descend to trifling
conversation, to unbecoming familiarity with women of any class,
whether married of single. Let them keep their proper places with all
dignity. At the same time they should be sociable, kind, and courteous
[295]
to all. Young ladies should be reserved and modest. They should give
no occasion for their good to be evil spoken of.... Those who give
evidence that their thoughts run in a low channel, whose conversation
tends to corrupt rather than to elevate, should be removed at once from
310