BEDFORD REFORMATORY
W. J. Lampton, in theNew York Times
W. J. Lampton, in theNew York Times
W. J. Lampton, in theNew York Times
[Bedford Reformatory, a State institution doing invaluable service in the reclamation of wayward girls, is overcrowded and asks $700,000 from the state for extension purposes.]
Behold, she standsAnd stretches out her handsFor aid.Those firm, strong hands,Those gentle, helpful hands,Whose spirit unafraidOf sin and shame and lossHave borne the burden of the crossFor girls unnamable, whose feetHave trod the open street,The market-placeOf body and of soul,In search of tollFrom any man who gaveTo own a common slave,The chattel of the street.These Bedford comes to meet,But not as shameless things;To them she bringsLove, courage, hope, the better way,The clean, new dayWhose morning sun awakesAnother world to those half goneAnd hopeless onesTo whom there was no other dawn.And now she standsWith outstretched handsFor aid; the means to liftOut of the ghastly driftThese girl-souls crying in the nightFor kindly light.And shall she be denied?Shall men who buyDeny?Shall any man, in whom his prideIn his own womankind is strong,Go wrongAnd sayTo Bedford: “Nay”?May 3, 1913.
Behold, she standsAnd stretches out her handsFor aid.Those firm, strong hands,Those gentle, helpful hands,Whose spirit unafraidOf sin and shame and lossHave borne the burden of the crossFor girls unnamable, whose feetHave trod the open street,The market-placeOf body and of soul,In search of tollFrom any man who gaveTo own a common slave,The chattel of the street.These Bedford comes to meet,But not as shameless things;To them she bringsLove, courage, hope, the better way,The clean, new dayWhose morning sun awakesAnother world to those half goneAnd hopeless onesTo whom there was no other dawn.And now she standsWith outstretched handsFor aid; the means to liftOut of the ghastly driftThese girl-souls crying in the nightFor kindly light.And shall she be denied?Shall men who buyDeny?Shall any man, in whom his prideIn his own womankind is strong,Go wrongAnd sayTo Bedford: “Nay”?May 3, 1913.
Behold, she standsAnd stretches out her handsFor aid.Those firm, strong hands,Those gentle, helpful hands,Whose spirit unafraidOf sin and shame and lossHave borne the burden of the crossFor girls unnamable, whose feetHave trod the open street,The market-placeOf body and of soul,In search of tollFrom any man who gaveTo own a common slave,The chattel of the street.These Bedford comes to meet,But not as shameless things;To them she bringsLove, courage, hope, the better way,The clean, new dayWhose morning sun awakesAnother world to those half goneAnd hopeless onesTo whom there was no other dawn.And now she standsWith outstretched handsFor aid; the means to liftOut of the ghastly driftThese girl-souls crying in the nightFor kindly light.And shall she be denied?Shall men who buyDeny?Shall any man, in whom his prideIn his own womankind is strong,Go wrongAnd sayTo Bedford: “Nay”?
Behold, she stands
And stretches out her hands
For aid.
Those firm, strong hands,
Those gentle, helpful hands,
Whose spirit unafraid
Of sin and shame and loss
Have borne the burden of the cross
For girls unnamable, whose feet
Have trod the open street,
The market-place
Of body and of soul,
In search of toll
From any man who gave
To own a common slave,
The chattel of the street.
These Bedford comes to meet,
But not as shameless things;
To them she brings
Love, courage, hope, the better way,
The clean, new day
Whose morning sun awakes
Another world to those half gone
And hopeless ones
To whom there was no other dawn.
And now she stands
With outstretched hands
For aid; the means to lift
Out of the ghastly drift
These girl-souls crying in the night
For kindly light.
And shall she be denied?
Shall men who buy
Deny?
Shall any man, in whom his pride
In his own womankind is strong,
Go wrong
And say
To Bedford: “Nay”?
May 3, 1913.
May 3, 1913.