This the first "Letter To The Editor" that I found in researching the New York Evening World. It appeared in the August 29, 1893 issue and written by a father who is having a row with his wife about spanking there 19 year old daughter.
Over the following month and a half several readers responded with both pro and con letters.
I have grouped them together into a cluster including a con letter because they are tied together in a common thread and relatively short
....And that leads me to a question.
Almost every letter generated a responding con letter. Would you like some of those included ?
Another theme you will notice in this batch and also letters published other 1890's New York newspapers is the regular reference to the "English Way".
In many of the letters, readers are given to believe that
-spanking is good for older girls,
-older girls in England are spanked as a matter of course,
-older girls in American homes with English born fathers, mothers, step-mothers etc. are spanked,
-non-English born parents should take the example of the English parent and spank there older girls too.
Any comments ?
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NEW YORK EVENING WORLD
August 29, 1893
IF THE GIRL STANDS IT, ALL RIGHT
To the Editor:
I am the father of a girl nineteen years old. I am in the habit of administering corporal punishment to her for offences committed. My wife remonstrates with me for this, but I think it right. I am an Englishman and at home, young women are whipped even after becoming of age and even among the better classes. I do not consider the girls in this country superior to those at home, and believe a whipping now and then does them good.
John Carlton
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September 1, 1893
WHIPPING BIG GIRLS
To the Editor:
I have just read with great interest and thoughtful study the letter from John Carlton. I am an English girl, nineteen years old and have never yet had my father's hands put on me in any harsh manner whatever. I extend my deep condolence to the daughter of your corespondent, and thank heaven I was not been born to his family. I have many young lady friends about my own age, and if you will furnish me with the address of Mr. Carlton, a committee of about twenty will interview him, and would like to administer a little of his own medicine.
LOUISE BLAKE
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September 9, 1893
HE SWITCHES TWO BIG DAUGHTERS
To the Editor:
John Carlton is right. I have two daughters, aged seventeen and the other nineteen, and I find a stout switch applied frequently more effective than persuasion.
JERSEY
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September 18, 1893
NOW THE HUSBAND DOES THE SPANKING
To the Editor:
I give John Carlton credit for whipping his nineteen year old daughter, if he does it in the right way, not to mark or maim her, but a good spanking. I spanked my daughter when she deserved it until she married at twenty-one. Now her husband takes my place and does the same, and I give him credit for it. A spanking applied at the right time and to the right place would make better women.