On April 6, 1906, the Lykens Standard took the opportunity to criticize the parents of a young girl who had died giving birth to a baby that had been conceived “out of wedlock” with a “fiend” who was “many years her senior” – and to warn other parents to keep a close eye on their daughters and what they were doing.
A SAD WARNING
In our issue of March 23rd [1906], our Tower City correspondent noticed the death of a young lady of that place aged 16 years. Her sad and untimely end was wrought by a human fiend in whom she had placed implicit confidence, but who deserted her when made acquainted with her condition. He is many years her senior, it is said, but this fact does not excuse him from the wrong that should have been righted, although it could not have saved her life.
Although the sad event is deeply deplored by the parents and friends of the lady, may we not hope that it will be productive of some good — a warning to other young maidens, and the means of causing a more strict vigilance of parents over their daughters when at the age at which more so than any other stage of life they are least fitted to evade the snares of the tempter? Many of our girls are on the streets, at picnics or balls when they should be at home under the care of their parents, and the wonder is that not more are led astray. Mothers, do you know where YOUR daughters spend their evenings and what company they are in? You SHOULD know. Heed the warning.
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The reference to the Tower City correspondent’s report in the Lykens Standard, March 23, 1906:
TOWER CITY – Special to the Standard.
Miss Lizzie Carl, 16 years old, daughter of John Carl and wife of Colliery Avenue, died on Saturday night in confinement. Funeral services were conducted in the Lutheran Church by the Rev. Frankenfield.
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The obituary appeared in the West Schuylkill Herald, March 23, 1906:
PHOEBE ELIZABETH CARL
Phoebe Elizabeth Carl, aged 16 years 10 months and 9 days, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Carl, residing on Colliery Avenue, on Saturday morning at 5 o’clock, of convulsions, following the birth of a female child. The child died with the mother. Three physicians were in attendance. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon and was largely attended. Services were conducted in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church by the pastor, Rev. Ira Frankinfield, after which interment was made in Greenwood Cemetery.
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From Newspapers.com.
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