gence before the age of puberty; and the dangers are so great
that I see no way so safe as

THOROUGH INSTRUCTION

regarding them at the earliest age. A child may be taught, simply as a
matter of science, as one learns botany, all that is needful to know,
and such knowledge may protect it from the most terrible evils.

The law for childhood is perfect purity, which cannot be too carefully
guarded and protected by parents, teachers, and all caretakers. The
law for youth is perfect continence--a pure vestalate alike in both
sexes. No indulgence is required by one more than the other--for both
nature has made the same provision. The natures of both are alike, and
any--the least--exercise of the amative function is an injury to one
as to the other.

MEN EXPECT

that women shall come to them in marriage chaste and pure from the
least defilement. Women have a right to expect the same of their
husbands. Here the sexes are upon a perfect equality.

On this subject, Dr. Carpenter (physiological works) has written like
a man of true science, and, therefore, of true morality. He lays it
down as an axiom that _the development of the individual and the
reproduction of the species stand in an inverse ratio to each other_.
He says: "The augmented development of the generative organs at
puberty can only be rightly regarded as _preparatory_ to the exercise
of the organs. The development of the _individual_ must be completed
before the procreative power can properly be exercised for the
continuance of the race." And in the following extract from his
"Principles of Human Physiology," he confirms my statement respecting
the unscientific and libertine advice of too many physicians: "The
author would say to those of his younger readers who urge the wants of
nature as an excuse for the illicit gratification of the sexual
passions, 'try the effects of _close mental application_ to some of
those ennobling pursuits to which your profession introduces you, in
combination with _vigorous bodily exercise_, before you assert that
appetite is unrestrainable and act upon that assertion.' Nothing tends
so much to increase the desire as the continual direction of the mind
toward the objects of its gratification, whilst nothing so effectually
represses it as a determined exercise of the mental faculties upon
other objects and the expenditure of nervous energy in other channels.
Some works wh