what good has her
innocence done her? No good at all! It is not calculated to do her
good--her good is not the prime consideration. It makes her more
charming in the eyes of men; but it may bring her great unhappiness.
Lady Evelyn's trusting heart has usually been broken. When the story
begins about the farmer's pretty daughter with limpid blue eyes, sweet
as bluebells washed in dew, all innocent of the world ways, the
experienced reader knows at once what is coming. Innocence is hard on
the woman, however charming it may be to men. The women who go a step
beyond innocence and are so trusting as to be described as
simple-minded, no matter how gentle, patient, and sweet they are, are
absolutely unsafe in this world of man's chivalry and protection. If
you want to know what fate overtakes them, ask the matron of the Refuge
for Unfortunate Women, ask any person who has worked among this class
of women, and they will tell you how much good innocence and the
trusting heart does any woman. This is a sore thought!

It would be perfectly delightful if our daughters might remain
innocent. They should have that privilege. Innocence belongs to
childhood and girlhood, but under present conditions, it is as
dangerous and foolish as level and unguarded railway crossings, or open
and unguarded trap doors. It is no pleasant task to have to tell a
joyous, sunny-hearted girl of fourteen or fifteen about the evils that
are in the world, but if you love her, you will do it! I would like to
see this work done by trained motherly and tactful women, in the
department of social welfare, paid by the school board. I know the
mothers should do it, but many mothers are ignorant, foolish, lax, and
certainly untrained. The mother's kindly counsel is the best, I know,
but you cannot always rely upon its being there. This is coming, too,
for public sentiment is being awakened to the evils of innocence.

I remember, twenty years ago, when Dr. Amelia Yeomans, of sainted
memory, published at her own expense, a little leaflet called "Warning
to Girls" and circulated it among girls who were working in public
places, what a storm of abuse arose. I have a copy of the little
tract, and it could be safely read in any mixed gathering today.
Ministers raged against it in the pulpit. I remember one brother who
was very emphatic in his denunciations who afterwards was put out of
the church for indecent conduct. Of course he wanted girls to remai