ers and
baneful influences of infantile and childhood life, she is womanly
indeed, and we behold her with an unburdened conscience, clear
intellect, artless and candid address, good memory, buoyant spirits,
a complexion bright, clear and, as the poet declares, "beautiful
exceedingly." Every function of her body is well performed, and no
fatigue is experienced after moderate exertion. She evinces that
elasticity of spirit and gracefulness of body, and happy control of her
feelings which indicate healthfulness of both mind and body. Her whole
time is given up to her studies, duties and amusements; and as she feels
her stature increase and her intellect enlarge, she gladly prepares for
her coming struggle with the world--though in a manner becoming to her
sex. This, too, is no fanciful sketch, but is realized in thousands of
cases every year. It is one which parents feel proud to witness in a
daughter, and one in which the daughter takes a modest delight. We have
said that every function of her body is well performed. The functions of
the female body, which in a state of health are perfectly free from
pain, are very numerous and, in the four years from fourteen to
eighteen, she accomplishes an amount of physiological cell change and
growth which Nature does not require of a boy in less than twice that
number of years. It is obvious, therefore, that a girl upon whom Nature,
for a limited period and for a definite purpose, imposes so great a
physiological task, will not have as much power left for the tasks of
school as a boy, of whom Nature requires less at the corresponding
epoch. The functions of circulation, respiration, digestion,
perspiration, nutrition and menstruation, though involuntary, are all
important, dependent one upon another, and all develop at the proper
time. Puberty is the proper time for the appearance of menstruation, one
of the most important and sacred of her functions. It should not be
feared, dreaded or regarded as a nuisance; it forms a part of herself;
and she never commands the respect and forbearance of her friends, or
even of her enemies, more than when it is known that she is "unwell." It
serves in many ways as a blessing to her, rather than an inconvenience.
Let no young girl be alarmed, as, owing to the negligence of her parents
or guardians, many are, at the first appearance of this flow of blood
from the genital organs. She should keep more quiet than usual, at these
times, until the flow d