functional
activity which is needful for the preservation of woman's
health."

In a study of one hundred and twenty-five American high school
girls Dr. Helen Kennedy refers to the "modesty" which makes it
impossible even for mothers and daughters to speak to each other
concerning the menstrual functions. "Thirty-six girls in this
high school passed into womanhood with no knowledge whatever,
from a proper source, of all that makes them women. Thirty-nine
were probably not much wiser, for they stated that they had
received some instruction, but had not talked freely on the
matter. From the fact that the curious girl did not talk freely
on what naturally interested her, it is possible she was put off
with a few words as to personal care, and a reprimand for her
curiosity. Less than half of the girls felt free to talk with
their mothers of this most important matter!" (Helen Kennedy,
"Effects of High School Work upon Girls During Adolescence,"
_Pedagogical Seminary_, June, 1896.)

The same state of things probably also prevails in other
countries. Thus, as regards France, Edmond de Goncourt in
_Cherie_ (pp. 137-139) described the terror of his young heroine
at the appearance of the first menstrual period for which she
had never been prepared. He adds: "It is very seldom, indeed,
that women speak of this eventuality. Mothers fear to warn their
daughters, elder sisters dislike confidences with their younger
sisters, governesses are generally mute with girls who have no
mothers or sisters."

Sometimes this leads to suicide or to attempts at suicide. Thus a
few years ago the case was reported in the French newspapers of a
young girl of fifteen, who threw herself into the Seine at
Saint-Ouen. She was rescued, and on being brought before the
police commissioner said that she had been attacked by an
"unknown disease" which had driven her to despair. Discreet
inquiry revealed that the mysterious malady was one common to all
women, and the girl was restored to her insufficiently punished
parents.

Half a century ago the sexual life of girls was ignored by their parents
and teachers from reasons of prudishness; at the present time, when quite
different ideas prevail regarding feminine education, it is ignored on the
ground that girls should be as independent of their physiological sexual
l