on, in maintaining his specific dignity of a rational being, and
not allowing himself to be controlled by passion, the ruling power of
brute animals. Besides, he becomes aware in various ways of the evil
results of immoral practices, and he sees many reasons to keep his
passions in check. But young people have neither such experience nor
such information, and they are not always wise enough to understand the
imperative dictates of self-restraint. And yet it is often in early
years, while body and mind are in the period of development, that the
most serious injury is done to the constitution and to the character by
the indulgence of carnal pleasures. Habits are then engendered which
become a real slavery; so that later in life when there arises a sincere
desire to stop such disgraceful practices, there is a feeling of
impotence to resist temptations which by one's own fault have become a
second nature.

What then can be done with the young? They must early and
authoritatively be told of the wrong, the sin of base self-indulgence,
and of every practice that leads to it. If a beginning of immorality is
discovered in a child, it must be plainly told and emphatically warned
of the serious consequences involved. The child's mother is, as a rule,
the best guide and director in infancy. Later on, the Doctor has
frequent chances to do so; it comes from him with better grace than from
others; and his warning is likely to be minded, because it is clear that
he knows and ought to know what he is talking about with regard to
bodily consequences. Yet it is always a matter of delicacy; and great
care should be taken lest, while pointing out the evil, there be also a
stimulus added to a prurient curiosity.

Much good sense is required in any given case to decide whether more
good or more evil is likely to result from the warning; in doubt of
success, it is better to leave the matter alone.

"Where ignorance is bliss
'Tis folly to be wise."

The safest way of repressing the passion of lust is the provision that
an all-wise Providence supplies in Religion, in which God
authoritatively forbids all immoral action and even all immoral coveting
or desire. Positive dogmatic teaching on this subject is required,
especially with the young. You cannot argue with them on this matter as
you can with grown people. That is one reason why religious teaching
should permeate early education. The Decalogue should be the back-bone
of a chil