But only by such an education, by one which isn't confined to the mere imparting of knowledge, can we produce within the girl larger powers of self-protection and a extra enduring self-consciousness, and so save her from the far too frequent fate of behaving like a silly unripe creature, and believing all of the asseverations of the first man who makes love to her--asseverations which the man himself, within the moment of ardour, very in all probability believes. A question of significance is at what age the sexual enlightenment can most wisely be effected. Only when the child has such good trust, will it settle for as true what it's informed, and never suspect that, as has so typically been the case, it is being put off with hypocritical phrases--for kids recognise the hypocritical character of a lot of what they are told about sexual issues at an age far earlier than most elders are willing to imagine.
