Plain Facts for Old and Young | Page 4

already have
vague ideas; and thus, by satisfying a natural curiosity, they are saved
from supplying by their imaginations distorted images and exaggerated
conceptions, and from seeking to obtain the desired information from
evil sources whence they would derive untold injury.
What reason is there that the subject of the sexual functions should be
treated with such maudlin secrecy? Why should the function of
generation be regarded as something low and beastly, unfit to be
spoken of by decent people on decent occasions? We can conceive of
no answer except the worse than beastly use to which the function has
been so generally put by man. There is nothing about the sexual
organism which makes it less pure than the lungs or the stomach. "Unto
the pure all things are pure," may have been written especially for our
times, when there is such a vast amount of mock modesty; when so
much pretense of virtue covers such a world of iniquity and vice. The
young lady who goes into a spasm of virtuous hysterics upon hearing
the word "leg," is perhaps just the one who at home riots her
imagination in voluptuous French novels, if she commits no grosser
breach of chastity. The parents who are the most opposed to imparting
information to the young are often those who have themselves indulged

in sexual excesses. In the minds of such persons the sexual organs and
functions, and everything even remotely connected with them, are
associated only with ideas of lust and gross sensuality. No wonder that
they wish to keep such topics in the dark. With such thoughts they
cannot well bear the scrutiny of virtue.
Sexual subjects are not, of course, proper subjects for conversation at
all times, or at any time in a spirit of levity and flippancy.
II. Knowledge is dangerous.
Very true, knowledge is dangerous, but ignorance is more dangerous
still; or, rather, partial knowledge is more dangerous than a more
complete understanding of facts. Children, young people, will not grow
up in innocent ignorance. If, in obedience to custom, they are not
encouraged to inquire of their parents about the mysteries of life, they
will seek to satisfy their curiosity by appealing to older or better
informed companions. They will eagerly read any book which promises
any hint on the mysterious subject, and will embrace every opportunity,
proper or improper--and most likely to be the latter--of obtaining the
coveted information. Knowledge obtained in this uncertain and
irregular way must of necessity be very unreliable. Many
times--generally, in fact--it is of a most corrupting character, and the
clandestine manner in which it is obtained is itself corrupting and
demoralizing. A child ought to be taught to expect all such information
from its parents, and it ought not to be disappointed.
Again, while it is true that knowledge is dangerous, it is equally true
that this dangerous knowledge will be gained sometime, at any rate;
and as it must come, better let it be imparted by the parent, who can
administer proper warnings and cautions along with it, than by any
other individual. Thus may the child be shielded from injury to which
he would otherwise be certainly exposed.
III. Young people should be left to find out these things for themselves.
If human beings received much of their knowledge through instinct, as
animals do, this might be a proper course; but man gets his knowledge

largely by instruction. Young people will get their first knowledge of
sexual matters mostly by instruction from some source. How much
better, then, as we have already shown, to let them obtain this
knowledge from the most natural and most reliable source!
The following paragraph from Dr. Ware is to the point:--
"But putting aside the question whether we ought to hide this subject
wholly from the young if we could, the truth, it is to be feared, is that
we cannot if we would. Admitting it to be desirable, every man of
experience in life will pronounce it to be impracticable. If, then, we
cannot prevent the minds of children from being engaged in some way
on this subject, may it not be better to forestall evil impressions by
implanting good ones, or at least to mingle such good ones with the evil
as the nature of the case admits? Let us be at least as wise as the crafty
enemy of man, and cast in a little wheat with his tares; and among the
most effectual methods of doing this is to impart to the young just and
religious views of the nature and purposes of the relation which the
Creator has established between the two sexes."
When Shall Information Be Given?--It is a matter of some difficulty to
decide the exact age at which information on sexual subjects should be