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Cornell University Library 
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7 
 
 6J^ ^IWC^. 
 
Four Epochs of Life 
 
 By 
 ELIZABETH HAMILTON-MUNCIE, M.D., PH.M 
 
 ^ 
 
 *»s 
 
 ** 
 
 1 
 
 Published by the Author 
 
 ELIZABETH HAMILTON-MUNCIE, M. D. 
 
 MuNciE Sanitarium 
 
 BKOOKLYN, N. Y. 
 
Copyright 1910 by 
 ELIZABETH HAMIL.TON-MUNCIE 
 
Dedicated to 
 
 Those parents who long to teach their children true 
 principles of life; to young men and women whose 
 love, consummated by marriage, should lead to life- 
 long honey-moon; to the boys and girls before whom 
 Life's wonderland is opening; and to my husband and 
 my children, who, next to God, have been my coun- 
 sellors and strength. 
 
Introduction 
 
 IT is a lamentable fact that ignorance is permitted 
 to abound regarding the most important facts of 
 life. A certain prudishness wrongly called mod- 
 esty, has prevented the discussion of the problems of 
 creation. Previous attempts to present the matter 
 have failed in some particulars, but our author has ap- 
 proached the delicate subject in a msisterful manner. 
 This book will iron out the wrinkles now furrowing 
 many a parental brow. The fondest mother may place 
 this volume in the hands of her son or daughter, con- 
 fident that the supreme facts of life will be properly 
 presented to the developing mind. 
 
 The beautiful story has been so charmingly told that 
 it must fascinate every reader. Not a trace of vul- 
 garity, crudeness, or coarseness is to be found in its 
 pages. Neither is it sentimental, soft, or repellent in 
 the opposite direction. Our author has steered a mid- 
 dle course and taken her ship into harbor without jar 
 or shock. All who read this book will be given exact 
 information and, at the same time, be uplifted morally 
 and mentally. It will give courage to the expectant 
 mother, relieve the puzzled parent, and properly an- 
 swer the wonderings of youthful minds. 
 
 Dr. Muncie has sustained her reputation for attrac- 
 tive speech and facile pen. Her latest work deserves 
 the highest compliment and this, of course, is nothing 
 short of repeated editions. We o£Fer our sincere con- 
 
 W 
 
vi INTRODUCTION 
 
 gratulations to Dr. Muncie and at the same time, in the 
 name of our common profession, thank her for giving 
 us a volume which can be commended to our patrons. 
 
 ROYAL S. COPELAND. 
 New York Homoeopathic Medical College and Flower Hos« 
 pital. Central Park West, New York City. 
 
Introduction 
 
 THERE are no subjects which more vitally con- 
 cern all the sacred interests of our life than those 
 which are dealt with in the winsome story of 
 this book. The relation of young men and young 
 women before marriage; a white, clean life as the con- 
 dition of marriage, and that white life as imperatively 
 demanded of the man as of the woman ; the sacredness 
 of the marriage relation, so sacred that it demands pro- 
 tection against all unclean and licentious living; a 
 supreme and permanent affection between two as the 
 bond of marriage. These and kindred topics are 
 treated in this book with such candor and skill as to 
 rebuke all uncleanness and inspire purity. A reading 
 of the book will compel to the conclusions that when 
 the fire of honor in any heart is put out it cannot be 
 kindled at a blazing family fireside, that the skeleton 
 soul of the man who shivers through the ways of vice 
 cannot be warmed before any future hearthstone, that 
 the leper puts out his own family fire. These are con- 
 clusions which the youth need to have forced upon 
 them. 
 
 The central theme of the book is one that has re- 
 ceived but little attention from those who are com- 
 petent to deal with it. Books have been written on 
 the sex-life which, while not evil in their intention, yet 
 have done more harm than good. They have not been 
 frank and candid in dealing with the subject and so 
 
viii INTRODUCTION 
 
 have awakened or ministered to a prurient curiosity. 
 The present volume indulges no mysteries and resorts 
 to no disguises. It is ingenuous and deals with the 
 subject in a most natural way. And yet there is not a 
 crude or suggestive line in all its pages. The fine and 
 refined tone and spirit of the author dominates the 
 book. 
 
 Doubtless because of the delicacy of the subject, 
 children are not informed by their parents of the vital 
 facts of sex-life which they should know and which 
 they have the right to know. Too often such knowl- 
 edge as children do acquire of the facts of life's mys- 
 teries comes from those who are incompetent, either 
 through ignorance or viciousness, to give it. This 
 volume will fulfil an important, though indirect mis- 
 sion, in accenting the fact that mothers should inform 
 their children on these delicate but vital subjects. No 
 mother can read the chapters which relate how Dr. 
 Ruth Lyon led her children to the knowledge of the 
 secrets of their own life by unfolding to them the life 
 mysteries of plants, fishes and birds, without being 
 impelled to unfold the sacred mysteries which some- 
 time will be unfolded to her child. The mother should 
 unveil these mysteries. The task is too delicate and 
 too sacred to be entrusted to other hands. It is the 
 mother heart that speaks all through this book though 
 the speech is recorded through the pen of a scientist. 
 
 The volume is timely. The development of the age 
 demands it. The deep needs of our life demand it. It 
 meets these demands and it meets them admirably. I 
 have read the advance sheets of the volume and most 
 earnestly commend it to parents and to all others who 
 are interested in child life and its development. 
 
INTRODUCTION is 
 
 The book is not a mere theoretical discussion of the 
 vital subject so fascinatingly presented. It is a record 
 of the conclusions of an expert. The author is a suc- 
 cessful physician and a broad student of life. 
 
 There is no " preaching " in the book, but one can- 
 not read it without a growing reverence for life and for 
 its Divine Creator. The book will do more than cor- 
 rect evil. It will inspire good. It is not negative in a 
 single line. It inspires purity of thought, nobility of 
 purpose and energizes the whole being with the forces 
 of purity and nobility. 
 
 Young people will read the book. Its great message 
 is told in a fascinating story that holds the interest 
 from the beginning to the end. While interested in 
 the story the reader learns facts which may protect 
 him against the evils on which many have fallen. 
 
 This charming book is full of good things winningly 
 
 expressed. Parents will find it a valuable book for 
 
 their children. It will be a golden possession for 
 
 young people and it cannot fail to affect for good their 
 
 after lives. 
 
 „ ,^ J. F. CARSON. 
 
 Central Presbsrterian Church, 
 Brooklyn, New York. 
 
Contents 
 
 Chapter I. The Question and the Answer. 
 
 Marriage on a small income. Aunt Mehetabel's objections. A quitt w«4- 
 dinf. 
 
 Chapter II. The Third Anniversary. 
 Changes, — financial and otherwise. Preparing for conception. Prenatal 
 Influences. 
 
 Chapter III. From Cause to Effect 
 
 A case of unwelcome motherhood. Predetermination of sex. Most recent 
 theories. 
 
 Chapter IV. Pre-natal Influences. 
 
 After conception. Flans for baby's welfare. Thoughtful tendemcsi of Dr. 
 Kobert. The joy of anticipation. 
 
 Chapter V. The Second Honeymoon. 
 
 The last three months. Making the tiny garments. Studying th* laws al 
 heredity. 
 
 Chapter VI. When Baby Comes. 
 
 The birth of the twins. " Uncle Jack " is introduced to them. He la- 
 nounces bachelorhood. 
 
 Chapter VII. " Why Ought I to be 'shamed? " 
 
 A parlor talk to mothers. An old-fashioned notion. The necessity for 
 early instruction, Wallace's baby sister. The rose-bush and the stork. 
 Aunt Mehetabel rebuffs the small inquirer. The first lesson ia sexology. 
 
 Chapter VIII. Spring-time Nature Stories. 
 
 Father stamen and mother pistil. The advent of Spring. The currant 
 blossoms. The Bean-baby and the little Pea-baby. The Pea-babies' 
 cradle. The Moming-Glory. 
 
 Chapter IX. Spring Breezes. 
 
 M arch winds. Little Miss Hepatica and her sister Miss Anemone. Tha 
 comments of Mr. Birch. What the sun did for the Marsh-Marigold. 
 
 Chapter X. Pistillate and Staminate Flowers. 
 T he furry hoods and the golden hair of the Pussy Willow babies. How 
 the Dandelion lest his hair. The stagnant pond. 
 
 Chapter XI. Up Life's Staircase. 
 
 H ow the wee fishes are bom. Little Miss Stickleback. Frags and tad- 
 poles. Mrs. Oriole discusses parental duties with Mr. and Mrs. Blue- 
 jay. Mr, Robin's care of his wife and children. Mother Nature's care- 
 fulness. 
 
 Chapter XII. The New Baby. 
 
 More advanced lessons. The twins are told of the expected baby. Quw- 
 tiana aad answers. How the news affected them. 
 
CONTENTS xi 
 
 OuptarXnL What AU Oirlt Should Know. 
 
 n* lut day of waiting. Introduction to the baby brother. A lector* t« 
 
 E'rla. Anatomy of the lezual system. The approach to womanhood, 
 xaltation of Motherhood. Hysterics. Self-pity. Chaperonage. Self- 
 respect. The need for caution. Men and women libertines. The science 
 oi parenthood. 
 
 Chapter XIV. A Talk With the Teacher. 
 
 At the farm. A broken-down teacher. Over-working the pubescent child. 
 Sesults of marrying immoral men. Necessity for sex teaching. 
 
 Chapter XV. Preparing for College. 
 
 Four years of preparation. Crossing the border between childhood and 
 maturity. 
 
 Chapter XVI. A Plea for Adolescent Girls. 
 
 Flaaning a course of lectures. Impurity in the Grammar School. Kesulta 
 of ignorance. The over-worked school girl. Idealism and imitation. 
 Physical causes of moral degeneracy. Wisely guided liberty. Confidence 
 rewarded. 
 
 Chapter XVII. Fathers and Sons. 
 
 Falsa teaching on sex questions. Sexual crimes. American Society of 
 Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis. The medical profession and sexual 
 promiscuity. Social diseases. The " White Slave " traffic. Sexuality 
 and sensuality. Adolescence. Physical causes of immorality. Conserv- 
 ing creative force. 
 
 Chapter XVIII. "Know Thyself." 
 
 The tall of > High School girl. Woman's privileges and possibilities. 
 Body, soul and spirit. The new birth, — physical and spirituaL The in- 
 Uwelling Spirit. A lesson from the water lily. The "great within." 
 Character-building. 
 
 Chapter XIX. A Hospital Story. 
 
 Sad results of impurity. The girl at the hospital. Dr. Ruth's visitor. 
 Dance Hall acquaintances. Recovery and marriage of the patient. 
 
 Chapter XX. The Dawn of Manhood. 
 
 !K Oiscussion with the School Superintendent. Commendable qualities 
 turned to bad account. Ideals of Boyhood. Self-pollution. Unscrupu- 
 lous methods of quack medical firms. Venereal diseases. The three-fold 
 sex nature. Saved from degradation and ill-health. Effects of alcohol 
 and tobacco. 
 
 Chapter XXI. The Engagement 
 
 The graduation of Lewis. A school for adolescent girls. " They might 
 have known she'd study boys instead of books I " 
 
 Chapter XXII. Medical Supervision in the Schools. 
 
 A lecture to the School Board. Necessity for medical supervision. The 
 ideal supervisor. Instructing parents and teachers. Results in later life 
 of neglected ailments. Surgical operations and morality. Prevention 
 better than cure. 
 
 Chapter XXIII. When the Birdltngs Fly Away. 
 
 Dr. Ruth is lonesome. " Might we not have just one more sweet little 
 baby? " A vacation, in preparation for its birth. Its glad welcome^ 
 %a4 M M was that the dear late bsby brought ks bleeaing to them alL* 
 
Preface 
 
 THE suggestion of incorporating, in story form, 
 modern scientific ideas concerning the most sa- 
 cred things of life, in a manner that should help 
 parents, — the natural guardians of the child, — ^to them- 
 selves teach their own children, was first brought to 
 the author's mind through Dr. Mara Pratt-Chadwick. 
 
 The work has been a gradual development from 
 ideas first set in motion by the indignation aroused in 
 early childhood at the oft-recurring expression of her 
 elders, " You must not, because you are a girl." The 
 child heart rebelled at such injustice ; for if a girl could 
 throw a ball or whistle better than her brother, why 
 shouldn't she? 
 
 Early in life, the writer assumed charge of some 
 sixty children, and the importance of teaching them 
 certain plain facts about themselves was impressed 
 upon her mind and heart; but very soon she came to 
 the conclusion, also, that the parents themselves needed 
 teaching. 
 
 Attaining womanhood and motherhood, she learned 
 from observation of her own children the great need of 
 individualization in child training, and this conclusion 
 was emphasized by the recollection of her own home 
 and school life. 
 
 Over and over again, after having embarked upon 
 her professional career, she saw how urgent was the 
 need for proper teaching on the all-important question 
 
 <xu) 
 
PREFACE xili 
 
 of the relations of the sexes ; for she was soon brought 
 face to face with many heart-breaking physical and 
 moral calamities which were evidently due to ignor- 
 ance. 
 
 Casting about to find a way of prevention and escape, 
 she saw that the fatal lie " Man's physical necessity " 
 had led to license and false liberty, and held the key 
 to the whole situation. It was plain, therefore, that 
 the door of " two codes of morals " for men and women 
 must be knocked down, exposing to full view the hid- 
 eousness of the sexual vices that have secretly ruined 
 countless homes and cursed innocent souls for genera- 
 tions. 
 
 In teaching youth the natural and sacred uses of 
 being is one and a most natural and important open 
 door to a solution of the problem. This preparatory 
 work must be going forward while virile zmd vigilant 
 effort should be made toward Legislative enactment, 
 not only to obtain compulsory educational laws, but 
 laws that also demand certificates of health before a 
 marriage license shall be granted, the reporting of 
 venereal diseases and, the destruction of the " White 
 Slave " traffic and licensed prostitution. 
 
 Then will each man and woman's sin be his own re- 
 sponsibility, and not condoned by a Law that, in the 
 very nature of it, adds liberty to license. 
 
 The writer cannot be true or logical and avoid the 
 unpleasant side of this momentous question. Had we 
 no prudishness and false ideas to face, born, as they 
 are, of the guilt and shamefacedness of past genera- 
 tions, the statement of these facts would not be needed. 
 
 As it is,r!— -parents cannot be aroused to their respon- 
 sibility to their children until the veil of carnal security 
 
xiv PREFACE 
 
 is drawn, exposing to their view the hideous and in- 
 creasing dangers to which their boys and girls, and all 
 young men and women, are exposed. 
 
 Ignorance of a crime leads to an assumption that 
 it does not exist. We cannot afford to turn our backs 
 on an evil when knowledge will lead to th6 making of 
 an effort to abolish it. 
 
 While this is necessary, — ^the writer has sought to 
 hold above it all, and in strong contrast to it, the ex- 
 alted privilege of parenthood, the glorious gift and 
 power of motherhood, the energy and achievement of 
 reserved creative force, — ^that to all humanity is given 
 the power to be a creator, and therefore, from this 
 marvelous power within, has sprung every great in- 
 vention or glorious accomplishment of every nation and 
 every age. 
 
 Therefore, her hope for this book is that all ages shall 
 read and be led to dwell upon the best, and desire only 
 the highest in life; and, also, that they shall see not 
 only the ideal, but how to reach it. 
 
 Many of her friends, and others, among whom 
 should be mentioned Dr. Mary Wood-Allen, have for 
 years applied these principles in their own and other 
 homes; watching the results, and learning therefrom 
 that many may thus be saved from countless ills. 
 
 For eighteen years the author has dealt with human- 
 ity in its various phases of chronic body, soul and spirit 
 sickness. She now sends forth this volume with the 
 hope that it shall not only be the means of helping 
 many young men and women to happy home making, 
 but that it shall also have a part in arousing public 
 opinion to the point of demanding sex teaching in our 
 schools, by legislative enactment, if need be, and the 
 
PREFACE zv 
 
 compulsory reporting of venereal disease, as tubercu- 
 losis and infectious diseases are now reported to Health 
 Boards. While the latter may result in death, the 
 former contaminates, in greater or less degree, the in- 
 nocent and unsuspecting, and is a far greater curse to 
 civilization. 
 
 With the exaltation of motherhood, and of woman 
 to her rightful place, must come the knowledge that 
 will save her and her babes from contamination; for 
 knowledge will lead her to demand purity for purity 
 in the future father of her children, and he will give it. 
 
 Parents must be freed from all false modesty, and 
 helped to teach their children truths that s<: ould enable 
 them to grow up pure and strong. This knowledge 
 must be imparted in such a way that it will be impos- 
 sible for the child not to understand, yet at the same 
 time great care should be taken to avoid the shocks 
 and surprises to which those who gain their knowledge 
 from thoughtless companions are subjected, and to 
 instruct so naturally that, in later life, the child will 
 hardly be able to recall when first it became aware of 
 the laws of procreation. 
 
 It is with these thoughts in mind that this book has 
 been written. And yet it is not a treatise, but a story, 
 — and a story which may be in great measure true of 
 the thoughtful young men and women who may read 
 it. 
 
 To Dr. Mara Pratt-Chadwick, who for many years 
 has beautifully and tactfully taught these matters in 
 various schools of the country, the writer is largely in- 
 debted for the Nature Stories, and also for frequent in- 
 spiration during the efforts she has made to give to the 
 world a book that can be easily read by youth, and will 
 
xvi PREFACE 
 
 be of interest to all ages; while teaching truth on the 
 avoided subjects dealt with in its pages. 
 
 Her task is finished. No claim is made to literary 
 art. It is not for this the book was written; but just 
 that it might bear a blessing to hiunanity. 
 
 E. H.-II1 
 Brooklyn Borough, New York. 
 
Four Epochs of Life 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER 
 
 RUTH CURTIS and Robert Lyon were graduates 
 of the same medical college, and having drifted 
 from the mere acquaintanceship of classmates 
 and fellow students into friendship, respect and love, 
 they were contemplating marriage, the complex social 
 problems of the day, and the financial difficulties of the 
 would-be founders of a home. 
 
 The question of their serious discussions was,^ 
 " Shall we mzirry now, upon our present meagre in- 
 come, supporting and inspiring each other through a 
 period of financial sacrifice and struggle, or, shall we 
 live apart — ^lonely and homeless, — ^till we have saved 
 enough to found a home in comfort? " 
 
 In their dilemma they consulted Ruth's aunt Mehet- 
 abel, an eccentric old lady who was very fond of the 
 two young people, but was given to terseness and to 
 cynicism and inclined to throw cold water upon new 
 ideas. 
 
 " If you were two men or two women," she replied, 
 " you could open an office together and work up a good 
 practice, — maybe." 
 
 1 
 
2 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 Dr. Lyon made a wry face for answer. 
 
 " If we were both of the same sex," said Ruth, " we 
 would not be lovers," womanlike allowing her heart to 
 speak first. " You are as encouraging as the friends 
 who ask me, ' Why do you marry a poor, struggling 
 young physician? ' People certainly are quick to hold 
 the mirror up that we may see the stem realities of 
 life." 
 
 Dr. Lyon laughed. " That's nothing, Ruth. All my 
 male friends and relatives seem over-solicitous for me 
 just now, wondering why I burden myself with a 
 family so soon." 
 
 "Well," said Ruth earnestly, "we have reckoned 
 the cost over and over again. We have priced desir- 
 able apartments and furniture. We have consulted 
 with Aunt Mehetabel regarding 'the butcher, the baker, 
 the candle-stick maker.' We have compared estimates 
 with your expenses in your bachelor quarters at the 
 hotel; and what is the result? " 
 
 " That two people are going to live for each other, 
 and for the betterment of mankind," said Dr. Lyon. 
 " We will rent the pretty first floor we saw opposite 
 the park, — an ideal location for a physician, — ^hire a 
 maid who can also serve as an office attendant when 
 necessary, combine our meagre incomes, and work to- 
 gether. It will be no more expensive than our present 
 separate maintenance." 
 
 "True," admitted Aunt Mehetabel, who had been 
 listening intently, "provided that Ruth becomes any 
 kind of a manager, and no children arrive; but you can- 
 not lay up money and build a home with children drag- 
 ging you down." Aunt Mehetabel glanced fiercely at 
 Dr. Lyon, for he was a man, a species typical, to such 
 
THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER 3 
 
 women as she, of devouring wolves. In diese later 
 years of her life, with youth far in the background, she 
 made no exceptions. 
 
 " I see no reason why there should be children, until 
 we are ready to welcome them," said Dr. Lyon quietly. 
 
 " You know, of course, that I do not approve of Ruth 
 marrsang," continued Aunt Mehetabel. " In the first 
 place I objected to her studying medicine; but now that 
 she has had her way in that, I feel that she should stick 
 to her profession. Medical women, to my mind, are 
 unfit for home-makers. I do not see, Ruth, how you 
 are going to keep house and practise medicine at the 
 same time." The old lady looked severely at her niece, 
 as if she thought her words unanswerable. 
 
 Ruth smiled. " I fancy that for a year or so. Auntie, 
 my practice will not be overwhelming. If I have my 
 definite ofiice hours, they should consume no more time 
 than the average woman gives to social gossip and 
 bridge whist." 
 
 " Really it seems to me," Dr. Lyon interposed, " that 
 a woman could have no better training for the fulfil- 
 ment of her duties of wife and mother than the study 
 and practice of medicine. Young women are trained 
 and fitted for every position in the economy of life but 
 that of wife and mother. One would suppose that they 
 were mysteriously endowed by intuition for maternity 
 and its responsibilities. And what is the result? Mis- 
 ery and misunderstanding between husbands and 
 wives, and a large percentage of neglect, sickness, suf- 
 f eritig, and non-development of children born into the 
 world." 
 
 " I see it is useless to object, or to discuss the matter 
 longer," said Aunt Mehetabel with an air of martyr- 
 
4 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 dom, taking up the lace on which she had been at 
 work. 
 
 After bidding the quaint old lady good-bye, Ruth 
 and Robert, still filled with the home-making spirit, 
 crossed the campus together. 
 
 " Vour aunt makes me feel cranky," exclaimed Rob- 
 ert, after walking for a time in silence. 
 
 " Oh, don't mind her," replied Ruth merrily. " Why, 
 don't you know, ' her bark is worse than her bite,* and 
 that very lace upon which she is straining her dear old 
 eyes is a wedding gift for me? " 
 
 The result of all their questioning and planning was 
 a quiet wedding. An hour after the words were said 
 that made them one in name, hopes and ambitions, they 
 crossed the threshold of their own modest apartment, 
 where friends and relatives were met to greet them. 
 Here, for a time, at least, should be their home, — a 
 home of which every nook and cranny was dear to 
 them, for was it not, in every detail, the expression of 
 two brave hearts and two well balanced heads? After 
 greetings and congratulations, Ruth proudly led her 
 girl friends through the dainty rooms and, last of all, 
 into the trim little kitchen, which, with its rows of 
 shining tins, its jars of blue and white, and its general 
 air of wholesome cleanliness, was her peculiar delight. 
 
 Meanwhile Robert, whose heart was literally throb- 
 bing with joy, was pointing out to his college chum. 
 Jack, the marvels of the little apartment in which every 
 inch and corner had been utilized in accordance with 
 the modem methods of apartment-house builders. Fol- 
 lowing his proud friend from room to room. Jack felt 
 a new interest surging through his veins, and, forget- 
 ting time and place, gave vent to a long, low whistle. 
 
THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER 5 
 
 His thoughts were centered upon Annabel, a girl to 
 whom, for some time, he had devoted his attentions. 
 Would she be contented in such a " little crib " as this, 
 he wondered. It was this thought, and an approach to 
 envy, that caused the whistle like a long drawn sigh. 
 
 " Why don't you ask her, Jack? " said Robert, divin- 
 ing the thought of his friend. 
 
 " By Jove, old chap, I believe I will," replied Jack, 
 slapping him on the shoulder, and then relapsing into 
 a happy dream as they were joined by other guests. 
 
 Among them was Aunt Mehetabel, who had peered 
 critically into every part of the little domain. 
 
 "How do you like it. Auntie dear?" said Ruth, ap- 
 proaching her. 
 
 "You are beginning very sensibly," she admitted 
 with some reluctance. 
 
 " We mean to continue that way," replied Robert. 
 
 "I hope so, but we will see. I was late getting over, 
 and now the guests are leaving, so I will say good- 
 night, and I hope the Lord will bless you, — ^though I 
 don't see how you are going to manage, unless the 
 whole town fall ill." 
 
 The last guest had gone. Aunt Mehetabel, loved 
 notwithstanding her oddities, was the last to leave. 
 Then these two young people closed and locked the 
 door, standing at last alone in this sacred place, — for 
 sacred indeed it was to them, as home will always be 
 to the true wife and husband. 
 
 " My Robert! " cried Ruth, as she threw herself into 
 his arms, and buried her head on his shoulder. 
 
 " What is it, my darling? " 
 
 "I am your wife, Robert, — ^your wife! And oh! I 
 am so happy ! " 
 
6 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 There are times when speech is desecration, times 
 when love can find no word and soul-communion is the 
 closer for the silence. Such a time was this. The 
 benediction of a joy too sweet and deep for word ex- 
 pression, too sacred for other eyes to look upon, rested 
 upon them as they sat together before the shrine of 
 love in the " Holy of Holies," — their own secret place, 
 set apart by the most High. 
 
THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY 
 
 " When baby comes the earth will smile. 
 
 And with her springtime arts beguile 
 
 The sleepy blossoms from their rest. 
 
 And truant song-birds to their nest, 
 
 To greet my guest" 
 
 ROBERT and Ruth were still devoted lovers al- 
 though three years had passed since they were 
 married. These years had been replete with 
 love and trust. Student comradeship and medical as- 
 sociation surrounded them with an atmosphere of one- 
 ness in thought and hope. Together they had stood 
 at the bedside of the sinning and suffering; of the 
 mother in the sacredness of childbirth ; of those whose 
 weary life of struggle and poverty was closing, to re- 
 open in that far undiscovered country where only the 
 clear vision of immortality can see. 
 
 Through experiences such as these, these two deep 
 natures had gone hand in hand, fighting grim death, 
 soothing pain, giving good cheer, having rare oppor- 
 tunities of studying each the other's nature, and of 
 entering frequently into that communion that makes 
 great souls as one. 
 
 Ruth's mind had expanded into the broader under- 
 standing of those great laws of wifehood and of moth- 
 erhood to study which the ignorantly prudish, or those 
 who have always lived in seclusion deem indelicate, but 
 
8 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ignorance of which is, in reality, the rock which strews 
 the shore of marriage with so much of wreckage. 
 
 Dr. Robert, with rare intelligence and understanding, 
 had made a thorough study of marriage and parent- 
 hood from both the physiological and the ethical stand- 
 point; £md mutual understanding and brave facing of 
 life's plain facts, had made both husband and wife 
 doubly earnest and sincere in their medical practice. 
 Theirs was the knowledge that is crowned with love; 
 theirs a grand human passion, wholly sincere in pur- 
 pose and sane in principle, and bestowing on them 
 such oneness and contentment as can only come to 
 those whose marriage vows are held sacred and are 
 guarded by the angels of human knowledge and divine 
 affection. 
 
 From the beginning of their married life both had 
 recognized their mutual obligations, and had realized 
 that it was a greater glory to hold and keep love and 
 respect each for the other, than it had been to win them 
 at the first. 
 
 On this anniversary day, they looked back over the 
 three years with pride and thankfulness. Their prac- 
 tice had increased materially; they were prosperous 
 financially, and now occupied a larger and more luxu- 
 rious apartment. 
 
 Referring to this anniversary a few days before, a 
 friend had asked, " Let me see, is it to be a wooden or 
 a tin bedding?" 
 
 "Neither,' replied Ruth. "Unless our friends sur- 
 prise us a few days before or after." 
 
 " Pray why? " 
 
 " Our yearly anniversaries are special Sabbath days 
 to us," she answered gently. " On this, our third, we 
 
THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY 9 
 
 are going away together to the country, where it is 
 still and beautiful, to be alone with Cod and nature." 
 
 " What sentimentalists," laughed her friend, " but I 
 envy you, Ruth dear," and tears replaced the smile as 
 she turned away. 
 
 On this anniversary morning, the shades were drawn 
 at the home of Drs. Robert and Ruth, and a card 
 swung from the of&ce door, announcing that: "The 
 Drs. Lyon will not return until November 1st." 
 
 " Yes," replied Aunt Mehetabel, when questioned by 
 a friend, " the two silly lovers have gone for a wedding 
 trip to the country, where they will be undisturbed." 
 
 Although each anniversary had overflowed with hap- 
 piness, with sweet memories, and glorious anticipa- 
 tions, to-day, this "trio day," as Ruth called it with 
 half hidden suggestion, there was a newer, happier 
 light in her beautiful eyes than Robert had ever seen 
 before. It told of consecration, deep, inexplicable, such 
 as even he might never know. And as he looked and 
 watched, he marvelled, as the true man always will, at 
 the subtle mystery of coming motherhood. 
 
 The time had now come when, should God vouchsafe 
 and count them worthy of such joy, they could afford 
 to welcome a little child to their home. 
 
 Together they had talked of this for weeks, and made 
 wise plans for the conception of the new soul that was 
 to be. 
 
 " My college debt is cancelled," Dr. Lyon said one 
 day; "my practice is assured, and so is yours. We 
 have a nest egg in the bank, and I am able to carry 
 heavy insurance for your support should anything hap- 
 pen to me, and you be unable to practise;" for Dr. 
 Lyon was a man of sterling common sense, and re- 
 
10 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 garded it as a practical duty toward the wife whom he 
 so dearly loved, and the children she might consent to 
 bear, that he should make immediate preparation for 
 their welfare. 
 
 " And we may have the baby now? " said Ruth, her 
 eyes dimmed by tears of joy. 
 
 " Yes, dear one; so far as human beings can foresee, 
 conditions are for the best prenatal influence. You 
 shall be free from care; it is now possible for me to 
 be with you much of the time; and during the last 
 weeks we will go together to the country, where all is 
 sweet and peaceful, and read good and healthful 
 books." 
 
 " And our baby; he will reflect all these prenatal in- 
 fluences, will he not, Robert? Tell me, are you too, 
 supremely happy that we are to have a wee baby, just 
 yours and mine, our very own? I wonder if you real- 
 ize, darling, what it means to a woman who loves the 
 father of her little one? How I shall love it, Robert. 
 God pity the mother of children conceived against her 
 will, and born without a welcome. Do you understand 
 me, Robert? " 
 
 "Fully, my wife," said Dr. Robert reverently; for 
 he was not ashamed of the mist in his eyes, as his lips 
 moved in silent prayer of thanksgiving to Him who 
 had bestowed such heavenly gifts. 
 
 "We must have no tears on our anniversary day; 
 let us begin our playtime now," and smiles formed 
 rainbows through the drops upon their cheeks, as, 
 laughing merrily, they ran like happy children toward 
 the great farm house. 
 
 " Oh see," cried Ruth an hour or two later, " my 
 arm is strong enough to make me win a college game." 
 
THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY H 
 
 " Hard as the biceps of a football captain," answered 
 Robert, as he looked with seeming great concern at 
 the plump round arm held up for his inspection. 
 
 " Do you, — do you think our boy's will be like yours 
 and mine, with their muscles of steel," asked Ruth 
 shyly. 
 
 " I trust so," said Robert, smiling tenderly. " What 
 a fine protector he will be for his baby sister when she 
 shall arrive. But, we must not build too confidently, 
 Ruth, lest we be disappointed in the sex. The theories 
 concerning the predetermining of sex are not as yet 
 established scientific facts. The diet to which you 
 have so bravely adhered during the past three months, 
 has proved, according to certain scientific men, to have 
 at least great influence upon the predetermination of 
 sex." 
 
 " I understand," replied Ruth, seriously. " I hope it 
 will be a boy, this first child; but — " and again the un- 
 fathomable light glowed in her tender eyes. 
 
 " But what, dearest one? " 
 
 " I shall love it, regardless of sex, because it is ours, 
 — all, all our own." 
 
 " Dear, brave Ruth ! " and Robert stroked her hair in 
 tenderness. 
 
 " It is so beautiful, so very beautiful, to come away 
 out here together, close to nature, and have all these 
 delightful earliest surroundings and influences for our 
 little one. Afterward, when he is here, what sweet 
 memories it will recall. If a baby came to us as a sur- 
 prise or accident, as we often hear mothers say their 
 children did, I should feel that I had lost something 
 very sweet and sacred out of my life." 
 
 " This would be a very happy world, Ruth, if people 
 
12 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 only understood God's real meaning in reproduction, 
 and, even before conception, would study how to bless 
 their offspring with moral and physical health." 
 
 A day or two after their return to town, Ruth and 
 Robert were conversing in the twilight, when she 
 slipped her hand into his, and said : " Oh Robert, what 
 if — if it should not be? Sometimes it seems as though 
 I were asking too much. You are so great a blessing 
 to me; and now, this other, — ^it seems far more than 
 my share." 
 
 " Not more than you deserve, my Ruth. Were old 
 Dame Nature wise, she would be careful to give all 
 her little children into the keeping of true women, such 
 as you." 
 
 "Such words from you, Robert, are jewels more 
 precious than any that the universe could give," said 
 Ruth, in loving gratitude. " Still," she continued, " I 
 believe there are few women who, deep down in their 
 hearts, have not the true longing for motherhood. 
 Very young girls who have not yet come to know the 
 meaning of love for husband and child, often make 
 flippant speeches which seem to us irreverent; but I 
 have noticed that even these young girls, if by chance 
 brought into homes where there are babies, are as ten- 
 der with them as one could wish even were the little 
 ones their own. I have always been grateful for the 
 good fortune that brought my little sister to us when 
 I was seventeen. I believe that her coming developed 
 the mother love in me as nothing else could. I know 
 it helped me to be a woman. I have often thought 
 that there should be a new baby in every family when 
 the first have reached their 'teens, to soften and arouse 
 the tender side of the older ones at the time when they 
 
THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY 13 
 
 need this awakening most. You know what a mother 
 heart Elise has, — ^why Robert, she told me, only a few 
 days ago, that when she and John were betrothed her 
 highest ambition was to board at the Hershom House 
 and sit on the piazza with the other society women, 
 gossiping and doing fancy work. Above all things, 
 she objected to being tied to housework and to crying 
 children." 
 
 Robert laughed heartily. "Whoever could believe 
 that the dear, motherly, home-loving little Elise could 
 be guilty of such thoughts. The contrast between 
 those days and now is certainly most marked." 
 
 " Yes ; as it always is for those who do not have 
 wise mothers, reverently leading them to love the true 
 and necessary things of life." 
 
 " That is where the great trouble lies," said Robert 
 sadly, " some mothers seem to think that when their 
 duty as nursery maid is ended, all responsibility has 
 ceased, — at least, if we may judge them from their ac- 
 tions. For instance, there is Mrs. Merrill, my new 
 patient, killing herself by overwork in behalf of her 
 two small children, while the two older ones, approach- 
 ing adolescence, are left to learn the mysteries of life, 
 as best they may, from schoolmates or street com- 
 panions who, in their crude explanation, distort and 
 desecrate the truth. 
 
 "There is deeper meaning than one fully compre- 
 hends in the biblical story of Eve's responsibility for 
 all evil. Were the mothers of the world, ' wise as ser- 
 pents and harmless as doves,'" continued he, as he 
 placed some remedies in his case, " there would be no 
 need of reforms of any kind. The one aim of some 
 men seems to be to gather in the shekels so that, by 
 
14 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and by, they and their wives may take a long vacation, 
 and the latter be surrounded with beauty and every- 
 thing to make her happy." 
 
 " By the time our boy arrives, you will have made 
 me the most selfish woman living," said Ruth tenderly. 
 
 " I shall not fail to remind you that it is all for the 
 boy, — ^wholly for his prenatal culture," Robert replied, 
 and, touching her forehead gently with his lips, he hur- 
 ried off to see his patients. 
 
FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT 15 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT 
 
 DR. LYON'S first call after their return was upon 
 a Mrs. Benning, a delicate, sickly woman, rap- 
 idly approaching motherhood. The doctor had 
 grave fears for this frail woman, but with a word of 
 good cheer, he bade her good-bye. " You will send for 
 me very soon, Mrs. Benning," he said; and as he 
 sprang into his carriage he thought of his Ruth, so 
 happy in anticipation, such a contrast to the distressed 
 woman whom he had just left, her poor heart filled 
 with sadness. 
 
 " I wonder," he thought, " if people will ever, ever 
 learn how they are cursed by enforced motherhood, un- 
 welcome as in this case. In truth ' it were better for a 
 man that a millstone be hanged around his neck and 
 that he be cast into the sea, than that he should offend 
 one of these little ones.' " 
 
 At midnight. Dr. Lyon's bell rang furiously, awak- 
 ening husband and wife with a start. They had never 
 become entirely accustomed to this startling midnight 
 bell. Sometimes it meant only a thoughtless call from 
 a selfish patient, but more often it rang in the solemn 
 mystery of birth or death. 
 
 " I fear it is Mrs. Benning," said Robert, stumbling 
 to the speaking tube. 
 
 "Please hurry doctor, will you?" said an anxious 
 voice from below, following this appeal with an ac- 
 count of Mrs. Benning's condition. 
 
16 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Oh why did you not call me earlier? " asked the 
 doctor, " I will be there within ten minutes." 
 
 " I fear I shall lose that patient," muttered Dr. Lyon 
 as he hurried from the house. 
 
 It was noontime when the doctor returned, with a 
 look of sadness on his face, — for he had never learned 
 to look upon his patients as mere " cases." 
 
 " She is dead? " asked Ruth, after Robert had awak- 
 ened from a refeshing sleep in the cool, darkened room 
 wAich she always had ready for such times. "How 
 did it happen, dear? " she continued as she gave him 
 a cup of hot milk. 
 
 " Only one more cruel example of unwelcome moth- 
 erhood. Only a year ago, when Mrs. Benning was 
 confined, I told Benning that his wife should not give 
 birth to another child. Now the poor, tired little 
 woman is at rest, sleeping, while her five motherless 
 little ones weep. Think of it, Ruth, five children bom 
 within eight years! It is a crime to ask any woman 
 to carry such a burden." 
 
 " But," added Ruth, " the wrong does not end with 
 the mother's death. Think of those five unwelcome, 
 unloved babies. Mrs. Benning was a good woman 
 who, under right conditions for herself and for her 
 children, would have been happy in her motherhood. 
 But they were poor, their home was mortgaged, and 
 little ones arrived so fast, that doctors' and nurses' bills 
 remained unpaid. Under all this, what wonder that 
 the woman's health gave way and the burden became 
 heavier than she could bear? " 
 
 " Poor soul," said Robert, " she tried to kill herself 
 when she found she was again to become a mother, and 
 
FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT 17 
 
 one can hardly blame her; I fear this child, so illy 
 formed, will be a degenerate should he live." 
 
 " How horrible! " exclaimed Ruth, " two of the boys 
 already show criminal tendencies, and another is pecul- 
 iar, sullen and morose. His teacher tells me he is re- 
 sponsive neither to praise nor punishment." 
 
 " It is cruel ! cruel ! cruel ! " said Robert emphatically. 
 " I wish it were possible to compel physicians, through 
 legislation, to teach the laws of procreation under 
 proper conditions. We shirk our duty because, if now 
 and then one is brave enough to tell the truth, he is 
 ridiculed by his confreres. There is no help that I 
 can see except in educating men and women to a full 
 understanding of nature's laws as they apply to the 
 unborn child and the responsibilities of parenthood. 
 But no," continued Dr. Lyon fiercely, " as a people we 
 are so delicate, so refined, so modest, we are not per- 
 mitted to instil right thinking and living into the minds 
 of the young. Marriage has become so vulgar a thing 
 (so it seems) that we must not mention it to polite ears. 
 We may decorate our daughters, flaunt them before the 
 eyes of men, teach them the art of decoying suitors, 
 and rush them into marriage. There is no harm in 
 these things; but if we seek to teach them the truth 
 regarding self-knowledge, to direct and guide them 
 into a life of purity and wisdom, we are immodest. 
 Away with such false modesty! It is but a burlesque, 
 a mockery of God's mandate, * Wisdom is better than 
 rubies.' " 
 
 " I agree with you, dear heart," answered Ruth, 
 " but come to the dining-room, luncheon is ready, and 
 we have something of which you are very fond." 
 
 " You are a trump, Ruth ! I believe that every time 
 
18 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 I am called out at night you get up to prepare some- 
 thing good for me." 
 
 "How wise to divine my secret!" and linking her 
 arm in Robert's, Ruth led him to the dainty lunch 
 table. 
 
 " By the way," remarked Dr. Lyon, after serving 
 Ruth and himself, " I noticed there is a new theory in 
 the Medical Journal regarding predetermination of sex." 
 
 "Oh! What is it?" 
 
 " After you have finished, you may read it aloud." 
 
 " As I do not indulge in all the goodies I have pre- 
 pared for you, I will read while you are eating." 
 
 Dr. Lyon took the Medical Journal from his pocket, 
 and handed it to her. 
 
 " Oh, I see you have marked the article," said Ruth 
 eagerly. " Listen to this, dear," turning her back to 
 the light, " Predetermination of Sex." One may well 
 ask, — since there is so little really known regarding the 
 predetermination of sex, what need to mention it? 
 Practically there is none. It is mentioned however, for 
 two reasons ; one, because the Medical Journal aims to 
 make its readers intelligent regarding all matters per- 
 taining to self and parenthood ; the other that it opens 
 up a great field of thought and speculation. Statisti- 
 cians tell us that the sexes are practically equal in 
 number, taking the world as a whole. They some- 
 times advance this as a proof that Nature arranges 
 matters quite as they should be, and that interference 
 on our part is unnecessary. Some even go so far as 
 to say that human intervention would be interference 
 with God's plan. This reasoning, however, does not 
 appeal to intelligent people. God or nature, which- 
 ever we may choose to call it, has given us intelligenco 
 
FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT 19 
 
 with which to overcome the crudity of natural laws; 
 and it is our privilege, as well as our duty, to use that 
 intelligence to preserve harmony in any given condi- 
 tion, — in this of sex as well as in all others. 
 
 " God has given us laws of gravitation; laws of heat 
 and cold; laws of health and disease; laws of procre- 
 ation. 
 
 " Does a man therefore not try to support his roof? 
 Does he not artificially warm his house? Does he not 
 bring to bear upon disease the knowledge of medical 
 science? Shall he then blindly obey the wild laws of 
 procreation, seeking to bring no light upon this one 
 paramount law of life? " 
 
 " It is said that the great superfluity of female births 
 in civilized countries is due to the inertia of parents, 
 through the unhygienic habits of our social life, and 
 that this is so not only of human beings but also of 
 domesticated animals. 
 
 " This may not be true ; but certainly there is some 
 subtle reason for this inequality of sexes, and if science 
 is some time able to adjust matters in such a manner 
 as to bring about equality, it will be the better for the 
 world. 
 
 "That light is substance, and that its rays, trans- 
 mitted through different colored lenses, have a peculiar 
 effect upon the human system, I have proved beyond a 
 doubt. There is a certain chemical affinity between 
 the male and female that is affected by those lights 
 and colors. If I wish to fill a patient with animation 
 and fire, I use water charged with sun's rasrs that have 
 passed through a red lens. Blue has a quieting and 
 soothing effect; violet combines the qualities of both; 
 yellow and yellow orange are nerve-animating. 
 
20 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " During the treatment to control sex I give the pa- 
 tient water that has been charged with the sun's rays 
 after they have passed through lenses of different 
 colors; and as a result of my experiments I have come 
 to the conclusion that chromopathy will do away 
 largely with the impracticable methods that many sur- 
 geons are employing to determine the sex of the un- 
 born child." 
 
 " Now doesn't that sound like arrant nonsense? " in- 
 terposed Dr, Robert, "although I confess it is inter- 
 esting, and shows the trend of modern advanced and 
 scientific thought. The time will undoubtedly come 
 when some absolute method of predetermining sex will 
 be established. Why not, when every other depart- 
 ment of life is being illumined by scientific discovery? 
 There seems no plausible reason why nature, uncon- 
 trolled, should be allowed to hold full sway in matters 
 of sex and human reproduction. In all other fields she 
 is being compelled to adjust herself to the conditions, — 
 even though artificial, — of our modern and complex 
 life. You will find in another part of the magazine a 
 resume of past and present theories concerning prede- 
 termination of sex. I have marked the article so that 
 you can readily find it." 
 
 "I am thoroughly interested," answered Ruth, as 
 she turned the pages. "Here it is. You mean the 
 one commencing with the poor, superfluous girl babies 
 of China?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " In China superfluous girl babies are drowned, not, 
 as we are apt to think, because of disrespect for women, 
 but, originally at least, because of the Chinaman's deep 
 sense of a woman's right to shelter and protection. 
 
FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT 21 
 
 Accordingly, they believe, that it is kinder to the girl 
 baby to drown her at birth than to have her grow up 
 and struggle for existence in a world that teems with 
 competition. 
 
 " We should hardly recommend the Chinese method 
 for America; but when we see the great mass of work- 
 ing women crowding, from necessity, into the indus- 
 trial field, shoulder to shoulder with their stronger 
 brothers, and often defeated in their struggles through 
 physical weakness, one can but be moved to pity. We 
 long for the time to come when science shall reveal to 
 us some method by which more men, strong and brave 
 to fight life's battles, may be bom in civilized commu- 
 nities, so that woman may continue to dwell in the 
 home as her heart makes her long to do, and that man 
 may return to that chivalry which differentiates the 
 gentleman from the brute. 
 
 " Science has done much to throw light on this sub- 
 ject; and while it is not absolutely settled that the one 
 sex or the other may be produced at will, the evidences 
 seem to be in favor of this conclusion. Experiments 
 have been made, almost entirely on animals, of course, 
 and cases are on record in which satisfactory results 
 seem to have been attained among the human race. 
 
 " Experiments seem to verify the theory that at the 
 time of conception the generative element which pre- 
 dominates either in amount or force, decides the sex of 
 the embryo. This theory has two applications, the 
 one depending upon how long after menstruation con- 
 ception takes place, that is upon how far the egg has 
 descended before becoming impregnated or fertilized; 
 the other depending upon which of the parents is most 
 energetic and vigorous at the time of conception. 
 
22 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " To make this principle clear, it is necessary to ex- 
 plain that the ovum, or egg, comes from one of the 
 ovaries — two small bodies situated on either side of the 
 uterus — and in doing so it has to pass through the 
 Fallopian tubes, which are connected with the uterus 
 and are about four inches in length. To accomplish 
 this it generally takes from eight to twelve days, so 
 that conception, as a rule, takes place within ten days 
 or two weeks after menstruation. Now if conception 
 should take place soon after menstruation, the ovum 
 is high up in the Fallopian tube; and the spermatozoa 
 have a long way to travel. Only a few of them ever 
 reach the egg, and they are not in sufficient numbers to 
 cause a preponderance of the male element, and a fe- 
 male results. On the other hand, if conception takes 
 place some time after menstruation, the egg is necessa- 
 rily low down in the tube, a large number of the sperma- 
 tozoa reach it, and it is likely that the male element will 
 predominate. This may not be the case, however ; for 
 if the male is weak and not in a vigorous state, the 
 spermatozoa would consequently have little power and 
 be few in number, so that even if the ovum were far 
 advanced in the tube, few might have vitality enough 
 to reach and impregnate it. And yet again, if the 
 mother lacked vitality and vigor the result might be 
 the opposite, even if impregnation took place soon after 
 menstruation, when the egg was high up in the tube. 
 
 " The above theory has been advocated by such au- 
 thorities as Professors Brooks, During, Ziru, Haben, 
 Hofacker, Knight, Miles, Napier, Floss, Sadies, and 
 St. Hilaire." 
 
 " Well, dearest," said Dr. Robert, " I think we have 
 
FROM CAUSE TO EFFECT H 
 
 had enough for the present, especially in view of our 
 recent exhaustive study of Leopold Schenck, — and of 
 the fact that my patients will have to wait for me if I 
 do not go now." 
 
 " Only just one moment more, Rob," said Dr. Ruth. 
 " Did you read the theory set forth by the author of 
 the little book I brought in yesterday? " 
 
 " Why, no," said Dr. Robert, " you forgot to give it 
 to me." 
 
 " Well," answered Dr. Ruth, " he claims to have dis- 
 covered an infallible method of predetermining the sex 
 of any child except the first-born. According to his 
 theory all the fertilized ova from the right ovary result 
 in the development of male foetuses and all from the 
 left ovary result in the development of female foetuses. 
 He therefore holds that to secure a child different in 
 sex from the one last born, we must first find the ovu- 
 lation month of the last child. We then reckon alter- 
 nately month by month, for he holds that the ova which 
 produce male foetuses alternate, month by month, with 
 those which produce female foetuses ; but, unfortunately 
 for the theory, he mentions elsewhere that, should fer- 
 tilizdLtion of ova from both ovaries occur at any one 
 time, the result will be two foetuses, or twins, differing 
 in sex ! " 
 
 " Humph ! " said Dr. Robert. " I should say that he 
 was somewhat illogical." 
 
 " Yes ; " answered Dr. Ruth. " And yet, Rob dear, 
 I feel that we should read up all we can upon the sub- 
 ject, and there are certainly many interesting facts set 
 forth in this book. And evidently the theory seems 
 sometimes to have worked." 
 
24 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 "Right, dearest one. But already we have read 
 much that will take us many hours to digest, and for 
 the present, my time is up. I really must go to my 
 patients." 
 
PRENATAL INFLUENCES 25 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 PRENATAL INFLUENCES 
 
 "When baby comes! Methinks I see 
 The winsome face that is to be. 
 And old time doubts and haunting fears. 
 Are lost in dreams of happier years. 
 Smiles follow tears." 
 
 "I^ OBERT," said Ruth anxiously one evening, 
 
 r^ a week after the sad death of Mrs. Benning, 
 
 -■- »■ "it is now forty-two days and — and, well, 
 nothing has happened. Do you believe I may dare to 
 think our baby is coming? " Ruth's face was drawn 
 with intensity of longing for that which seemed almost 
 too sweet to be true. 
 
 " I see no reason why you should not hope, dearest; 
 I have been watching you carefully, and have noted 
 unmistakable signs of the gift we long for." 
 
 Ruth's lips quivered, her eyes grew dim as Robert 
 held her in silence close against his heart. He knew 
 the tears were but the reaction of a month of breathless 
 expectancy, and that the rainbow of promise would 
 shine the more brightly after the rain. When Ruth 
 had become calm once more, Robert rang for the maid. 
 
 " Should any one call, recollect, we are at home to 
 no one this evening. — Positively to not one person." 
 
 The maid gently closed the door. " My first duty," 
 he thought, " is here with my wife and our baby." 
 
 " You are going to remain at home with me? " asked 
 Ruth, her face glowing with happiness. " Oh I did so 
 
2(5 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 wish you would, but I felt it would be selfish to ask 
 you." 
 
 " Nothing you can do, Ruth, will be selfish from this 
 day until our child rests in your arms. Everything we 
 do now must be for this babe of our heart. No sacri- 
 fice, — should sacrifice be demanded of us — can be too 
 great, if thereby it will make the boy (as we have 
 called it) happier and stronger mentally and physic- 
 ally." 
 
 " I feel like a queen, my Robert ; you — " 
 
 " Your king to command," responded Robert bowing 
 low. 
 
 " A king indeed, with all the word should mean." 
 
 " Honored, madam, crowned through you with fath- 
 erhood, and the glory which envelops you is, in small 
 part, also mine." 
 
 "Small part!" said Ruth quickly. "No, no! The 
 beauty of it all is that each of us had our individual part 
 in bringing about this long desired result, — ^this crea- 
 tion of a new being. What other women feel under 
 like conditions, I do not fully know; but half the joy 
 to me, darling, is that this little soul is yours and mine. 
 It would seem selfish and unlovely, if, like a flower, I 
 contained within myself all the elements necessary for 
 the creation of another life; or if, like the animals, you 
 the father, had no consciousness of what you had done, 
 and I, the mother, no consciousness of the coming of 
 this great, holy joy to me. Is it not divine, at a time 
 like this, to be man and woman, husband and wife, 
 conscious of fatherhood and motherhood? " 
 
 " My beloved, there would be better men in the 
 world, better husbands, if all women thought and felt 
 like you. Most women regard the father's part in the 
 
PRENATAL INFLUENCES 27 
 
 scheme of creation differently, especially in relation to 
 his place in married life." 
 
 " I know it, my Robert, and regret that it is so. I 
 long to make them understand more clearly. It often 
 makes my heart ache when I hear them talk of it, for 
 they do not realize what they are losing by this lack of 
 confidence and comprehension between them and their 
 husbands; but not all husbands are like you, my Rob- 
 ert." 
 
 " Thank you for the highest compliment you could 
 give. I fear the fault is with both, and that many, very 
 many, husbands lack the reverent sense of God-in- 
 tended reciprocity in married life that some wives do 
 not possess. Should I forget, my wife, that you were 
 a separate human being with rights of self assertion 
 that it is my duty and my privilege to reverence and 
 respect, I should fear I might lose your love." 
 
 " And were you like such husbands, it would break 
 my heart. What an aching longing I should have to 
 make you understand, and if, after trying long, I should 
 fail, then I too think love would die, leaving life dull 
 and heavy." 
 
 " God forbid such a tragedy. But it is time to pro- 
 test; I remained to spend an unbroken evening with 
 you, a happy one, and we have been dwelling in shadow 
 fancies. Haven't I told you, young woman, for the 
 coming eight long months your thoughts must all be 
 beautiful and care-free? A fine beginning we are mak- 
 ing. I shall at once assert my authority as your physi- 
 cian, as well as your liege lord whom you are bound to 
 obey. Drive these gruesome ghosts far away and 
 listen." 
 
 " I never promised to obey; you know I didn't; " re- 
 
28 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFK 
 
 torted Ruth saucily, " but proceed, sir; I will be obedi^. 
 ent this once, and it is always my delight to listen to 
 you." 
 
 "The first command, — come here to my knee, for 
 what I am about to tell you must be listened to at short 
 range, and with my arms around you; and on your 
 way, kindly bring that book from the corner of my 
 desk." 
 
 "Oh how lovely; it is the book you promised to 
 bring me on ' Prenatal Influence.' " 
 
 " What a wise young woman you are." 
 
 Handing Robert the book, Ruth curled up in his 
 arms to hear the story which meant so much to the 
 earnest prospective parents, — so much perhaps, also, 
 to the little soul hidden beneath the loving mother 
 heart. 
 
 "This especially appealed to me," said Robert. 
 " You will recognize it, for it is from Omar Khayyam: 
 
 'The moving finger writes; and having writ. 
 Moves on: Nor all thy Piety nor Wit 
 Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, 
 Nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it.' " 
 
 "What a heart-breaking verse," said Ruth, "were 
 we not trying and expecting, even to the last day, to 
 perfect the gift assigned to us. The responsibility of 
 it all often terrifies me; the thought that I am chosen 
 to bring into the world an infant, a human being, with 
 its passions, its desire for happiness and capacity for 
 joy, or sorrow; that this child must take his or her 
 place in the arena of life to meet temptations and ob- 
 stacles greater than we can know. We may be spared 
 to protect him to a certain point, but beyond that we 
 
PRENATAL INFLUENCES 29 
 
 cannot go, save as our love has strengthened and shall 
 still remain." 
 
 " Come, come, little wife, we are back in the shadows 
 again. This will never do. I deeply realize all this 
 also ; but if we do our best, none could do more. We 
 neither of us had special prenatal advantages, because 
 the value of such knowledge was not known by our 
 mothers; yet we have had three years of happiness 
 that, even though they should end now, would ever be 
 a heavenly memory. Just think, with all this fulness 
 of joy, and the scientific knowledge and practice of 
 prenatal influence, how much greater chance for per- 
 fectness our child will have. Its personality should 
 strengthen it to thrust aside every temptation, and win 
 the love of all humanity. With the personality that 
 wins love, one stands master of his destiny." 
 
 Ruth looked at Robert with an expression of pride 
 that spoke more loudly than words. What a living 
 example he was of the picture that he drew in seeking 
 to comfort her. 
 
 " Why look at me like that? " asked Robert. 
 
 Ruth smiled mischievously, " I was only thinking as 
 I looked at you, dear, that if our baby is like you, I am 
 willing to trust to the laws of heredity alone." 
 
 " Flatterer! But recollect that the frolicsome twists 
 to which heredity sometimes resorts might result in 
 the boy resembling you?" 
 
 " It is not one bit nice of you to be so unpleasantly 
 personal. As a punishment you shall read to me." 
 
 " With pleasure ; but do you not know that the boy 
 would come even closer to my heart if he should look 
 like you. Have you been following out the theories I 
 mentioned to you last evening? " 
 
30 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Yes ; a difficult task though, when one feels so well 
 and strong. I have not once allowed myself to become 
 tired, and I feel equal to any task." 
 
 " That is well. Listen : ' Pregnancy should be a 
 period of increased mental and physical vigor to the 
 normal women still left to our race, just as it was in 
 primitive days. We must recollect that, according to 
 certain scientists, it is the influence of the first three 
 months that impresses future physical integrity, al- 
 though the theory has not been proven. We do not 
 know, positively, that repeated prenatal influence is 
 generally infallible. Then, even though some scoff, it 
 is at least a duty the parent owes to the unborn to 
 strive that this beneflcence may rest upon the child's 
 future." 
 
 " It is at least worth while to make use of these facts 
 in influencing our child's future vigor and health," said 
 Ruth, as Robert closed the book. " I wish I could en- 
 force this thought on Mrs. Wiley," she continued 
 thoughtfully. "When I tried to-day, she exclaimed, 
 ' Good heavens ! who would do my fall cleaning ! ' so 
 no doubt the child she carries will be that pathetic 
 thing, a child born tired. Do you know, it makes me 
 S3rmpathize with indolent people when I think of the 
 mothers who prenatally exhaust their vigor by unnec- 
 essary or compulsory toil, just as Mrs. Wiley permits 
 her fall cleaning to take precedence and thus drain her 
 strength and imperil her baby's constitution." 
 
 " She will slave for it after it arrives, and people will 
 say she is a model, self-sacrificing mother," replied Dr. 
 Lyon, impatiently, "while the poor thing will make 
 night hideous by its cries of weakness, and between 
 walking the floor with the infant to hush its screams, 
 
PRENATAL INFLUENCES 31 
 
 and slaving for it all day long, she will one day reach 
 the limit of her physical endurance and leave the little 
 one motherless, and dependent upon strangers." 
 
 " Why, Robert, I believe you are actually growing 
 savage in your righteous indignation." 
 
 " What wonder, when I realize what women might 
 do for the world, and how far they fall short? When I 
 look at you, the wonder deepens that God gave to me 
 the one wise woman in all the world." 
 
 " Not that, my husband, but just one who strives 
 to do her duty, and is grateful for the gifts bestowed 
 upon her. Shall we begin the reading again, dear, or 
 postpone it, and consider what we have already read? " 
 
 " It is time for you to rest, so we will lay the book 
 aside, and talk awhile." 
 
32 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE SECOND HONEYMOON 
 
 "When baby comes! God make me good. 
 And rich in grace of motherhood. 
 Make white this woman's soul of mine 
 And meet for this great gift of Thine. 
 In that glad time." 
 
 SIX happy months have slipped away, the girlish- 
 ness in Ruth's face softening into the still more 
 sweet and tender lines of motherhood; the brown 
 eyes deepening in intensity, and the brooding mother- 
 side toward her husband becoming more predominant. 
 
 One day Robert jestingly said to her, " How you are 
 spoiling me, Ruth; why, when baby comes I shall be 
 like the child of the old nurse's legend, with my ' nose 
 completely out of joint.' " 
 
 "Bless your dear heart," said Ruth, rumpling his 
 wavy hair. " Don't you worry; for no baby on earth, 
 not even this one yet unborn, whose face I so long to 
 see, can lessen my love for you. I know some women 
 thrust aside the husband-love in favor of the child-love ; 
 but I cannot understand why they should do so. The 
 two affections are so different, and yet they form a 
 trinity of love." 
 
 " God bless you, sweetheart," said the doctor rever- 
 ently, kissing her good-bye. " Now to place Dr. Smith 
 in touch with my patients for our three months' vaca- 
 tion; our renewed honeymoon in the Catskills." 
 
THE SECOND HONEYMOON 33 
 
 After he had gone Ruth superintended the packing 
 of the two large trunks, tucking a book in here, a mag- 
 azine there, sketching materials and paints elsewhere, 
 and tenderly adjusting the delicate fabrics, laces and 
 embroideries that were to be fashioned by her into 
 tiny garments for the babe. What sweet influences 
 would surround these last three prenatal months, up 
 there among the pines. The happy flowers, the sing- 
 ing birds, the friendly chipmunk, the timid rabbit, in 
 fact all living things, tuned to the song of reproduction, 
 were to communicate to them their joy. For all God's 
 creatures have a joy in common, and even the flowers 
 have a language that may be understood by those who 
 will. 
 
 So Nature was to talk and teach these lovers truths 
 that should be reproduced in their child; while at the 
 foot of the hillside, the glorious Hudson would ever lie 
 glistening far beyond their vision, beautiful all the 
 time, but still more beautiful at nightfall, illuminated 
 by God's glorious sun as it sinks below yon western 
 hill. 
 
 During the first three months, Ruth had religiously 
 followed every law that should lead to physical perfec- 
 tion in their child. The next three she had been mod- 
 erately active intellectually ; now she was entering the 
 moral prenatal period, and she and Robert were going 
 up into the mountains where each sunrise and each 
 sunset would be an inspiration ; where they could read, 
 study, and be nature's own children until June came, 
 when they would return to await the coming of the 
 baby, whose every throbbing movement thrilled the 
 mother with joy and sent the color to her cheeks. 
 
 After a week of sunshine among the mountain tops. 
 
34 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 our married lovers awoke one morning to the music of 
 pattering raindrops on the window and a lusty accom- 
 paniment of wind. " We are in for a good three days* 
 nor'eastern," said the farmer's wife with whom they 
 were boarding. 
 
 " How lovely ! " cried Ruth, " for now we will not 
 be tempted from the glowing fireplace and you shall 
 read to me from the book on prenatal influence while 
 I sew. I have been fearfully indolent since we came 
 here." 
 
 " As I expected you to be," said Robert, bringing a 
 chair and the book near the sparkling logs, for the day 
 was cool. "Were ever two people so happy, so di- 
 vinely happy in anticipating consummation of the 
 highest human love? " 
 
 " I hope so," smiled Ruth, as she seated herself in 
 the small rocker Robert had drawn close beside his 
 own. 
 
 " Shall I read now, dear? " 
 
 " In a moment; but first I want you to look at this 
 before I fold it. The last stitch of embroidery is fin- 
 ished. Isn't that a pretty rosebud falling over the 
 shoulder?" 
 
 The big six-footer, magnificent in his strength, and 
 overflowing with love and happiness, leaned forward 
 and touched the garment lovingly, though for the last 
 six months he had been often called to admire some 
 such doll-like creation. "How exquisite! a little ki- 
 mona, eh? " 
 
 " Oh I am so glad you remembered the name ! How 
 unlike other men you are! Most of them would have 
 said ' I suppose it is beautiful, but all these things look 
 alike to me.' " 
 
THE SECOND HONEYMOON 35 
 
 "Thank you for the compliment; but why should I 
 not understand and admire when your dear hands have 
 fashioned them for our first-born. Certainly a woman's 
 enthusiasm, at this time of all others, should be shared 
 and appreciated. Probably the fact that it is not, is 
 the cause of silence and misunderstanding in so many 
 homes." 
 
 " I fear this is all too true," replied Ruth earnestly. 
 " How can husbands and wives endure each other, un- 
 less they are true comrades? I am ready to listen 
 now, if you care to read. Strange how this work, once 
 so distasteful, is now a blessed privilege ! " 
 
 Dr. Lyon opened the book, and his vibrant voice took 
 up the theme that was of such vital interest to each of 
 them. 
 
 " Intelligent human beings have no right to permit 
 the law of reproduction to have free play, regardless of 
 the needs of home and of society. Reason and science 
 should be brought to bear upon this ^s upon all other 
 human functions. The epileptic, the consumptive, the 
 man with insane parentage, the one who, through his 
 own sensuality, has forfeited his right to parentage, 
 these, one and all, are by our present laws permitted to 
 bring children into the world to struggle and suffer; 
 and one wonders if we shall ever realize our duty to- 
 ward the helpless, unborn child. The very least a 
 parent can do, is to give the child the best possible pre- 
 natal influences ; to count all temporary self-sacrifice as 
 nothing in view of the awful fact of bringing a new 
 human being into the world. 
 
 " By prenatal influence, we mean all influences, phys- 
 ical, mental or moral, which affect an unborn child. 
 These forces are not only active during actual preg- 
 
36 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 nancy, but the condition of father and mother, some 
 little time before conception, helps to determine the 
 character of the offspring. 
 
 " Heredity is that law by which permanent and set- 
 tled qualities of the parent, or of remote ancestors, re- 
 appear in the child. But other forces than heredity 
 are at work also, and these forces, which modify hered- 
 ity, are called prenatal. The manner by which the in- 
 fluence is produced upon the father's side is obscure, 
 but the seed seems stamped with the imprint of his 
 temporary condition of mind and body, so that these 
 qualities have also a place in determining the character 
 of the offspring. 
 
 " As authority we quote, first, the late Fordyce 
 Barker, M. D., LL.D., one of the most eminent of 
 American physicians. In a paper before the American 
 Gynaecological Society, he says : ' Maternal impres- 
 sions may affect the development and charactier of the 
 foetus,' and, speaking of the blood being the agent 
 through which maternal impressions are conveyed, he 
 adds, 'food, medicine, poisons and diseases are con- 
 veyed to the foetus in utero. Children are born with 
 measles, scarlet fever, smallpox and other communi- 
 cable diseases.' 
 
 " Richart says — ' It is by the modifications which 
 the mother's blood receives from vivid emotions that 
 we must explain their influences upon the nutrition, the 
 growth, and even the life of the foetus, to which the 
 blood is supplied through the placenta.' " 
 
 Dr. Lyon stopped reading, and closed the book. " I 
 think we have all the scientific food we can digest for 
 a while ; there are some few pages more regarding pre- 
 natal influence, but they are of so sad a nature that I 
 
THE SECOND HONEYMOON 37 
 
 do not care to run the risk of the mental honeymoon 
 they might leave. After baby comes, it will be well for 
 you to read them; for they will be of great value to you 
 later on, when you resume your lectures to mothers. 
 I know your ambition for the betterment of women 
 and of all humanity will not lessen, but will rather be 
 intensified by the little one, when he arrives. There is 
 the call to luncheon, and I am as hungry as a sailor." 
 
 Tucking the sewing neatly away in its pretty basket, 
 Ruth let her hand slip into her husband's as he led her 
 to the dining-room. 
 
38 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 WHEN BABY COMES 
 
 " When baby comes! Now fades from mind 
 All thought of self. The world grows kind. 
 Old wounds are healed, old wrongs forgot, 
 Sorrow and pain remembered not; 
 Life holds no blot." 
 
 THOSE two "still lovers," as Aunt Mehetabel 
 called them, returned home happy and expect- 
 ant, the last day of June. It was only a few 
 days later when Dr. Lyon, radiantly joyous, rushed 
 like an excited school-boy into Aunt Mehetabel's par^- 
 lor, almost crushing that dignified, austere old lady in 
 his arms as he cried, " You must come over to the 
 house immediately. Auntie, and see what a surprise we 
 have for you." 
 
 For once Aunt Mehetabel forgot to reprove him for 
 his " scandalous behavior ! " and did not even notice 
 the stray fly that came buzzing through the screen door 
 which he had forgotten to close. In fact she was so 
 agitated that she hardly recognized her own staid self. 
 
 " I will come at once," she replied, straightening her 
 prim collar, and patting her silvery puffs. 
 
 " I will wait for you," said Robert, noticing the open 
 door and closing it. " Only hurry, like a dear, for I 
 told Ruth I would bring you back with me in the car- 
 riage if you would come." 
 
 " Did I ever refuse that girl anything that was de- 
 cent? Anyway, she always had her own headstrong 
 way." 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 39 
 
 "Heredity, Auntie, from your side, eh?" 
 
 " Impertinent boy ! " 
 
 Aunt Mehetabel, thanks to the assistance of the little 
 German maid, was soon ready, and they drove rapidly 
 away. 
 
 " Prepare for an immense surprise," laughed Robert, 
 as he assisted the old lady from the carriage. 
 
 "I suppose," smiled Aunt Mehetabel indulgently, 
 " that I am to see the most wonderful child ever born." 
 
 There was a mysterious twinkle in Dr. Lyon's eyes 
 that she could not fathom, as he replied, " Wait, and 
 judge for yourself. I will take you in at once to see 
 her." And so impatient was he for the methodical 
 woman to make her way upstairs, that he began to 
 help her to remove her cloak and bonnet. With pro- 
 found gallantry, he opened the door of what he termed 
 his " sanctuary," and bade her enter. 
 
 The deep-set eyes of the old lady fell upon the little 
 dimity-draped crib before she looked at Ruth, who lay 
 upon her bed, pale but supremely happy. For once 
 she forgot all laws of decorum, and cried out, " Laws 
 o' mercy, twins ! " 
 
 " Yes," answered Robert proudly, waving his hand 
 toward baby Esther, " this is the baby that proves all 
 theories of sex predetermination nonsense; and this, — 
 our baby Lewis, proves those selfsame theories to be 
 infallible truths." 
 
 Aunt Mehetabel looked puzzled; then turned and 
 reverently kissed the face of the sweet mother. " One 
 never can tell," said she, " whether that overgrown boy 
 is talking sense or foolishness ; " then, bending again 
 over the crib, she took one of the little ones close to the 
 heart that others thought half-frozen, and, as the 
 
40 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 mother-love welled up within her, — as it does in the 
 heart of every womanly woman when she clasps an in- 
 fant to her breast, — tears dimmed her eyes, and she 
 murmured so that none could hear, " Oh death ; but 
 for you, what might have been? " 
 
 Owing to her splendid vitality and perfect physique, 
 Ruth rapidly regained her strength, and took up her 
 duties as physician, with greater zest than ever before. 
 She gave certain hours of the day to her office practice 
 and other allotted tasks, for she had learned to be very 
 systematic in her work, yet never for a moment did 
 she ever neglect the tender offices of motherhood. 
 When the twins were a year old, a college chum of 
 Dr. Lyon's whom they honored by calling him " Uncle 
 Jack," promised, after many invitations, to visit them, 
 unless " pressing business should prevent," and added 
 that he hoped they would not be offended, should he 
 be suddenly called away. At best he feared he could 
 remain only two da}^ and a night. 
 
 He arrived in the middle of the afternoon, and soon 
 after Ruth betook herself to the nursery, to let the two 
 men have a chance to talk about old times. 
 
 At dinner she appeared in a pretty white muslin 
 dress, acting as hostess in her own sweet, quiet way, 
 as if there were no twins in the house to cause her a 
 moment's thought. After dinner, she returned again 
 to the nursery for a brief time, joining the men later 
 in the drawing room. One evening, several friends 
 who had met " Uncle Jack " during his earlier visits, 
 were invited to spend the evening with him, and the 
 time passed so pleasantly that everyone was surprised 
 when the clock reminded them it was eleven. 
 
 In the morning, the same bright, care-free hostess 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 41 
 
 presided at the breakfast table. Jack eyed her keenly, 
 but could detect no difference between her conduct 
 now and when he had been their guest before the little 
 ones came. Finally, his curiosity got the better of 
 him. 
 
 " Did the babies give you much trouble last night. 
 Dr. Ruth? " he asked. 
 
 "Trouble?" Ruth looked at him wonderingly. 
 " Why, no, the twins never give us any trouble at 
 night." 
 
 " Uncle Jack" looked astonished; but being a bach- 
 elor, limited in knowledge of infantile matters, he said 
 no more. 
 
 During the morning Dr. Lyon took his friend up to 
 the nursery to see the twins when they were being 
 bathed. He felt that he had never seen anything more 
 charming than their perfect little forms, like statuettes 
 of rosy marble. Confirmed bachelor though he was, 
 he took Lewis, and stood the laughing, crowing boy 
 upon his knee. " Why Rob, he is a veritable cupid, al- 
 ready aiming at my heart. Don't these cherubs ever 
 yell?" 
 
 Dr. Lyon laughed heartily, for he had been suspi- 
 cious that Jack had only accepted their invitation out of 
 politeness, and that the " pressing business " was held 
 in reserve as an excuse for his departure, should the 
 twins prove too much for him. He realized the truth 
 of the statement that " an uncontrolled child is a men- 
 ace to the republic." 
 
 Night came, and still his guest stayed on, although, 
 he discreetly declared, " a telegram might arrive at any 
 moment." Day after day slipped by, and still no tele- 
 
42 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 gram, and no departure, until at last two weeks were at 
 an end. 
 
 These twins were a great puzzle to him. One morn- 
 ing, at breakfast, he asked: " Say, Robert, how do you 
 keep those precious kids from shrieking? " 
 
 " You would not have asked that, had you heard the 
 boy yell, yesterday, when a bee lighted on his face. 
 Gee whiz ! you would not have doubted the strength of 
 his lungs then, or his ability to screech." 
 
 " Heavens, man, I think even we would howl under 
 like provocation. What I mean is, don't they ever fret 
 and whine? For instance, when they want things, or 
 do not wish to go to bed. I confess my ignorance, but 
 I supposed babies cried all the time." 
 
 "I understand you. Jack," replied Dr. Lyon, "for 
 unfortunately most babies brought up according to 
 modern methods, or rather lack of methods, do cry." 
 
 " Don't you ever have to walk the floor with them at 
 night? " 
 
 " That is a luxury our babies have never known. No, 
 Jack! ' A Knight of Labor? ' Not for mine, old man." 
 
 "Another unknown luxury, I presume," continued 
 Uncle Jack, " is having someone remain upstairs with 
 them each evening, getting them to sleep." 
 
 " The result of the right prenatal influence," said Dr. 
 Lyon. " We taught them from the beginning to go to 
 sleep when they were placed in their cribs, or at least, 
 not to cry. A wise mother once told me she never al- 
 lowed her baby to associate getting a thing with crying 
 for it." 
 
 " Another thing, if you will pardon the personality," 
 continued Uncle Jack ; " Dr. Ruth always looks as neat 
 and sweet as she was before the little ones arrived. 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 43 
 
 She never comes to breakfast carelessly dressed, as I 
 fancied all young mothers did ; nor does she ever show 
 signs of nervous haste, as if in a hurry to return to the 
 nursery." 
 
 " Possibly I am never anxious, because I spend some 
 time with them before I come down to breakfast," an- 
 swered Ruth. 
 
 " Then, too, I see no difference in your way of spend- 
 ing the evening." 
 
 "That is my time," interposed Dr. Lyon. "What 
 would become of me without my other half and partner 
 to talk things over with me, and to consult with me 
 about important cases? " 
 
 "Yes;" continued Ruth, "I promised myself that 
 my husband should never lose my sympathy or aid 
 through the excuse of motherhood. It is hard for men 
 to enter into all the yearnings of a mother over her off- 
 spring; and when a man finds his wife a slave to the 
 nursery, he is all too prone to seek comfort and appre- 
 ciation elsewhere. Personally, I feel, and try to im- 
 press upon my women patients, that when a wife ne- 
 glects her personal appearance, her reading, her hus- 
 band, her social duties, — all, or any one of them, — for 
 her children, her husband has just cause to make com- 
 plaint." 
 
 " Well, Dr. Ruth, if all women, or even one other, 
 were like you, I would not long remain a bachelor." 
 
 "There are many others, even better than I, Jack; 
 only you men are so queer, some of you. If a brave, 
 practical common sense woman come half-way to meet 
 you, you shun her and fly to some frivolous nonentity, 
 who plays with your heart as though it were a toy, 
 and probably flings it away in the end. Is it men's 
 
44 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 egotism that makes them fear a wife who is their 
 equal?" 
 
 " Say, Dr. Ruth, I never looked at it in quite that 
 way, but I believe you're right. We are prone to be 
 cowards and egotists at heart, no matter how good our 
 intentions may be. I confess that when I came, it was 
 with fear and trembling. I was prepared to fly at the 
 first outcry. But babies like these, — ^why they are an- 
 gels! I would like to stay and play with them all 
 summer. How did you conceive such children? Or is 
 it heredity? " 
 
 " Not entirely," replied Ruth, seriously. " We be- 
 lieve in prenatal influence; and besides, I had my ideals 
 of what I wanted my children to be. It will not tire 
 you if I explain?" 
 
 "Tire me? On the contrary, I am deeply inter- 
 ested." 
 
 "I am going to give you a regular sermonette," 
 laughed Ruth ; " so, as we have finished breakfast, let 
 us adjourn to the piazza, for I want to make you wish 
 you were a benedict and father; one with little ones 
 like ours. There were certain characteristics with 
 which I wished our children to be endowed ; for while 
 we can trust Mother Nature with the proper balancing 
 of the masculine and feminine qualities, there are other 
 things to be considered." 
 
 "That reminds me. If I am permitted to ask a 
 question; have we not as many hysterical men as 
 women?" 
 
 " I contend," interposed Dr. Robert, " that men are 
 more given to hysteria than women." 
 
 "A woman's hysteria," said Ruth, "is generally 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 45 
 
 manifested in excessive tears, inordinate laughter, or 
 demands for attention." 
 
 " A man's," continued Dr. Lyon, " shows equal lack 
 of self-control over temper and appetites, and even 
 more unreasonable demands for attention. I have a 
 case of this sort in hand now. He is a man who 
 spends his time in taking advantage of any who will 
 trust him, through what he calls ' high finance ' ; while 
 his wife is, in reality, the mainstay of his business. 
 She is at present taking entire charge of his affairs dur- 
 ing his illness, and is not only a brave, devoted woman, 
 but has given abundant proof of superior executive 
 ability. Yet, in order, apparently, to impress her with 
 his own supreme importance, he harps continually upon 
 the supposed inferiority of women, and frequently 
 works himself into violent hysteria, maligning his best 
 friends, and heaping abuse upon her. Remonstrance 
 only gives him opportunity to misapply scriptural quo- 
 tations in substantiation of his claims. He is a poor, 
 worthless, hysterical creature, and is, in addition, hope- 
 lessly dishonest. To tell the truth, even now, though 
 he is seriously ill, he lies there trying to conjure up ex- 
 cuses for not paying his bills." 
 
 "Not only that," added Ruth, "he always finds 
 someone to pity and to believe him when those whom 
 he has swindled find him out. It was such instances 
 as these that made me more anxious that, if God should 
 grant us children, they might have self-poise and self- 
 control, lack of which portends incipient insanity in 
 some form. Therefore, all through pregnancy and, in- 
 deed, before, we tried to live up to all noble sugges- 
 tions; and my ideal for my children, as they grew to 
 maturity, was that they might be also equipped for 
 
46 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 God's eternity. I was anxious, too, that my boy or 
 girl should have a head that would win the approval of 
 expert phrenologists ; for, notwithstanding the ridicule 
 that some have heaped upon it, I have great faith in 
 that science." 
 
 " So have I," answered Robert earnestly. " I wanted 
 the child to possess a happy blending of mental quali- 
 ties, a perfect co-ordination of faculties. Great genius 
 may be desirable, but I would rather my child were no 
 genius than have him lack those other faculties devel- 
 opment of which is essential to make genius effective. 
 I felt, too, the importance of the relation that exists be- 
 tween physical and mental characteristics, and the con- 
 sequent desirability that the former should be indica- 
 tive of strength and virtue. Deny it as we will, the 
 deep, kindly eyes that speak volumes of love and sym- 
 pathy, yet can flash with Are if just cause be given, and 
 that let nothing of real interest escape that can be treas- 
 ured in the store-house of the mind; the tender, yet 
 firm mouth; the resolute chin; the spiritual forehead, 
 not too high, indicating ability to advise on spiritual as 
 well as worldly matters ; the well modulated voice, with 
 a minor tone even in laughter; all these must fit him 
 to take his place in the world." 
 
 "Not quite ideal," said Dr. Ruth, "but there are 
 many such, thank God, though unfortunately, they do 
 not form the majority. Such men will not tolerate the 
 plea of moral delinquency as an excuse for omitting a 
 necessary part of education ; and can be approached for 
 guidance without being surprised or shocked." 
 
 " If I mistake not you included both sexes in your 
 ideal picture at the beginning," said Jack, "but you 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 47 
 
 have given only the qualities you desire your son to 
 possess at maturity. What of the daughter? " 
 
 " I would have her his equal mentally, physically and 
 morally." 
 
 " Make her superior to man, eh? " 
 
 " No ; but assuredly his equal. Then, and then 
 alone, will they be true soul-mates in the higher, nobler 
 acceptation of that much maligned word ; then too, will 
 there be better understanding and fewer cases of di- 
 vorce." 
 
 " What do you think of young women, healthy, 
 strong, and beautiful to look upon, who are lacking in 
 moral sense and intellect? " interposed Dr. Robert. " I 
 deem such women a menace to the community." 
 
 " It is such as these that make many men determined 
 not to marry," said Jack earnestly. "This last day with 
 you two has been soul-inspiring and a revelation. Here 
 is Dr. Ruth, watching devotedly over those darlings in 
 the nursery, having her regular office hours, doing her 
 surgical work in the private hospital, thoughtful even 
 of the most lowly, and doing it all with perfect grace 
 and ease. And you. Bob, lucky dog that you are!, 
 what wonderful strides you are making along scientific 
 lines. I already see your name appearing on the scroll 
 of fame." 
 
 " What I accomplish that is worthy, I owe entirely 
 to my wife," replied Dr. Lyon reverently. 
 
 "I will not have you say that," answered Ruth, 
 warmly. " I flatter myself that I have not retarded 
 your progress, but to your own noble self and your 
 high principles is due your rapid advancement." 
 
 " Here come the twins," cried Jack, joyously spring- 
 ing down the steps at one bound as the maid appeared 
 
48 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 with her young charges. Esther sti'etched up her arms 
 to him with a bewitching smile and a coo of delight, 
 and he quickly had her in his arms. " I am so glad. 
 Dr. Ruth," said he, " that your rules are not so severe 
 as to forbid my petting these children." 
 
 Ruth laughed. " You have learned that these chil- 
 dren are coddled and loved as all babies ought to be, 
 but not by strangers indiscriminately, — ^that I strictly 
 forbid." And raising little Lewis in her arms, she 
 covered his rosy face with kisses, as the most old- 
 fashioned of mothers might have done. 
 
 Uncle Jack left that evening, assuring his friends that 
 no matter how often they invited him, he could never 
 refuse on account of those blessed twins. 
 
 " Dear old Jack; he's a fine chap," said Robert, as 
 they drove home after leaving their guest at the sta- 
 tion. " If Annabel had been a worthy woman, instead 
 of a society Hirt, she would have gained a prize; but, 
 she will pay the penalty of her ignorance and foolish- 
 ness." 
 
 " Don't you worry, Robert. I saw a light in Jack's 
 eyes which was a prophecy of wedding cards within a 
 year, if the right woman should turn up." 
 
 " One like you, sweetheart." 
 
 " Flatterer ; I verily believe you grow more senti- 
 mental every day." 
 
 " Well ; some things do improve with age, you 
 know." 
 
 Scarcely six months had passed when Ruth's pre- 
 monition was verified by the receipt of invitations to 
 Jack's wedding. In a personal letter he requested that 
 some of their lectures be sent him to enable him to be- 
 come a better man, a better husband, and a better 
 
WHEN BABY COMES 49 
 
 father. " For," he added, " I may not be blessed with 
 twins, but even though they arrive in instalments, I 
 want them to be as much like your ideals as possible. 
 ' The girl,' " — ^his pet name for his betrothed — " wants 
 to meet Dr. Ruth, and have a heart to heart talk with 
 her before our marriage." 
 
 " He has found the right one at last," smiled Ruth. 
 " I shall at once send him an invitation to be forwarded 
 to her, asking her to spend a week or two here in town 
 with us. It will be a good time for her to get extras, 
 also, for her trousseau." 
 
 " You are sure it is not putting too great a tax upon 
 yourself? " asked Dr. Lyon solicitously. 
 
 " No, Rob, I shall plan accordingly." 
 
50 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 "WHY OUGHT I TO BE 'SHAMED?" 
 
 DR. RUTH had been giving one of her monthly 
 parlor talks to mothers; and they were privi- 
 leged, at the close of the lecture, to ask any 
 question relative to the subject under discussion. 
 
 A cultured woman, a New Englander by birth, had 
 been surprised by what she termed " the broad thought 
 of the lecturer," although she highly respected her 
 ability as a physician, surgeon and teacher. 
 
 " Dr. Curtis-Lyon," she said, rising from her chair, 
 " as we listeners are privileged to speak, do you not 
 think that sex knowledge should be kept from children 
 until they reach adolescence? Do you not believe that 
 to withhold such teaching until that period would add 
 to the simplicity, innocence, sweet dependence and 
 lovableness of children, seeing that there is so little 
 true sentiment abroad in the world? " 
 
 "I appreciate your thought," replied Dr. Ruth 
 gently, " but in this as in all other problems, we must 
 face * The God of Things as They Are,' as one writer 
 puts it, and in doing so, we must admit first of all that 
 in America children are ' precocious, unduly excitable, 
 and full of restless curiosity.' Our rushing, noisy com- 
 mercial spirit does not foster quiet thinking in children 
 or adults. Let me read you this extract from a medi- 
 cal journal, for it sets forth exactly my own ideas upon 
 this subject. ' Nq child of even ordinary powers of ob- 
 
"WHY OUGHT I TO BE 'SHAMED?" 51 
 
 servation, fails, early in its young life, to learn certain 
 facts regarding the sex question. All too often, while 
 scarcely more than an infant, it imbibes a vague sense 
 of shame through unwise remarks made to it relating 
 to its own conscious acts. Again, it is sure to come 
 into contact in its school life with children who are 
 victims of sexual perversion. These perversions may 
 be the result of impure inheritance; or they may be 
 acquired through polluting experiences. They may 
 also be the result of physical conditions of which the 
 parents are ignorant, such as the necessity in the case 
 of either boy or girl for circumcision. There are many 
 such children in the world, and the innocent child, how- 
 ever carefully guarded it may be at home, is quite sure 
 to learn from them a version of sex life which a true 
 parent would hardly care to have them know. 
 
 " ' Since, then, it is hardly probable that a child kept 
 in ignorance by its parents will escape from perversion, 
 there is but one reasonable, sane course for a mother to 
 pursue, and that is to forestall the demoralizing instruc- 
 tion it would otherwise receive from others by delicate, 
 reverential teaching fron;i her own lips.' " 
 
 Dr. Ruth stopped for a moment, and asked, " Is this 
 article of interest to you all? Valuable as it is, I do 
 not wish to weary you. Will those wishing me to 
 continue please signify by raising the right hand? " 
 
 Every hand being uplifted, she continued, " ' One 
 child, whom the writer knows, was taught these things 
 in conjunction with the coming of a new baby into the 
 family; and such an event provides an ideal opportu- 
 nity for any mother. The little boy was told, not long 
 after conception had taken place, that mother was 
 carrying beneath her heart a little baby ; that it would 
 
52 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 grow heavier and heavier as the time drew nearer for 
 it to come forth into the world, and that he must there- 
 fore help and protect her during the long months to 
 come. The effect upon him, in the development of 
 manliness, tenderness and chivalry, cannot be esti- 
 mated. 
 
 " ' Granted, then, that each mother must save her 
 own child, this being not only her privilege but her 
 duty, the question that next arises is, how shall the 
 story be told? Just how, no one authority cai^ dictate; 
 each mother must decide for herself, as her own best 
 judgment prompts. 
 
 " ' First of all, however, as a general and unfailing 
 principle, let these lessons be taught honestly. When 
 a mother tells her child that a stork brings the baby 
 (pretty legend though it be), or that the doctor brings 
 it, she sets upon her child the seal of untruth and im- 
 purity. Some day he will learn that his mother has 
 deceived him, and that behind her instructions lies an 
 element of secrecy; and secrecy with its companion, 
 prurient curiosity, is the cause of much unrest and sin 
 in later life. 
 
 " ' Secondly; let the child be told scientiiically, that 
 its attention may be arrested, and a sane, intellectual 
 interest be developed, which will stand in later years 
 as a firm, true basis for whatever biology it may be 
 taught in its more advanced school life. Thirdly; let 
 it be taught assthetically. No greater wrong can be 
 done a child than to rob him of the aesthetic side of 
 sex life, inasmuch as it is that which differentiates the 
 crude physical passion of the brute from the expres- 
 sions of love in^the human being. The two great life 
 forces in the universe are life, which preserves the in- 
 
"WHY OUGHT I TO BE 'SHAMED?" S3 
 
 dividual organism, and love, which is the continuer of 
 life; for it is the nature of love to draw to itself, for its 
 own, that which is loved. 
 
 " ' The aesthetic sentiment should, then, be devel- 
 oped in the child, since through it his taste is culti- 
 vated ; and, as some have said, a man's taste is a greater 
 safeguard thsm his moral nature; for to a man of fine 
 feeling perversion of love's great law becomes repul- 
 sive, and so temptation to low living is removed 
 through negation.' 
 
 " To lay the foundation for such fineness of nature, 
 let the truth concerning the story of life be taught, like 
 other subjects in the school curriculum, in harmony 
 with the child's own epochs of mental culture; first 
 through vehicles of imagination, then through the per- 
 sonification of plant and insect life, — throwing round 
 about it such poems and myths and sensible tales as 
 shall beautify and enhance the whole. 
 
 " A little later in the child's life, new interpretations 
 may be added ; and, as adolescence approaches, let the 
 mother stand ready to usher her child into the great 
 mystery of life as it really exists in the world, pressing 
 upon men and women with a force, all powerful, all 
 pervading, all commanding. 
 
 "At this period, the child, — a child no longer,— 
 comes into a personal sense of the life which he has so 
 long known in part. He begins, now, to fully realize 
 the personal force of it all. He feels himself a part of 
 the community life, which before had not been quite 
 real to him. He feels new and strange emotions burn- 
 ing within him; new hopes, new fears, new ambitions, 
 new desires. Love, too, may be experienced, and the 
 man child or the woman child may, in an immature 
 
S4 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 way, gain further knowledge, through his own experi- 
 ence, of the great love life that lies everywhere round 
 about him. 
 
 " At this period, the mother needs to pray for Divine 
 wisdom in guiding her child in ways that shall help, 
 not hinder, drawing his confidence, and never repelling 
 it. High ideals of chivalry and of devotion are now 
 essential. Books and stories, also, which show forth 
 the suffering which comes both to man and woman 
 from the wrong use of this great power, and the joy 
 and soul fulfillment that come through the glorification 
 of the same. 
 
 " ' We are born twice ; once to exist, and once again 
 to live,' said Rousseau ; and when the song of true love 
 sounds in the heart of a human being, then, and not 
 till then, does he live truly. 
 
 " For this great song, then, lest it become a miserere 
 rather than a jubilate, let us prepare our children ; and 
 in preparing, let us lay an early foundation in concep- 
 tions which, while honest and scientific, are yet fanci- 
 ful, imaginative and aesthetic." . ? 
 
 " You have silenced all my objections," said the New 
 Englander, rising; " but now I wish to learn like the 
 children ; I want to know the tales of nature, and how 
 to be wiser in the guidance of my little ones? " 
 
 "Thank you," replied Dr. Ruth, "for your words 
 are an inspiration to me. I will tell you the answer I 
 gave my little Lewis one night, as I was putting him to 
 bed, when he asked me whence the baby came to the 
 home of his little playmate, Wallace. This first little 
 sex talk to my boy I hope to make the foundation of a 
 series of Nature Stories that should make the mother's 
 task less difficult. Wallace's mother had told him that 
 
"WHY OUGHT I TO BE 'SHAMED?" 55 
 
 * the baby grew in a rose bush ; ' and his sister had said 
 that ' a stork brought it across the big sea.' Being still 
 unsatisfied, my Lewis went to my Aunt Mehetabel, 
 who was horror-stricken, and exclaimed, ' You ought to 
 be ashamed of yourself, Lewis, asking such questions.' 
 Then it was that he came to me, the thought of mys- 
 tery still predominant, and, as I tucked him in bed, 
 whispered his experience, and his curiosity. * Why 
 ought I to be 'shamed, movher dear? Is it naughty for 
 babies to come? An' is it naughty for little boys to 
 ask? An' does Wallace' movher an' his sister jus' have 
 to guess because they doesn't know, movher? ' Little 
 wide-awake Esther was also on the alert. 'An', mov- 
 her,' she said softly, ' why did Wallace' movher laugh 
 when I told her I was goin' to ask my papa to bring me 
 a wee baby sister? Please 'splain? ' 
 
 " Certainly darlings, I will tell you all about it." 
 
 " Movher always tells us everyfing jus' true," cried 
 Lewis. 
 
 " Yes ; only truth shall be told you if you will come 
 to your papa and your mama and ask them all the ques- 
 tions that puzzle you ; and they will try to tell you all 
 about it. Will you always remember that? " 
 
 " Yes, movher, always ! " exclaimed both in chorus. 
 
 " I tell you, mothers, that compliment of faith in my 
 mother honor touched me deeply as something that 
 should be treasured and held sacred. It caused me to 
 listen prayerfully to my little Lewis as he told me how 
 he and Wallace had looked the rosebush all over and 
 found no broken buds or branches. I assured the chil- 
 dren that this, like the story of the stork, was untrue. 
 
 " ' But who did bring the baby? ' questioned Esther. 
 ' Please 'splain.* 
 
56 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Having anticipated the day when such a question 
 might arise, and believing that mysterious questions — 
 no matter at what age they may be asked, — should be 
 answered delicately but frankly, I realized that the 
 time had come to begin the unfoldment of the truth to 
 these wee children; so I sat beside them in the twilight 
 and began my story. ' Once upon a time, — " 
 
 "'Oh, brovher, a really truly fairy story!' cried 
 Esther, clapping her hands. 
 
 " Yes darling, a fairy story that is all true. 
 
 "There lived a good fairy called Dame Nature to 
 whom God gave the care of all living things; she 
 watched over the plants, grasses, trees, fishes, animals, 
 birds, and, most holy watch of all, over boys and girls, 
 and men and women. ' I give all these things into 
 your care,' said the Master, ' and, through your com- 
 mands, they shall grow, each of their kind, and beautify 
 the earth.' So Mother Nature began her work by com- 
 manding the sun to give of its warmth and light to all 
 the grasses, making them glad ; then she asked the rain 
 cloud to let fall soft showers upon her fields and woods, 
 and the grasses and trees looked up and smiled, and all 
 the earth became very beautiful. By and by the winter 
 came; the plants withered, grasses grew brown and 
 dry, and the leaves, clothed in gorgeous splendor, fell 
 to the earth. So months passed, and Spring again 
 breathed softly. ' Now,' said Mother Nature, ' all my 
 beautiful plants, grasses and trees will spring to life 
 again.' 
 
 " Day after day the patient mother waited in vain, 
 until, disheartened, she sought the Master with her 
 story of woe, asking wherein she had failed, leaving 
 the earth desolate. 
 
"WHY OUGHT I TO BE "SHAMED?" 57 
 
 "'You forget the great law of life,' reproved the 
 Master, 'that all things should grow old and die; 
 neither can they ever return to earth. Go back to your 
 work, and once more I will breathe life into the plants, 
 and into all things which lived before, and bid them 
 put forth leaves and blossoms; but you must teach 
 them that to continue beautifying the earth year after 
 year, each living plant must pass life on to a baby 
 plant. If you will humbly bow your ear I will whisper 
 the great secret to you.* 
 
 " ' Movher, what was the secret? " queried impatient 
 little Lewis, snuggling closer to me. 
 
 " The message was, ' Omne vivum ex ovo ; ' mean- 
 ing that all life comes from a tiny seed, contained 
 within herself by the mother of every baby grass-blade, 
 plant and tree, and so on through the different kinds of 
 living things ; and from this seed springs the little off- 
 shoot or child of the parent. So Mother Nature hur- 
 ried back to her plants, trees, and other living things, 
 and cried joyfully, ' Lift up your hands and rejoice, for 
 again the Maker of all Things will breathe life into you, 
 and you shall take on your beautiful colors and grow.' 
 Just then a soft wind swept over the earth. ' Listen ; ' 
 said Mother Nature reverently, 'the Master's breath 
 of life is upon you.' 
 
 " Some tiny leaves began to show, and a faint tinge 
 of color crept over the brown grass. If one listened 
 intently, one could hear a triumphant chorus from all 
 growing things : ' We live again, we live again, thank 
 God we live again.' 
 
 " Baby vines twined their creeping fingers around 
 trees and stones; little leaves fluttered in ecstasy, and 
 the grasses whistled in glee. 
 
58 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " One day Mother Nature cried, ' You have played 
 through your youth. Now that you have reached ma- 
 turity, you must recollect that winter again approaches, 
 with death in its wake. Listen to me earnestly, for 
 never again will the Master breathe earthly life upon 
 you if you die now. So each mother in its separate 
 kind must form for itself a little seed, and when it is 
 complete, each father of like kind must touch the seed 
 with his own life; and lo, from the seed shall spring 
 forth a baby plant when Spring shall kiss it awake, and 
 each baby plant shall bear the form and color of its 
 parents, according to their kind. It is so the Master 
 desires that each shall live on forever, and the baby 
 seed shall be warmed by the earth and the falling leaves 
 or the drifting snows.' 
 
 " Into the heart of every grass plant, and tree, and 
 all living things, came new joy and adoration for the 
 great Father of them all. So every mother at once set 
 to work to make tiny cradles for her baby seeds, to 
 shield them from cold and storm; and a marvellous 
 change came over fields and forest. Odd blossoms and 
 tassels flaunted to the breeze, then were tenderly 
 folded, one by one, into seed cradles which held life 
 eternal.' 
 
 " It was thus I talked to my babies, until the little 
 eyes began to droop; while the lips murmured the 
 heart's appreciation, ' What a boofiful sto-ory that is ! ' 
 and this first nature talk was ended ; as I now end my 
 message to yourselves." 
 
 " Oh, please do not stop ! " was the unanimous cry. 
 
 " It is late, and I have already over-stayed my time; 
 but I hope you have been helped to a new conception 
 of life." 
 
"WHY OUGHT I TO BE "SHAMED?" 59 
 
 " We have indeed ; and we shall anxiously look for- 
 ward to reading the Nature Stories." 
 
 Dr. Ruth smiled. " I fear," said she, " that you must 
 exercise a little patience, for the book is not even ready 
 for the press." 
 
60 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFB 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 SPRINGTIME NATURE STORIES 
 
 DR. LYON and his wife devoted all the time pos- 
 sible to the children during the days of Spring, 
 and often took them into the fields to gather 
 flowers, that at bedtime they might talk to them of 
 their mysteries. 
 
 In the garden at one corner of the broad piazza, stood 
 a Flowering Currant. One morning Lewis called to 
 his father, " Come, Papa, come quickly ; the Currant 
 Bush is covered with blossoms before the leaves have 
 come. Do not leaves always come before the flowers?" 
 
 "No, my son; it seems that when Mother Nature, 
 whom you love so well, told the plants the secret of life, 
 this little Bush listened so intently, and such a well- 
 spring, of love sprang up in her heart, — ^love such as 
 your mother has for you and sister, — that she could not 
 wait to hear the end of the message, but just made nice, 
 strong cradles at once, fearing winter might come too 
 soon and her babies be frozen before she could take 
 them in and blanket them softly and warmly; and, in 
 her haste, she forgot her leaves, and everything else 
 but the one great thought of her babies. The Lilac 
 standing near, becoming anxious, said to the bare 
 bush, in a neighborly way, 'You must hurry, dear 
 neighbor.' 
 
 "'That is what I am doing," replied the Currant 
 Bush ; ' am I not getting my blossoms ready as fast as 
 lean?' 
 
SPRINGTIME NATURE STORIES 61 
 
 " ' Blossoms ! Goodness, friend, where are your 
 leaves? My leaves are fully out and my buds almost 
 ready to open.' 
 
 " ' Don't you bother,' replied the Currant Bush, ' I 
 may surprise you by blossoming first.' 
 
 " ' Without leaves? You cannot, for see how long 
 it takes to make the leaves.' 
 
 " The Currant Bush did not deign to reply to this ; 
 but kept steadily on with her work, saying to herself, 
 ' the Lilac does not understand; she does not know.' 
 
 "Then when the Lilac awoke one morning, she 
 glanced in astonishment at the Currant Bush covered 
 with a blaze of yellow glory; every branch covered 
 from end to end with glowing flowers. The Lilac was 
 so surprised she could not even rustle her leaves. 
 
 " ' It is all right,' smiled the Currant Bush, ' I have 
 learned that it is the way of our family to send out 
 its flowers first, so they will not be crowded by the 
 leaves.' " 
 
 " What a pretty, truly story! " said Lewis, drawing a 
 long breath. " It's as wonderful as the one last night 
 about the stamens and pistils of the flowers being the 
 fathers and mothers ; the stamens sending the pollen to 
 fertilize the little seed that it may grow into a flower ; 
 the tiny seed with always its wee cradle to rock in. I 
 love you, Papa, for telling me these nice stories." 
 
 " Do all papas and mamas tell such nice stories as 
 ours? " asked Esther. For answer Papa Robert kissed 
 the little woman in silence. 
 
 Next morning it was Dr. Ruth whose attention was 
 called by the children to the Morning Glory blossom; 
 with its pistils standing strong and brave. 
 
62 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " She is watching her babies hidden in their cradles 
 at her feet," said Ruth. 
 
 "And oh," cried Esther, "here is the papa stamen 
 reaching up his pollen as if he wanted to give it to the 
 mother pistil for her wee seed babies. See how she 
 turns to him with longing for her babies, bending her 
 pretty head to get the pollen." 
 
 " Here comes the wind," said Mother Ruth. " Watch 
 closely now, and see what happens, for the Morning 
 Glories seem to call ' Come help us, gentle wind.' 
 
 For a moment the wind paused and there was a 
 balmy sweetness in the air. Then whispering to the 
 papa Morning Glory, he gave him a gentle shake, and 
 the stamen nodded, ' thank you,' and sent its pollen fly- 
 ing through the air, much of it resting on the head of 
 Mother Pistil; who sang, 'Now, little seed-babies, 
 awaken;' and she dusted the pollen over them softly 
 as they lay cradled at her feet. 
 
 One day Esther and Lewis planted a bean, and when 
 they looked next morning, it had not grown, so they 
 uncovered it. The second and third morning they did 
 the same, but still they were disappointed. 
 
 " Dear me," said the little Bean; " they will kill me, 
 uncovering me so often. I shall all dry up instead of 
 softening in the damp earth as I should." 
 
 Fortunately for baby Bean a four days rain came to 
 her, and she had a chance to grow. Her tiny covering 
 softened and fell off; her two cotyledons separated suf- 
 ficiently for her to stick out a baby foot and push her- 
 self upward through the soil where she could have a 
 view of the garden. She lay resting on top of the 
 earth when the children discovered her. 
 
 " Why how strange ! " said Esther, " brother, we 
 
SPRINGTIME NATURE STORIES 63 
 
 must have forgotten to cover her over, and the poor 
 thing will get cold." 
 
 " Maybe we did," said Lewis. " I will run and get 
 my little hoe and cover her up again." 
 
 So they left the Bean-baby with a nice blanket of 
 earth over her, much to her disgust. 
 
 Two days later the children came again to the gar- 
 den, and the Bean-baby lay on top of the soil, looking 
 up at the sun. 
 
 " It must be all right this time," said Lewis, " for the 
 bean has split open, and see, there's a tiny sprout." 
 
 " What funny feet the baby has ! " exclaimed Esther. 
 
 When they came again the sprout had shot upwards 
 and was beginning to put forth tiny leaves. 
 
 " Our work is done, now the leaves begin to come," 
 sighed the little cotyledons, as they fell down into the 
 brown soil and went to sleep. 
 
 Another time Esther and Lewis planted a little 
 brown pea in the garden. They waited even longer 
 than for the bean, and still it did not appear. 
 
 " How poky slow it is," said Esther, digging her boot 
 into the earth. 
 
 " I am afraid it is dead," answered Lewis. 
 
 The baby Pea heard them and whispered as though 
 it thought they might hear, " No, no, no, impatient 
 children. I am not dead; but very much alive here 
 beneath the dirt ; just you wait and see." 
 
 " We've waited forever for that baby seed to be 
 bom," said Esther some days later. 
 
 " It's fourteen days, I counted them," said Lewis. 
 
 Next day two little leaves poked up saucily, like little 
 ears, listening to know whether it was safe to come all 
 the way out into the light. 
 
64 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 "This baby does not behave at all like the Bean- 
 baby," said Esther, who had brought her mother to see 
 the cunning leaves. 
 
 " No," said Mother Ruth, " babies are not all alike. 
 The Bean-baby and Pea-baby have different work to 
 do down in the earth. The Pea-baby has to send out 
 many roots before sticking out its head; the Bean-baby 
 comes up more quickly because it has but one root." 
 
 " Oh, that's it, brovher ! We understand now," cried 
 Esther. 
 
 In a few days the Pea leaves stood high upon a stalk 
 with other leaves trailing after them, and all the time 
 they grew larger and larger. As they grew, they put 
 out little thread-like fingers and clung to the fence that 
 they might keep up and travel far. On and on they 
 ran; branches coming out beside the tendrils, until, 
 after a time the fence was covered with creeping vines, 
 for somehow other Pea-babies had sprouted and grown 
 up, and underneath the ground the roots were growing 
 lustily. Buds came ; and at last, one morning, looking 
 from the window, Dr. Ruth called the children to see 
 the fence covered with green, and dotted with pretty 
 blossoms of pink, white and purple. 
 
 " How beautiful ! Oh, Mama, may we take a basket 
 and cut some for the table? " 
 
 "Yes, darlings, run along and we will surprise Papa 
 with a bouquet when he comes to breakfast." 
 
 " But the seed cradles," said motherly Esther, her 
 tender heart relenting. 
 
 "You will not cut all the flowers, and others will 
 bloom from day to day ; and, strange to say, the more 
 you pluck the more new blossoms grow." 
 
 A week later Esther came running in — "Mama, 
 
SPRINGTIME NATURE STORIES 65 
 
 Mama, the most beautiful cradles I ever saw are those 
 made by the Pea mother. They are like emerald wax, 
 and the babies lie like green pearls inside, for I opened 
 one to see; — ^the dearest little things wif black eyes, 
 and the movher is so good, for she has stuck ev'y 
 cradle so tight together that it hurt my fingers to open 
 them." 
 
 " Mother Nature is a wise teacher," replied Ruth, her 
 hand resting on the head beside her. 
 
66 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 SPRING BREEZES 
 
 SUCH a commotion as thfere waS beneath the soil 
 when the March Wind bleW his trumpet. " Haloo, 
 — ^haloo — ooo — 000 — ooo ! " All the little seed 
 babies in the earth heard the call to waken. They be- 
 gan at once to bestir themselves ; and after a time one 
 little head peeped out to look around. 
 
 " 'Spect they heard blue-birds," said Lewis, from his 
 pillow. 
 
 " Yes," replied Esther, " and when blue-birds come, 
 it is time for dear little Crocus; isn't it. Mama? " 
 
 " Listen now, children : At the foot of the Birch 
 tree, who was already sending out his fresh, green 
 leaves, which he had made ready for the springtime. A 
 little Snowdrop appeared, and it looked so sweet and 
 delicate that even the March Wind did not blow hard 
 upon it. Then little Miss Hepatica, — so thrifty she 
 gets her leaves ready the winter before, — came peeping 
 out and found snow still lying in the shady places ; but 
 she looked such a dear homebody that one might have, 
 thought she had lived in the snow all winter. Young 
 Birch was somewhat saucy, so one day, spying the little 
 flower in the grass at his feet, he said : ' You are a 
 very pretty young lady. Miss Hepatica; but I do not 
 like your leafy costume. It looks thick and weather- 
 beaten. Why do you not have fresh, new leaves like 
 mine? ' 
 
SPRING BREEZES 67 
 
 " * Laugh at me, if you will, Mr. Birch ; even though I 
 must say it is poor taste. Mother Nature bade me pre- 
 pare my leaves last fall, and they have slept all winter 
 beneath the snow. But you cannot boast a beautiful 
 flower like niine, dear brother Birch.' 
 
 "The Birch shook its leaves merrily. 'Wouldn't I 
 look rather strange with blossoms like yours, young 
 lady?' 
 
 " ' No more so than I, sir, with leaves like yours,' re- 
 plied Miss HepatiCa haughtily, and she snuggled down 
 in the dry grasses and soon was fast asleep. 
 
 " ' What a dear, nice, little Hepatica,' whispered the 
 Birch. "After all I love that humble little flower, 
 and shall spread my branches over her so that the 
 warm, spring sun will not wilt her while she sleeps, 
 and when winter comes, I vdll see that she is well 
 blanketed with my brown leaves.' " 
 
 " Humph," said Lewis, " didn't little Miss Hepatica 
 have relatives? " 
 
 "Yes," answered Mother Ruth, "she has a dear, 
 little sister called An^nome, although they are not very 
 well acquainted. It is said a fairy once overheard 
 Anenome talking to sister Hepatica, asking her how 
 she ever made her leaves grow and spread out so early 
 in the spring, so that she had nothing to do but blos- 
 som ; and Hepatica answered her, as she had answered 
 the Birch. 'I made my leaves ready last fall, so I 
 have nothing to do now but bloom and sleep. But, do 
 not feel bad, sister Anenome,' continued Hepatica, gen- 
 erously, ' for your little, fresh leaves are very beautiful 
 and help to set off your dainty, pink blossoms. Truly, 
 sister, I often wish Mother Nature would be less severe 
 and let me have new spring leaves.' 
 
68 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Mother Nature, who had been listening, though 
 they did not know it, said kindly, ' Do not envy each 
 other, children, for each is doing what is right. All the 
 world loves the early flowers of Hepatica; and I would 
 not like to lose the tender beauty of the leaves of 
 Anenome, that give promise of the dainty flowers so 
 soon to follow.' 
 
 "Now, my little nodding Hepaticas, go to sleep," 
 smiled Mother Ruth, kissing her children good night, 
 " for it is time you were in slumberland." 
 
 Next day Esther and her father found a Marsh-mari- 
 gold out in a swamp, growing close beside a Skunk-cab- 
 bage, and though the child did not notice its beauty so 
 much as its novelty, she took it home to her mother. 
 
 " Thank you, daughter, for this lovely Sunset Gold." 
 
 " Sunset Gold ! " exclaimed Esther. 
 
 " Yes, dear; see the richness of the dark green leaves 
 and the little bunches of flowers, yellow as Butter- 
 cups." 
 
 "But, Movher," questioned curious Esther, "why 
 does Sunset Gold grow in a swamp? " 
 
 " I will tell you," answered Papa Robert, taking the 
 little girl upon his knee, " for Mother is tired to-day. 
 Down in the swamp lived a small plant, with quite 
 large flowers and rich, green leaves, which it kept clean 
 and shining. Its nearest neighbor was a vulgar Skunk- 
 cabbage, which made the locality very undesirable ; but 
 unfortunately the nice, green plant, with its cleanly na- 
 ture, could not move. One day, a Dandelion seed came 
 flying through the air and floated to rest upon the 
 happy little plant in the swamp. 
 
 " ' Who are you? ' questioned the Swamp plant. 
 
 " ' I am a Dandelion seed.' 
 
SPRING BREEZES 69 
 
 " ' Oh, I have heard of you,' said the Swamp flower. 
 ' I am glad to meet one of your family. I have heard 
 that they are very beautiful yellow flowers that live in 
 the sunny meadows and hillside.' 
 
 " ' Very true,' replied the Dandelion seed. 
 
 " ' But why are you here in this strange place? ' 
 asked the Swamp plant. 
 
 "'The wind picked me up from the hillside and 
 tossed me so high in the air tiiat I was frightened ; so 
 on and on I flew, as fast as I could, until, quite out of 
 breath, I stopped to rest in this cool, shady place. You 
 must enjoy living beside the water.' 
 
 " ' I should,' said the Swamp plant sadly, ' were I as 
 beautiful as the members of your family. If I had as 
 lovely a color as they, I think I should be quite con- 
 tent.' 
 
 " ' I have heard,' comforted the Dandelion, * that the 
 sun brings the golden yellow to the Buttercup; perhaps 
 it might to you also if you asked it.' 
 
 " ' I will,' answered the Swamp plant, hopefully. 
 
 " Next morning, when the sun arose, the Swamp 
 plant lifted up her head and besought the gift of color. 
 ' Dear little flower,' said the Sun, ' I fear you have not 
 recently looked in your brook mirror, or else you would 
 know that when I showered gold upon your sister, the 
 Buttercup, I gave some to you also.' 
 
 " Bending to the brook, tears of joy welled up from 
 the heart of the Swamp flower, as she beheld the reflec- 
 tion of her wealth of green and gold ; and she became 
 the happiest and brightest of flowers." 
 
 " Wasn't she a funny girl, never to look in her mir- 
 ror? " laughed little Esther, hopping down to go pre- 
 pare for luncheon. 
 
70 FOUR EPOCHS OF UFE 
 
 ," She certainly was not a flesh and blood young girl," 
 smiled Drv Lyon, following with his eyes the lithe, alert 
 figure as it left the room. 
 
 After luncheon, the children spied two little lilac 
 buds on the top of a twig, and pulled the branch down 
 where they could see it. "Oh, Movher, what secrets 
 are they whispering to each other, with not another 
 bud near enough tp hear? I think I hear one say it is 
 grojyiiig very warm." 
 
 " And the other says, ' Spring is near,' " Ijs^ugbingly 
 interposed Esther, " ' 'csiiiset I felt his warm t»reath 
 across my lips this morning.' " 
 
 " 4n4 I heard the other say," contiriued little Lewis, 
 "'I am sure the sun is high, for I felt warm through 
 my bjanket§, both the green one and the white one.' " 
 
 Next day the two children went early to visit the 
 buds, and Ruth pulled the twig, down that they might 
 the better see the; little leaf -buds. 
 
 The JEoliowing day, the greenest of little leaves 
 floated themselves saucily before the children's eyes. 
 So it was that Esther and Lewis grew hand in, hand 
 with their parents, into the unf oldment and mysteries 
 of life. Its poesy and its prose strengthened both, the 
 moral and physical sides of thdr nature ; developing the 
 mental without forcing. 
 
PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS 71 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS 
 
 LIKE air children, Esther and L6w!s were ^^ery 
 fond of the Pussy Willow, bnd never tired of 
 stories about these odd platits, in which the 
 father stamen and the mother pistil do not dwell side 
 by side. For they had learned that there are plants 
 and flowers and trees in which it happens that the 
 stamen is in one flower and the pistil in another, or 
 again the stamen is on one side of the plant and the 
 pistil on the other side, or the papa stamens all on one 
 tree and the mama pistils on another. 
 
 These two fortunate children had learned, little by 
 little^ things of which older people are often ignorant. 
 It was to thenl an ever widening world of knowledge. 
 Carefully guided by their parents, they were now learn- 
 ing that even though the father and mother fldwers 
 may live very far apart, as sometimes the "willowg do, 
 the same inevitable law of nature still works on and 
 on, — ^the mollier preparihg the seed-babies, the father 
 sending the pollen to touch them to life. It may be the 
 wind he invokes as a messenger, or some flitting insect, 
 who stops for a moment's rest. ' 
 
 The parents no longer told these Stories simply as 
 such ; but wove into them more of scientific facts, that 
 they might be better prepared for Kfe and intelligent 
 appreciation of those great forces which govern the 
 universe. 
 
72 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 It might be the west winds that rocked the cradles; 
 or it might be the colder east, which was always care- 
 ful not to freeze the willow-tree babies with her cold 
 breath; and even the rough, old North Wind was cau- 
 tious not to harm them, though he shouted teasingly: 
 " Jack Frost will bite you ! Jack Frost will bite you ! " 
 The Mother Willow nodded gracefully, "You won't 
 harm my babies, Jack." 
 
 Then along came March and the South Wind sigh- 
 ing, "Wilow — ou — ou. Willow — ou — ou." 
 
 "Listen," whispered the mother Willow, "the soft 
 wind croons ' Willow — ou — ou,' to waken my little ones 
 who are sleeping." 
 
 She reached out her long arms to the South Wind; 
 and lo, her babies' little heads peeped forth and cooed, 
 " Willow— ou—ou." 
 
 The sun smiled upon the soft, furry heads, and the 
 breezes caressed them. Mother Nature, well pleased, 
 cautioned, " Keep on your fur hoods, for it is yet too 
 cold for little babies to come out without them." 
 
 The dear obedient little babes of the Willow-tree 
 kept on their hoods for several days, even though the 
 birds laughed at them and sang, " Fie ! Why wear 
 those hoods? " But the Willow babes could afford to 
 wait, for one day the sun became very warm, and the 
 bonny South Wind murmured softly, " You good 
 babies; take off your hoods now, for springtime has 
 really come." Then the babes pushed back their furry 
 hoods and loosened their golden hair, and covered all 
 the mother trees with glory. The birds were so 
 amazed at the change that they forgot to sing for four 
 or five minutes. Then they danced and warbled with 
 the golden Pussy Willows until twilight.* 
 
 • Adapted from Kate L. Brown. 
 
PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS 73 
 
 THE-FIRST-DANDELION-THAT-EVER-WAS 
 
 " Please Movher/' said Esther, who had run in with 
 a handful of golden Dandelions mixed with those of 
 feathery white, " it is bedtime now, and won't you tell 
 us if these with white hair like Aunt Mehetabel are 
 atmties or grandparents of the pretty yellow ones? " 
 
 Mother Ruth set a taboret by their beds, and placed 
 upon it a Japanese bowl filled with the Dandelions 
 they had brought. 
 
 " Now that you are each safe in your beds, children. 
 Mother will talk to you. I told you about the Willows 
 sometimes causing the papa and mama Willow to live 
 far apart; so, delighting in variety. Dame Nature 
 crowds many, many families into one little flower 
 growing upon a single stem. Such is the Dandelion; 
 a fine illustration of gregarious living; — ^that is, many 
 living in a small space. A bouquet of beautiful flowers 
 upon one stalk. Tomorrow, when it is light, take the 
 magnifying glass and examine the flowers of one Dan- 
 delion, and you will find that every little part is an 
 odd shaped flower with pistils, stamens and all. In a 
 plant like this, it is very easy for the Dandelion father 
 to send the pollen to the mother; and probably that is 
 why thousands of Dandelion children are sent out over 
 the fields to make homes for themselves. 
 
 " There is a legend to illustrate this. It says, ' One 
 morning, The-First-Dandelion-That-Ever-Was awoke 
 to find her yellow head had turned white during the 
 night. For a moment she was so shocked that she 
 could not move ; then, feeling the juice still running in 
 her veins, she leaned over and looked at herself in the 
 brook once more; but alas, her yellow hair had gone, 
 and worse than all, vAule she stood bowed in sorrow a 
 
74 FOUR EPOCHS QF, L^FE 
 
 brisk yv'md came singing across the field, and being 
 frolicsome, it rushed on the Pandelipn and bjen,t her 
 nearly to the ground, crying, — " Oho, oliij, come with 
 me! " — and when the Dandelion lifted herself, what^o 
 ypu thii^ik jiad happened? The wind h^d stripped her 
 quite ipald-headed. This was more than the popy, Pan- 
 delion could bear, she. even ^id not have, courage to 
 watch her wh^t^, plumy hair floating np the, hillsi|<ie 
 with the boisterous wind. As ship ^too^ grieving. 
 Mother Nature app^ar^d. , , , * 
 
 "'T^ut, tut, little Dandelion, lop]^ up ^nd I will tell 
 you something. Don't you know th^t ^^P end p^ .eyery 
 white, plumy hair i§ a little Dandelion ,^eed-:baby in a 
 wee cradle, ancj that they rnust fly aw^iy to find a hpme 
 of their own a^id care for thie,m,s?lv?,S>.f9r,how qojiI^ you 
 ever care for such a broo.d? So, if they dijdj not fly 
 away King Winter would destroy them, snjiptb,^ring 
 them in Ws warm, white hlanket ,so that yop W9JUjl(d 
 sleep on fore\rer. He coyej:? the spattpr^ed. hajaies t9P» 
 but only to warm them to new h^e that you,r name may 
 not die out. One day they wiU stretch, themselves in 
 tl^eir little cradles iintilthe cover bursts ; thei:i they will 
 push up through the earth; fre^h leaves y^ill sprj^^d °4^ 
 and cling to the soil just as yours have done, and there 
 will be buds and blossoms, and afterward i^e w^ite 
 hair indicating that the little; cradles are agaitx r,eady to 
 float. So it will be year after year, because, it i^ tihe 
 will of the Cood Father; so dp jnot wprry a^y more for 
 your dear babies; some of t^eni may lodge in some 
 dirty, crowded street, where hu|]ian children are con- 
 gregated as your babies are, but in city filth, in5t.?3'ld 9* 
 cpuntiry purity. These stray ch^dren of yours with 
 their smiling, gplden faces, peeping out frpm some 
 
PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS 7S 
 
 crack of the pavement where soil has lodged, may be a 
 treasure of golden hope to some weary, crippled child; 
 or some one sunken deep in vice may see them and be 
 led back to the fields, and to the path of righteousness.' 
 "'Soothed and comforted, The-First-Dandelion- 
 That-Ever-Was sank to sleep amid her enfolding 
 leaves.'" 
 
 . ''There's a dandy little fellow. 
 Who dresses all in yellow. 
 
 In yellow, with an overcoat of green; 
 With his hair all crisp and curly, 
 In the springtime, bright and early, 
 
 A-tripping o'er the meadow he is seen. 
 
 "Spick and spandy, little dandy. 
 Golden dancer of the dell. 
 Green and yellow, happy fellow. 
 All the children love, him well. 
 
 " Through all the bright June weather, 
 Like a jolly little tramp 
 He wanders o'er the hillside, down the road; 
 Around his yellow feather. 
 The gypsy .fireflies camp, 
 His companions are the woodlark and the toad. 
 
 " But at last this little fellow 
 Doffs his dandy coat of yellow, 
 
 And very feebly totters o'er the green; 
 For he very old is growing, 
 And with hair all white and flowing, 
 
 A-nodding in the sunlight he is seen. 
 
 '' The little winds of morning, 
 ' Come flying through the grasl3, 
 
 ' And clap their Irands around him in their glee; 
 They shake him without wammg. 
 His wig falls off, alas. 
 And a little bald-head dandy now is he." 
 
 BEADS ON THEIR SILVER THREADS 
 One day Dr. Lyon and his wife were out for a walk 
 with the children, when they came to the pond in the 
 
76 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 meadow below the house; its surface bordered deep 
 with green scum. 
 
 " Isn't it horrid? " exclaimed dainty Esther, turning 
 up her little nose. 
 
 " It's awful dirty," added Lewis. 
 
 " Let us look and see," said Dr. Lyon, " If my mem- 
 ory does not fail me, you thought the Arrow Arm and 
 the Skunk-cabbage were horrid, until you learned the 
 secrets hidden beneath their rough exteriors/' 
 
 The doctor drew out some of the long, green threads 
 upon a piece of wood and showed the children how 
 beautiful they were. 
 
 Dr. Ruth took a microscope from her bag; "look 
 through this, children, and tell me what you see." 
 
 " Oh, see! " cried Esther, who was the first to look, 
 " it is really a live plant! " 
 
 " Yes," said their father, " one that lives and repro- 
 duces itself year after year. This tiny plant has the 
 same life-giving power as the splendid rose, the chrys- 
 anthemum, the dahlia, or the phlox. Look closely and 
 you will see that lying side by side on each long, green 
 thread are tiny cells like a string of beads. These little 
 cells lie thus for a long time side by side beneath the 
 warm sun, then, when their cell cradles are ready, these 
 long shreds, — one a mother shred, the other a father 
 shred, — turn to each other like those of the plants of 
 which you have studied ; and the stamens and the pis- 
 tils are drawn toward each other and meet." 
 
 " It is nature's way," said Ruth, taking up the story. 
 "They are unconscious of cause or effect; but she 
 knows the mother cells cannot live on forever, beyond 
 the summer heat and winter cold, and that they could 
 not find food for themselves, for all things upon the 
 
PISTILLATE AND STAMINATE FLOWERS 77 
 
 earth and within the waters must sleep some time; 
 and so she bids the fathers and mothers pass their life 
 on to the children that shall grow to be like them ; and 
 for this purpose, they must unite the cells hidden 
 within the green shreds, that their children may spring 
 up and cover the waters with the brilliant green emer- 
 alds that sparkle in the sunlight ; thus, obeying Nature, 
 the shreds look toward one another joyously, reach out 
 toward one another ever farther and farther in welcom- 
 ing, just as did the stamen and the pistil in the Morn- 
 ing Glories, and all is well. Mother Nature knows 
 that father and mother cell will blend into one, the 
 father giving of his own life for his offspring, until by 
 and by they throw off the hard little covering which has 
 protected them; the long, green shred fades away, re- 
 placed by the baby cell made up from the union of a 
 father and a mother cell, and the little new life sinks to 
 the bottom of the pond; happy and safe it sleeps, 
 quietly awaiting the coming of the spring ; then it will 
 awaken, bound up to the surface, and, in turn, spread 
 out long, shining, green threads." 
 
 " Dear babies," murmured Esther, hugging her dolly 
 close in her arms. 
 
 "But, Papa, some fathers and mothers keep alive, 
 don't they, just like you and Mama do, after their 
 babies come?" 
 
 "Yes, darling," answered Dr. Lyon, drawing her 
 close. " It is only these unconscious parents that die 
 after bestowing life upon their children, except in rare 
 cases. All these parents we have talked of in different 
 ways perpetuate themselves, either through direct con- 
 tact, lie help of the wind, the birds, or the bees. To 
 some Mother Nature has given wings to fly; to others. 
 
78 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 plumes, as you already know; td some hooks which 
 diiig to the clothes of people and the wool of animals, 
 that the seed cradles mdiy be born far and near and 
 diropped in strange places. She causes the pretty, blue 
 FlaX-iflower to coat the tiny cradle of her babies with a 
 waxy substance ; so that when the rain falls and makes 
 th6m damp, they stick to anythiilg that touches them, 
 —an ant with a crumb, a field-mouse hunting f odd, a 
 bee seeking hoheyl" 
 
 "Then there is our lovely Goldenrod," said Ruth, 
 "each separate seed has a cradle that fits so tight it is 
 chilled an akene. The Goldenrod mother makes these 
 so rough outside that they stick to the cilothes of people, 
 the wool of animals, or feathers of a bird, until they see 
 a nice home where they drop into the grass and cuddle 
 close until spring. But to be doubly sure that her 
 little ones shall be carried to new homes, she places a 
 little plume on every akene, so that if no living thing 
 come near to take them, the first strbiig wind will float 
 them through tihe air. Mrs. Aster does the same with 
 her own pretty seed-babies ; until, wheft Autumn comes, 
 the air and earth are filled wiih these seed cradles, ^ach 
 of varying kind, according to its birthright. The Mari- 
 gold, Thistle, Clematis, Cat-tails, Cranesbill and the 
 MilkWeed spilling hundreds of plumed seeds. The 
 Thistle, like the Dandelion, is composed of many tiny 
 blossoms; so, until it is tinle for the tiny akene at the 
 bottom of eiach flower to fly aWay, the little plumes 
 are hidden away behind rough, thorny scales. Poor 
 Thistle ! so light and airy, despised by husbandmen in 
 all lands, Except in Scotland, where it is the national 
 flower of those sturdy people." 
 
PISTILLATE ANi) STAMINATE FLOWERS 79 
 
 "I like them all, even to the Thistles," exclaimed 
 Lewis. 
 
 " So does I, brovher ! " said Esther. 
 
 " Loving Nature, in tune wi^h its every phase, my 
 children, cannot go far astray," said Ruth, as they 
 turned toward home. , _ -, , . , j 
 
 " And tonight, Mama de^r, we begin with the fishes, 
 do we not?" 
 
 " I think so. Some one has compared life to a sta^- 
 case ;^t the foot are the simple creatures, so torpid one 
 can hardly believe them living organisms. Step by 
 step, life-forms become more complex, higher in struc- 
 ti^re and fijnctjonand intelligence; until at the head of 
 the stair-case starids man; ijian, with his highly devel- 
 oped mental and moral nature. Tonight, my little 
 man aiid woman, after our few years' study of the fields, 
 and woods, and all that girdws therein, we will begin 
 on another landing of the, stair-case; so scamper ih 
 nbw and prepare to join us at luncheon." 
 
80 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 UP LIFE'S STAIRCASE 
 
 THE children's hour had come, and the little ones, 
 after their bath, slipped on their dainty bath 
 robes and brought cushions to their mother's 
 feet, where they might sit with their heads on her knee. 
 
 " It's fishes, tonight, isn't it, sister? " cried enthusi- 
 astic Lewis. 
 
 "Yes, dearies," laughed Mother Ruth; "the first 
 landing on Life's Staircase." 
 
 "And it must be broad enough for four, for Papa's 
 going to climb too," said Father Robert, entering at 
 that moment. 
 
 " Oh : we are so glad. Both will tell us the story 
 now." 
 
 " There was great excitement in the waters of the 
 sea," began Dr. Ruth, "because the sun had smiled 
 warmly down upon all the little fishes, telling them 
 Spring, with the spicy. South Wind, had returned. The 
 banks of the river were laden with flowers and grasses, 
 and bushes were coming to life. The fishes heard, and 
 coming to the surface inhaled the fragrance. A hand- 
 some Stickleback, the most graceful fish in all the sea, 
 looked towards the school of sea fish of various kinds 
 and saw a pretty little Miss Stickleback who, he was 
 sure, would make a gentle Stickleback wife and mother. 
 She in turn gazed at her fine admirer and thought, ' He 
 is the most attractive Stickleback in the sea, and would 
 
TIP LIFE'S STAIRCASE 81 
 
 be a good father for my children.' The two swam 
 alongside through the shining water, and, as they 
 swam, they loved each other more ; for Mr. Stickleback 
 was kind and chivalrous, and, in his eyes, she was so 
 sweet and thoughtful. ' Let us go and build a nest,' 
 suggested Mr. Stickleback. 
 
 •"How lovely!' replied Lady Stickleback, 'for I 
 have two little sacs of eggs ready to lay in the nest; you 
 can feel them here just under my skin.' 
 
 " Mr. Stickleback ran his fin along her side, ' I do not 
 feel them, but I am glad that they are there. Let us 
 hasten to make a nest for them ; we will not be as care- 
 less as many fishes, who deposit their eggs in the water, 
 then run away and leave them.' 
 
 " ' Perhaps they do not care for their babies as we 
 shall do,' said Lady Stickleback. 
 
 " Mr. Stickleback was very proud of his young wife 
 when she said this, for all who are affectionate, whether 
 fish or man, like a motherly wife. These two fish par- 
 ents set to work to build their nest, almost after the 
 fashion of a bird's-nest ; and, when it was complete, the 
 mother swam over and over it, and down into it, pour- 
 ing her burden of eggs therein, until her task of love 
 was finished. Mr. Stickleback looked at the nest ap- 
 provingly, fondly thinking of the school of little Stickle- 
 backs that would swim the waters later on; so he 
 poured his spawn over the eggs, fertilizing them just 
 as the fathers of the flowers give the pollen from their 
 stamens to the mother pistils, whose seed-babies sleep 
 in the cradle at their feet. 
 
 " Sometimes strange looking flsh came toward 
 Mother Stickleback, but the father fought them gal- 
 lantly, until they were glad to flee to foreign waters; 
 
82 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and the harder he fought, the more vivid scarlet he 
 grew, his green stripes shining like bands of emerald, 
 until he looked very gorgeous in his scarlet coat 
 trimmed with white and green. While he fought to 
 protect his loved ones, a Star-fish and Sea-cucumber 
 came sailing by. He thought for a moment they were 
 going to join in the fray, but they were too wise to en- 
 gage in a contest with Mr. Stickleback, although the 
 Sea-cucumber, — in its anger at being misunderstood, — 
 spit itself out into the water, leaving its empty shell 
 floating behind it ; the Starfish not to be outdone, blew 
 himself up as if filled with gunpowder, and the frag- 
 ments were carried away by the tide." 
 
 " Do the fish freeze when the ice fills the river and 
 the lake? " asked Lewis, still wide awake. 
 
 "No," answered Dr. Lyon, taking up the story; 
 " certain fish have certain climates and waters in which 
 they make their home and rear their family. The Bass 
 love best the quiet, clear waters, where, after fanning 
 away with their fins any sticks or dead leaves that lie 
 in the white sand underneath, and picking up the peb- 
 bles and carrying them away in their mouths, (perhaps 
 taking days for the task), they lay their eggs, where, 
 after the spawning, the sun can shine warmly and 
 hasten the development of their babies. It is so all 
 fish life is continued according to place and climate, 
 just as plant life is carried on; the seed of one and the 
 egg of the other, requiring fertilization by pollen or 
 spawn before it becomes a living thing, each according 
 to its kind." 
 
 " And the frogs that sing ' chug-chug? ' " murmured 
 Esther; " are they fishes too. Papa? " 
 
 "No, dear," replied Dr. Lyon, "they are one step 
 
UP LIFE'S STAIRCASE 83 
 
 higher on the Staircase of Life. When the moon is 
 shining on the water, Mr. Frog sings his bass serenade 
 to Miss Frog, whose voice he thinks sweeter than any 
 other sound in all the world. He puffs himself up with 
 importance until his eyes almost bulge out of his head 
 when she answers his call. They talk together in a 
 low chug-chug, until, becoming very enthusiastic, they 
 sometimes emit almost a roar. Night after night they 
 talk and sing together on the banks of the meadow 
 pond, till, bye and bye, as the long days lengthen, and 
 the air becomes intensely warm, the mates dive down 
 into the water together searching for a safe place to 
 deposit their precious eggs; for the frog mothers have 
 only a few eggs, instead of many, like the fishes, so 
 they must use the greatest care. These eggs are 
 coated with a jelly-like substance that holds them to- 
 gether, balancing them so nicely, that they will neither 
 float away nor drop to the bottom of the pond. The 
 moment Mother Frog deposits her eggs, the father 
 pours the fertilizing fluid over them; for he, too, is 
 anxious they shall live. The two then leave their nest, 
 going away together in search of food, — perhaps a 
 breakfast of flies or bugs, which they consider rare lux- 
 uries. The frog parents are not endowed with mem- 
 ories, so these two forget all about the nest and spend 
 their nights singing and eating, until one day, happen- 
 ing to paddle near the nest, lo, little black-tailed crea- 
 tures were darting here and there across the water. 
 
 "'Strange things,' said Mother Frog suspiciously; 
 'what jure they? Do you suppose they are good to 
 eat?' 
 
 " ' Why, it was just here we laid our eggs, was it not? 
 Let's snap at them.' 
 
84 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " ' I do not recollect,' answered Mother Frog. 
 
 " Puzzled, they went back to the bank to find food 
 they were sure was good, and join the Frog choir, — al- 
 ready assembled. When they went back a day or two 
 later to where they had seen the odd little tadpoles, the 
 tiny creatures had grown, and eyes and mouths were 
 forming. Father Frog still was puzzled, so he roared 
 his loudest, ' Chug-chug-chug ! ' but they were not 
 frightened away at all ; for they knew that when'^eir 
 tails dropped off, they too would be able to sing as 
 charmingly. 
 
 " The man in the moon chuckled ; the clouds scur- 
 ried over the sky and the birds tittered a story which 
 had been told them by a bird from some foreign coun- 
 try about a frog with a pocket on her back. The father 
 fertilizes the eggs and places them one by one in this 
 skin nest on the mother's back, where she can keep 
 them nice and warm. 
 
 "'They are wiser than these foolish frogs that do 
 not know their own tadpole babies,' warbled the Oriole- 
 
 " ' But not half so wise as birds,' replied the Blue- 
 jay, proudly rustling his azure wings. ' Mother Nature 
 herself,' he continued, balancing himself on one foot, 
 ' has admitted that nothing in the world is more beau- 
 tiful than we, active, full of life and song, trilling 
 through forests, meadow and garden ; and we must be 
 very cautious that not one egg be lost; for we each give 
 forth but a few, — so dainty and delicate, that wicked 
 children, and men who think themselves wondrous 
 wise in the study of birdology, love to find our nests 
 and steal them.' 
 
 " ' Or some gluttonous creature might find them for 
 a feast. Why do you know that in some countries the 
 
UP LIFE'S STAIRCASE 85 
 
 people are so savage they even steal the nests of 
 birds, which they have builded of the most choice ma- 
 terials, and use them for food.' 
 
 " ' Mother Nature said also,' continued the Jay, rock- 
 ing back and forth on a fragrant balsam plant, ' that 
 we are higher up in life than those horrid frogs who 
 make us weary with their attempts at music ; and like 
 the blossoms of rare fruit trees, thousands of which 
 never become fruit at all, we too are so precious that 
 our valuable eggs which perpetuate our race, must be 
 most carefully shielded.' 
 
 " ' Yes, and that,' chirped the Oriole, * is why inside 
 all birds, as in the fish, there is a sac. But in birds it is 
 at the end of a tiny tube. The eggs form in this little 
 sac, and the father pours the fertilizing life-fluid down 
 through the little tube upon the egg; then the little 
 baby life is enclosed tightly in a shell and this rolls out 
 of the tube into the nest. Isn't it beautiful? ' 
 
 " ' And how happy the nest building,' warbled the 
 Jay, preening his feathers, as his mate flew to his side, 
 for they had begun their nest building, and their plum- 
 age was growing glossier and more beautiful each day, 
 as does the plumage of all birds at mating time ; and the 
 father bird's voice is always most entrancing at this 
 period. How proud Mrs. Blue-jay was of her mate as 
 she flew to his side, bearing a silken string in her beak. 
 Mr. Jay looked at her, and thought her the most beau- 
 tiful mother-bird he had ever seen. 
 
 " One day a mother Robin cuddled down in her nest, 
 and when she left it, behold, the eggs — one, two, three, 
 were laid. Three priceless little eggs, containing each 
 a tiny egg-cell of the mother and sperm-cell of the 
 father, which had blended into one; and in those eggs 
 
86 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 the tiny fledgling birds were forming. Day after day 
 either papa or mama Robin watched over the nest, 
 brooding over it to keep the eggs warm, sitting as pa- 
 tiently still as if all their life hitherto had not been spent 
 in continual movement. There was no more singing, 
 twittering and hopping about, for their parental re- 
 sponsibility was heavy upon them, and papa Robin 
 never once fretted, scolded or remained long away. So 
 the days sped by, until, listening intently, the mother 
 heard a weak, ' peck, peck,' on the little shells beneath 
 her; her wings fluttered so with excitement she could 
 hardly wait for her mate to return from his quest for 
 food; but when he arrived, she bade him listen; then 
 they sang excitedly, hopping about, waiting until the 
 little bare heads with their great gaping mouths should 
 peep out, when another task of love and watching 
 would begin; the father hunting eagerly for larger 
 measure of worms and insects to fill those great con- 
 stantly open cavities. These bird parents thought 
 their children the loveliest in the world, for they were 
 very like human fathers and mothers. Perhaps this is 
 why we love the birds so tenderly." 
 
 " What a boof if ul story ! " cried Esther, clasping her 
 hands ; " and I'll love birds more than ever." 
 
 "So'U I, sister. But finish the story. Papa," said 
 Lewis, his eyes trying hard to keep company with his 
 open ears. 
 
 " It is almost ended, and my birdlings should have 
 been in bed long ago. The papa and mama Robin 
 watch over the baby birds until their feathers have 
 grown, then teach them to try their wings that they 
 may make their own place in God's great plan of life. 
 The birds are stem parents too, for if any of their chil- 
 
UP LIFE'S STAIRCASE 87 
 
 dren are lazy and refuse to fly, they sometimes push 
 them out of their nest and thus compel them to become 
 self-reliant." 
 
 " I wouldn't like that," said sympathetic Esther. 
 
 "Neither do I," said Lewis. "But the papa and 
 mama birds did not die, did they? " 
 
 " Oh, no, my darlings," answered Mother Ruth, ris- 
 ing and encircling her babies in her arms ; " and some- 
 times the birds love each other so much and find their 
 first home so beautiful that they return year after year 
 at nesting time. Come now, it is time for good night 
 prayer and kisses." 
 
FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 THE NEW BABY 
 
 " May Life to you, my baby dear. 
 
 Be full of love and pleasure. 
 And earnest work that gives us here, 
 
 A f ortaste of the treasure 
 Which you, God grant, in Heaven may store. 
 
 To deck your crown forever more." 
 
 IN the later stories which the parents told to the 
 children, they endeavored to teach them the un- 
 foldment and dignity of Nature, and of God's eter- 
 nal plans for all His creation, from the most noxious 
 weed, to the flowers, fishes and beautiful birds which 
 He had endowed with the instinct to plan for, and cher- 
 ish their young. 
 
 In this way, step by step, they had kept them hand 
 in hand with nature and science regarding the repro- 
 duction of living things, from the unconscious prodigal- 
 ity of procreation of flowers and fishes to the sensate 
 care of more precious life, reproduced in lesser 
 numbers. 
 
 The lessons had made a deep and pure impression 
 upon the plastic child minds, expanding from the flower 
 stage to the mating of the birds ; and their young brains 
 not being over-burdened with an accumulation of sex 
 facts, the spiritual side was always foremost. 
 
 They also taught the children that the lower types 
 of life were lacking in father and mother love; the love 
 that gladly renders up its own life in sacrifice for its 
 offspring. 
 
THE NEW BABY 89 
 
 "Poor little babies," said Esther softly; "do they 
 ever feel lonesome and wish their mamas and papas 
 would love them? " 
 
 "No," replied her mother, "they have at once to 
 struggle for a living, and build a home for themselves; 
 their span of life is so short. The mothers and the 
 babies do not know what love means, and often the 
 parents do not know their own children." 
 
 " I am glad I know my mother ; " and little Esther 
 cuddled close to Ruth, while Lewis, not to be outdone 
 even in love, crept slyly up and slipped his arm around 
 her neck. 
 
 " It is only in the higher types of life that babies love 
 their mothers," continued Mother Ruth. " The proud 
 old rooster is ignored when the frightened chicks brood 
 hastily under the mother's sheltering wings; and big 
 Tim hates his kittens because he does not know that 
 they are his. He, like old Grower, the rooster, fertil- 
 ized the eggs instinctively, at the command of Mother 
 Nature, when mother cat and mother hen made ready; 
 but without affection in either case." 
 
 " I want to know things and be a papa that loves his 
 children like our papa. Don't we, sister? " said Lewis, 
 as he straightened up to his full stature in childish em- 
 phasis. 
 
 " A love greater than this no man can know; except 
 love for the Divine Master," interposed Dr. Lyon, en- 
 tering unexpectedly. 
 
 " Then brother and I must thank God every night 
 that He made us boy and girl with a papa and a mama 
 that know us," said Esther, earnestly; while Lewis 
 drew a chair for his father, and both children clambered 
 to his lap. 
 
90 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 It was thus, day by day, Dr. Ruth had prepared her 
 children for the sweet secret, which was shared only by 
 husband. 
 
 After bidding the children good-night, they sought 
 the library. Dr. Robert, putting his arms around his 
 wife, led her to a divan made soft with many pillows. 
 " Rest here, dearest, you look tired." 
 
 Magnificent in his strength. Dr. Lyon could yet be as 
 gentle as a woman, and to-night it seemed to Dr. Ruth 
 that she had never loved him more. She had never 
 learned to accept his delicate attentions without a 
 heart-throb of love and gratitude for the great white 
 soul of him. They had never allowed themselves to 
 drift into that familiarity, so often seen between hus- 
 band and wife, which eventually leads to contempt. 
 There had been, through the years, always the same 
 sweet courtesies, the appreciated and appreciative kind- 
 ness. 
 
 The husband prized each token of affection that came 
 from his wife, — each wonderful grace and tenderness; 
 all the brooding mother love, — even more than in the 
 first days of their married life. 
 
 After the doctor had adjusted the pillows comfort- 
 ably, Ruth closed her eyes, and with her hand clasped 
 in that of her husband, rested a moment in silence, lis- 
 tening to the music of the pines, as it drifted through 
 the open window. 
 
 " To-morrow night, my Robert, if you do not mind, 
 I shall remain a little longer in the nursery, for I am 
 going to confide our secret to the children," she said, 
 opening her eyes. "You may come later, dear, and 
 enjoy their happiness." 
 
THE NEW BABY 91 
 
 " Blessed, unselfish, wise mother," answered Robert, 
 as he pressed a kiss on her hand. 
 
 " Blessed? Yes, truly; for God has bountifully 
 given me of peace and love through you; and as the 
 waves of the ocean sweep ever wider, touching farther 
 shores, so through our children we have been blessed 
 in their influence over other children and over other 
 mothers, not favored, as I have been, with scientific 
 training, wide views of life, and the best husband in all 
 the world, — a husband who is ever my inspiration and a 
 strong staff to me." 
 
 " As all other husbands should be. I received a let- 
 ter from Jack to-day, and he says, ' I am just beginning 
 to learn how sweet and full life is. The boy is our de- 
 light, and as like your little Lewis as training can make 
 him. He is so self-reliant now, and so little care, that 
 we are considering making plans for the arrival of his 
 sister.' " 
 
 "Splendid!" exclaimed Dr. Ruth, "That is all the 
 result of the twins." 
 
 "God bless them!" answered Dr. Robert emphat- 
 ically. 
 
 The next night, when the children were cushioned at 
 mother's feet, — ^their favorite place, — she laid her hand 
 tenderly on each little head, saying, " To-night, I have 
 something to tell you, darlings, more beautiful and 
 sweet than any fairy story you have ever heard." 
 
 " Oh, oh. Mama Ruth, what is it? " they chorused, 
 with wide-open wondering eyes. 
 
 " A wish long desired by you is to be granted." 
 
 " Oh, we've wished for so many things," said Esther. 
 
 " Is it a sail boat? " asked Lewis excitedly. 
 
 " No, that will come when you are just a little older. 
 
92 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 This is something I heard you and Esther say would 
 make you happier than anything else in all the world." 
 
 " I know, I know," cried Lewis, jumping to his feet 
 and nearly landing on the tail of the cat. 
 
 " You don't mean — oh, Mama, you don't mean a 
 really truly baby sister? " queried Esther, in a tone of 
 quiet instinct. 
 
 " Yes, my dears, I mean a really baby brother or sis- 
 ter; we cannot know which it will be, but the mystery 
 makes it only dearer when it arrives, no matter which 
 it is." 
 
 " But how do you know, and where is it? " asked 
 Lewis, as he danced in glee. 
 
 " Now, my children, you remember, do you not, how 
 we watched pussy carrying her little kittens close to 
 her heart, and my telling you that every human mother 
 carried her babies so, and that this made them very 
 precious to her?" 
 
 " Yes, I remember," answered Lewis, slipping his 
 hand into that of his mother. 
 
 " Well, dear ones, mother too is carrying, very close 
 to her heart, a tiny baby ; and when it is large enough 
 it will come forth to twine its little fingers around 
 yours, and coo and smile at you, asking your love and 
 protection." 
 
 Tears were unconsciously trickling down little 
 Esther's cheeks as she arose quietly and kissed her 
 mother. " I cannot talk, Mama, it is so, — sweet." 
 
 "And Papa is baby's father? " exclaimed Lewis, as 
 he threw his arms about his mother. 
 
 "Yes, children; all human mothers have a right to 
 choose the father of their child; as one day, long ago, 
 I chose your father as the one I loved best in all the 
 
THE NEW BABY 93 
 
 world, all-worthy to be the father of my children." 
 The mother's arms circled the little forms and held 
 them close to her. 
 
 " And will it come very soon, next week may be? " 
 urged Lewis, whose mind was always for quick action. 
 
 " Not that soon, my dear. The birds and kittens and 
 puppies are bom in a few weeks after the father fertil- 
 izes the little eggs ; but a human baby is so very, very 
 dear to Mother Nature, that it takes her a long time to 
 perfect its soft, clinging arms, its dimpled hands, its 
 sturdy pink limbs, its rose-bud mouth and wondering 
 eyes and the little convoluted brain that must expand 
 with knowledge as the body strengthens and de- 
 velops." 
 
 " You are sure this baby is really coming to see us? " 
 asked Esther, — so hard was it to realize the great joy 
 and sacredness of the event. 
 
 Papa Robert just then entered, and looked prayer- 
 fully upon the little group, which was to him a picture 
 of loving faith. " Why this quietness? I expected to 
 find a gale of glee," he cried cheerily. 
 
 " Oh, Papa, I am too happy to even clap my hands 
 for joy," said Esther. 
 
 " And, Papa, Mother holds close to her heart a little 
 brother or sister for us," explained Lewis, rather 
 soberly. 
 
 " Why, my young man, you surely are not sorry? " 
 
 " O! no. Papa; but think of it, a real, live baby, all 
 our own, — ^yours and mother's, sister's and mine ! We 
 are so glad," exclaimed both children in one breath. 
 
 Then came the reaction; and the two danced and 
 clapped their hands, bubbling over with joy. For a few 
 minutes they circled round and round the room, then 
 
94 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 back to their cushions at their mother's feet, like home- 
 coming doves. 
 
 After a moment's pause, " Papa is glad, too," said 
 Dr. Lyon; and the children sprang upon his knee. 
 " To show Mama that we are sincere, we must help 
 her to carry the burden of love until it is bom; for it 
 will not be easy for her to carry the little one in its 
 cradle as it develops day by day; and you, my son, are 
 going to show what a little man you are, and be very 
 thoughtful, obedient and helpful. You and I will begin 
 our sacred duties tomorrow, my boy. We must not 
 let Mama stand or walk very much; or become very 
 tired or lift things ; and when the baby has become so 
 heavy that she has to lie down some of the time we 
 must be always ready to wait on her. We must begin 
 tomorrow, my Lewis." 
 
 " O, Papa, I will be so good ! " cried impulsive and 
 warm-hearted Lewis, for he recalled how, that very 
 day, he had pretended not to hear when his mother 
 called him. The child's lips trembled, for the chivalry 
 in him was aroused, child though he was, and the man- 
 soul within him was touched. 
 
 Father Robert saw, and knew that the first divine 
 seed of tender reverence for motherhood was planted 
 in the boy's heart ; and he knew the child well enough 
 to be sure that from that moment, the thoughtless child 
 would be his mother's warmest champion. 
 
 "And I will help Mama too; I can make pretty 
 things for baby, and do lots," said Esther. 
 
 "Indeed you may help Mama," answered Mother 
 Ruth, kissing the serious upturned face good-night. 
 
 "Now, scamper away to bed, and dream of the 
 baby," admonished Dr. Lyon. 
 
THE NEW BABY 95 
 
 The children walked rather slowly and thoughtfully 
 away, instead of " scampering." 
 
 " Please, God, bless our baby and all of us, and every- 
 body, and help Papa and Lewis and me to help 
 Mama," whispered little Esther, as she finished her 
 evening prayer. 
 
 " And please. Father God, make me a good boy to 
 Mother forever and ever," murmured Lewis. 
 
 " Amen ! " said the father. " Now go to sleep at 
 once, for you are to begin tomorrow to take care of 
 Mama and the baby while I am at the ofHce." 
 
 Lewis straightened himself up. Already he felt that 
 he had grown to be a man. To think that he shared 
 with his father the care of his mother and the baby! 
 What boy wouldn't become a man with responsi- 
 bility like that upon him? And there wasn't a little 
 boy in all the world who fell asleep that night so happy 
 or so full of manly resolutions, as did little Levds Lyon. 
 Nor was there a happier little girl than sister Esther. 
 She had become one in a fellowship with Mother, — and 
 a dearer brother and nobler father than hers could not 
 be. Her little child heart, — ennobled by sharing this 
 secret, throbbed as it never throbbed before. 
 
96 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 
 
 SEVERAL months later, Dr. Lyon joined Esther 
 and Lewis at the "Children's Hour." He real- 
 ized he must tell them the new birth was near ; so, 
 drawing them to him, he said : " Dear children,"-- 
 then his voice tightened a little, — " I want you to make 
 a special prayer for Mama tonight. I can not tell you 
 a story, for my father heart is thrilled with all the 
 mystery of the world. Do you remember that Latin 
 sentence which you learned years ago in your Nature 
 Stories, ' Omne vivum ex ovo,' — ^which means — ^the 
 whole world's cradle is an egg? " 
 
 " Yes, we remember," answered Esther. 
 
 " And we," continued the doctor, " and all things are 
 a part of that mysterious egg, the world, until one day 
 we break through the shell to be guided and watched 
 over still more closely in that new world which the 
 great Father has provided for us all. Perhaps, before 
 you wake up in the morning. Mother may have given 
 you a little brother or a little sister. Good night, my 
 babies, — father's strength and helpers." 
 
 When the children were alone, each one was deeply 
 moved by sympathy for suffering, mingled with a quiet, 
 but joyful expectation. Dr. Robert returned a little 
 later to see if they were sleeping, and halted to listen, 
 as Esther's sweet childish voice was heard to say, 
 
 " Brother, don't you feel sorry for Papa? " 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 97 
 
 "Yes, sister," replied Lewis; and there was deep 
 pathos in his voice, and evident attempt at self-control. 
 " Papa felt bad like we never saw him before." 
 
 " I know it. Brother," said ever-reasoning Esther. 
 " Don't you remember when Mama told us about our 
 baby, you asked her if it would hurt for it to be born? I 
 remember tears came in Mama's and Papa's eyes, and 
 they looked at each other almost like they do some- 
 times when we say things ; I felt just like crying." 
 
 " Yes, whispered Lewis, " I felt a big lump in my 
 throat." 
 
 "Well," continued Esther, "Mama said 'Yes, it 
 costs mothers physical pain, and fathers can't do much 
 but feel dreadfully sorry 'cause they couldn't bear the 
 pain instead.' " 
 
 " I'd rather be the Mama," said brave little Lewis. 
 
 " So'd I," replied the not less unselfish Esther. 
 
 Lewis, responding to that natural instinct in the nor- 
 mal human being for action to relieve pent up emo- 
 tions, said determinedly, " Let's go and ^elp. Come 
 on. Sister." 
 
 The more intuitive and less impulsive Esther, said 
 firmly: "No, Brother, we'd be sent back. We can't 
 do any good there. But we can tell God all about it, 
 and He cares. We know He does, 'cause He cares for 
 the sparrows." 
 
 " Yes, I know," said Lewis, as he jumped back to his 
 own little bed. " I was telling God all about it when 
 you began to talk." 
 
 " So was I," said Esther. " I have been talking to 
 God about the baby and Mama and all of us and every- 
 body^," ever since Mama told us they were going to give 
 us a little baby." 
 
98 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " So have I," said Lewis ; " but I don't want Mama 
 to be hurt, and Papa to feel bad." 
 
 " Neither do I ; but, Brother, Mama said that mothers 
 don't care at all, because they are so happy when they 
 hear the baby cry, and see its little face." 
 
 This suggestion was too much for the imaginative 
 mind of Lewis, and he exclaimed, " Listen, didn't I 
 hear a baby cry? " Both were very still, to listen, and 
 Dr. Robert, who had been listening with a heart almost 
 bursting with mingled anxiety and gratitude, returned 
 to the room of mystery, and love, and patient hopeful 
 suffering. 
 
 After administering to the happy expectant mother 
 with words of cheerful tenderness, his mind reverted 
 to the twins, and again he stood outside their door, just 
 in time to hear Lewis say, " I can't sleep. Sister. I am 
 so afraid Mama is suffering and Papa is feeling bad. I 
 wish we could hear the baby cry." 
 
 Dr. Robert opened the door, saying : " Why are not 
 my babies sleeping? Mama and Papa are in God's 
 hands ; and He who has blessed them with such a dear 
 little girl and boy as our Esther and Lewis, will now 
 care for us all. Let's tell Him all about it. Then my 
 children must go to sleep." 
 
 It had always been a blessed season to these children, 
 when, after correction, repentance had been reached; 
 or when any question of importance was to be decided, 
 mother or father knelt with them to tell the Heavenly 
 Father all their heart secrets. 
 
 This one occasion brought around them an at- 
 mosphere of practical blessedness that was to influence 
 their entire life and action. Esther and Lewis knelt 
 one on each side of their noble father, and his strong 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 99 
 
 arms enclasped each little form. Each little breast 
 heaved with deep feeling, and the strong man found re- 
 lief, communing with his God, as he poured out his 
 soul: 
 
 " Our own Father and Creator, we are glad that 
 Thou are ours ; and that Thou hast loved us so well, as 
 to give Thy Son to live upon this earth and to suffer for 
 our sakes. We are glad that He is our Redeemer, and 
 we are His ; that Thou carest so much for our suffering 
 and need, that Thou didst plan with Thy Son, our 
 Saviour, to give us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, 
 helping us to bear all things. We thank Thee, — ^thank 
 Thee, too, that Thou dost count us worthy to suffer, 
 as well as to have joy and gladness. These little chil- 
 dren Thou hast given us will place their Mama and 
 their baby in Thy keeping. They will rest them there 
 and go to sleep, knowing that God will bring them, in 
 the morning, whatever joy He knows to be for their 
 good, and for His eternal glory." 
 
 " Yes, Jesus," said trusting Esther, " we will." 
 
 " Yes," whispered Lewis. 
 
 " Good-night. God will bless my children while 
 they sleep," said Dr. Robert, and he pressed a warm 
 kiss upon each little forehead, and hurried from this 
 uplifting hallowed scene to the bedside of his loved one. 
 She felt the rest and peace he brought; and was 
 strengthened. 
 
 Next morning, as the children came down stairs ex- 
 pectantly, hand in hand. Dr. Lyon met them saying 
 simply, as he greeted them, " Our baby is here, — a dear 
 little brother." 
 
 " Oh, goody, goody ! " they exclaimed in excitement. 
 
 " Be quiet, children ; for mother is weak and weary. 
 
100 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 But she is waiting for her Esther and Lewis to see their 
 baby brother." 
 
 "We'll be as still as two little mice," whispered 
 Esther. 
 
 " Two little mice are very noisy, sometimes," smiled 
 Dr. Lyon, as he took a hand of each and led them into 
 the sanctxiary of motherhood that they might see the 
 little one now cradled in its basket of blue and white, 
 which Sister Esther herself had helped to prepare. The 
 little girl involuntarily stretched out her arms as she 
 looked down upon the tiny dainty face ; and Lewis, in- 
 stinct with manliness, turned with longing toward 
 the bed. His mother answered the look he gave her 
 with a radiant smile of understanding. 
 
 Dr. Lyon returned with the children to the breakfast 
 room, where, for nearly an hour, they talked and made 
 plans for the beautiful little brother, as if they were all 
 of one age and had common interests. 
 
 "Our baby is prettier than a picture baby," sdd 
 Esther. 
 
 "And your mother is more beautiful than any pic- 
 ture could possibly be," replied the father, tenderly, 
 
 " Ten times more so," said Lewis, not to be outdone 
 in lavish affection. 
 
 So the years drifted happily by. Dr. Ruth, in due 
 time resinning her medical work and her lectures. All 
 loved the strong, tender woman, who was a never-fail- 
 ing help and comfort wherever she might go. 
 
 Aunt Mehetabel was more proud of the youngsters 
 than she would own, though baby Edward seemed to 
 hold a special place in her heart. She often came to 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 101 
 
 sit on the doctors' broad piazza and watch the children 
 play. 
 
 " How those children do grow ! " she exclaimed one 
 day, when the twins were twelve and a half years old, 
 as if she had noticed it for the first time. " Seems to 
 me they shoot up like Jack's fairy Bean-stalk every 
 day of their lives." 
 
 "Are you ready to move to the country with us. 
 Aunt Mehetabel? " asked Dr. Robert, who came out in 
 time to hear the remark. " The school year is nearly 
 ended, and it is time to put those two young animals 
 out to grass, so we must make up a jolly family circle 
 for our country home." 
 
 " I don't mind going back to the country for awhile," 
 replied Aunt Mehetabel with some asperity ; " but I do 
 not understand any of your new-fangled ways of rais- 
 ing children." 
 
 "Well, Auntie, even if you don't understand, your 
 bright mind can reason from cause to effect and see 
 that, new-fangled or old, they have been a success so 
 far, and your Ruth has the nicest children you ever 
 saw." 
 
 " Ruth, I saw Miss Archer to-day," continued Dr. 
 Lyon, turning to his wife. " She came into the office 
 after school; so I broached the subject of her coming 
 to the country and acting as tutor to the twins." 
 
 " What was her answer? " asked Ruth, eagerly. 
 
 " She was so surprised at first that she didn't know 
 just what to say. It would make a radical change in 
 her plans, but she needs the rest; she is tired and over- 
 worked, and I think she will consider it favorably." 
 
 " I do hope so," replied Ruth, " for then I shall feel 
 that time is not being wasted." 
 
102 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Why, Ruth, my wife, does old tradition still stalk 
 like a ghost before you, making you think that for a 
 girl to enter high school at fourteen is the one most 
 essential thing in the world? " 
 
 " You know I do npt think that, you malicious scof- 
 fer ! A wise tutor, who recognizes real values and how 
 to conserve energy, would not retard the physical or 
 mental development of her pupils, would she? " 
 
 "I succumb when my Ruth grows sarcastic; and I 
 sue for pardon." 
 
 " Granted, but with a penalty. You must escort me 
 to the Y. W. C. A. parlors, where I lecture to the girls 
 to-day." 
 
 " You have made the penalty an honor, lady mine." 
 
 That evening, after greetings and a few minutes' 
 social chat with " her girls," as Dr. Ruth fondly called 
 them, she took up the thread of her lecture, — 
 
 " WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD UNDERSTAND." 
 
 " You know, my dear girls, how conscientiously we 
 have reviewed the different forms of life, learning that 
 in its lowest forms there is no consciousness either of 
 self, parenthood or offspring. These lower forms have 
 no particular moral or aesthetic quality; and, as we rise 
 step by step, we note that what may almost be called 
 automatism is gradually superseded by some conscious 
 sense of choice in the selection of a mate ; next dawns 
 conscious fatherhood and motherhood. So in all the 
 processes of nature the best comes last. 
 
 " Conscious fatherhood and motherhood result in 
 love, the foundation of the home, and upon the home 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 103 
 
 depends the welfare of the nation. To become true 
 and conscientious mothers, it is positively necessary to 
 understand the anatomy of the human reproductive or- 
 gans of each sex. The human mother has what are 
 termed ovaries, from ovum, an egg ; because from the 
 ovaries a tiny egg is expelled every twenty-eight days 
 after the attainment of pubescence. It is Dame Na- 
 ture's intent that the ovum shall, in its egress, meet 
 with a fertilizing fluid (you recollect how the pollen 
 fertilized the flowers) that shall give life-impetus. 
 
 " The human mother also has a pear-shaped organ 
 called the womb, or uterus, where, should the little 
 ovum become impregnated with life, it can remain se- 
 curely protected and nourished by the mother's life 
 blood, until at the end of nine months it has become 
 fully developed into a perfect miniature human being, 
 ready to descend through the vagina to take its place 
 in the outer world. 
 
 " Leading from the ovaries to the womb cradle are 
 the fallopian tubes, along which the ovum travels on 
 its journey to meet the life-giving element which can 
 only be supplied by the father. 
 
 " I shall not dwell longer upon anatomy, leaving you 
 to study it at your leisure; for it is of greater impor- 
 tance that you know the relation of these organs to 
 every part of your life. 
 
 " When a girl nears the age of thirteen or fourteen, 
 she is approaching what is termed, 'the age of pu- 
 berty'; a time when variously physical and ment.il 
 changes take place, indicating that Mother Nature is 
 preparing her daughter for menstruation and possible 
 motherhood. The first ovum ripens and is ready to be 
 expelled; so nature supplies extra blood to the uterus 
 
104 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 or womb, which throws off its innermost lining, expos- 
 ing the small blood vessels whence comes a discharge 
 of blood called the " menstrual flow." Many girls of 
 modern times experience more or less physical suffer- 
 ing at the menstrual period ; some of them even under- 
 going torture ; while, in other cases, the flow is as regu- 
 lar and as natural as the calendar months come and go. 
 
 " Again there are cases where irregularities occur ; 
 either the flow appears at intervals of a few days, or is 
 omitted for months; but the normally healthy young 
 woman menstruates regularly for three days each 
 month, suffering comparatively little inconvenience. 
 
 " Much of suffering and broken health is due to the 
 reluctance of mothers to prepare their daughters for 
 this important period of life, and to the timidity of 
 girls in approaching their mothers. I have known of 
 cases where girls had not known that they should 
 menstruate, and have been so ashamed, that they felt 
 they had committed some unconscious crime; while 
 others, fearing that something had gone wrong, and im- 
 agining that something must at once be done to stop 
 the flow of blood, have done themselves almost irrep- 
 arable injury. 
 
 " Many physiologists believe that painful menstrua- 
 tion is confined to civilized women who lead a seden- 
 tary life, and that it is due to unnatural and unhealthf ul 
 modes of living. They hold that, from generation to 
 generation, these abuses have steadily intensified the 
 punishment, until now, as an accumulated inheritance 
 of the follies of their ancestors, they bear a yoke most 
 diflicult to shake off. 
 
 " Among civilized races the Hebrew women are most 
 uniformly physically sound, especially those who ad- 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 105 
 
 here strictly to the Mosaic laws; for no modern science 
 has formulated a system of hygiene more perfect than 
 that taught by Moses for making a strong race. 
 
 " First among the obstacles that prevent many girls 
 from becoming physically ideal, are certain inherited 
 tendencies and conditions which render perfect devel- 
 opment impossible; these traits often standing so ob- 
 stinately across their pathway as to prevent either a 
 healthful or pleasurable development of mind and body. 
 
 " The second danger is the lack of sufficient out-door 
 life and muscular exercise in the open air and sunshine. 
 
 " The third is unhealthful dress, including tight gar- 
 ments of every kind. The bones and steel harness of 
 past generations, for the acquirement of the oldtime 
 wasp waist, have produced a debilitating effect and un- 
 fortunate inheritance to women of today, and the fool- 
 ishness of some women of the present generation, in 
 this respect, is bound to cause injury to children yet 
 unborn. 
 
 " It not infrequently happens that lifelong suffering 
 is the result of accidental stoppage of the menses. So 
 delicate is the relation between the brain and the 
 womb, that excessive emotion, intense excitement, vio- 
 lent grief, anger, fear, anxiety or mental depression, 
 often avert menstruation and bring on serious chronic 
 disease. 
 
 " Each recurring period is nature's renewal of her 
 promise to bestow the gift of motherhood when the 
 time comes for its bestowal ; and, instead of being re- 
 garded as a nuisance, it should fill the child heart with 
 gratitude that she is at last in truth a woman. Some 
 prominent professional women, well known socially, 
 have stated, through the medium of one of our prom- 
 
106 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 inent magazines, how motherhood has been the last 
 step in the education through which they have learned 
 to understand humanity at large. Madame Schumann- 
 Heink has said, 'A thousand times blessed is the 
 woman destined to bear children! How gladly do I 
 tell you that it is purest, holiest bliss to call one's own 
 such a beauteous gift from Heaven.' 
 
 " Madame Schumann-Heink knows whereof she 
 speaks, for she has a large family for whom she has 
 fought her way through extreme poverty and ill health 
 to success, competency, health and fame. 
 
 "Edith Rockefeller-McCormick states, 'When we 
 waken to the realization that the baby in our arm is 
 our own, that we have the right, the privilege, the 
 honor to be called 'mother,' we find that something 
 new is within us, a love so different from any that we 
 have experienced before — a pride, a jealous care, a 
 great overwhelming joy. How wonderful it is ! A 
 little soul loaned to us to love and to care for. What 
 great confidence God has put in our love and our wis- 
 dom to make us such a gift.' 
 
 "Mrs. Frederick C. SchofF, president of a national 
 association of mothers, and mother of seven grown 
 children, remarks, ' When God gave to women the holy 
 task of mothering the human race, or nurturing the 
 little ones whose lives are immortal. He placed on her 
 brow the crown of her life. He gave to her the highest 
 use which humanity can perform. To work with God 
 in developing a human soul is a responsibility that may 
 awe any woman. Yet that is what motherhood means.' 
 
 " The thought, however, that most concerns you 
 now, my dear girls, is that if you are honest with your- 
 selves, you will say, someday, — and perhaps you have 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 107 
 
 said it already, — ^that you feel within you new emotions, 
 new depression, new exhilaration; an unrest and a 
 longing for something you cannot express ; a loneliness 
 and failing sense of enjoyment of things which were 
 once of vital interest and complete happiness to you. 
 
 " You have come to a self-conscious feeling of shrink- 
 ing and being ill at ease. You have become too old to 
 be with the children, and are still too young to enter 
 into the life interests of your elders. You long for dif- 
 ferent books, — it may be for poetry, song or romance. 
 You have, perhaps, taken to verse-making yourself as 
 an outlet for all the longings within you. Possibly you 
 feel religious unrest with its fever upon you, and a 
 great yearning for some rock to which you may cling. 
 
 " Do not be discouraged or alarmed ; for it is the old, 
 old experience of every sensitive girl soul crossing the 
 threshhold of girlhood into womanhood. It is the 
 travail of the woman-heart within you being born into 
 maturity and all its mystery. Little by little you will 
 adapt yourself to new sensations and ideals, until the 
 effervescent, careless joys of childhood are left far be- 
 hind you. In place of the loneliness so hard to endure, 
 let the thought never leave you that 'this too, shall 
 pass away,' and you will finally mature into sweet, 
 thoughtful womanhood. 
 
 "Be honest with yourselves; look this matter 
 squarely in the face, cultivate self-control, clean 
 thoughts, and do not be troubled that these periods of 
 emotion and unrest, which are the products of physical 
 maturing, are intensified during menstruation. 
 
 "Never permit physical depression to master you, 
 nor indulge in the luxury of self-imposed martyrdom,— 
 declaring that others are unkind and you are misunder* 
 
108 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 stood. Do not allow your natural activity to be par- 
 alyzed, or self-pity to possess you. Self-pity is a 
 monstrous destroyer of all usefulness. Flee it as you 
 would the earthquake. The moment a girl gives way 
 to it, that moment she begins the work of destruction. 
 Say to yourself firmly, ' all these strange emotions are 
 the result of my physical development, not yet per- 
 fectly established; and I will not yield to them; then in 
 time, I shall become a brave, strong, useful woman.' 
 
 " With all earnestness I warn you to avoid hysteria 
 as you would Satan himself. Hysteria is an insinuat- 
 ing disease of both body and mind, directly or indi- 
 rectly associated with the menstrual function it grows 
 upon one like the drug habit ; based upon selfishness, it 
 manifests itself, in its earliest stages, in an abnormal 
 craving for sympathy. 
 
 " Some foolish girls used to think fainting and hys- 
 terics delicate and refined, but let us be grateful that 
 this idea has passed away. 
 
 " Hysterics sometimes begin in real or fancied grief. 
 If the emotion is encouraged, self-pity, enervating and 
 destructive to nerve poise, enters the field, and the in- 
 dividual loses self-control, laughing, crying, fainting, or 
 going into rigors or spasms. None but the ignorant 
 are ever deceived thereby, and physicians or intelligent 
 people have very little respect for such shallow natures. 
 
 " Hysterics, indulged in for years, undermine the 
 health of mind and body, producing nervous prostra- 
 tion, feeble-mindedness, and insanity, and should be 
 avoided as one would the plague. You may deceive 
 those who love you, for a time, but when they learn the 
 truth, and know that you could control yourself if you 
 would, disgust may kill the affection that you crave. 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 109 
 
 " There is a hysteria that has a cause outside of the 
 emotional desire for attention and dominance, or that 
 born of self-pity (the result of mistaken home train- 
 ing). This form is serious for the patient and for all 
 concerned. Often misinterpreted by the medical at- 
 tendant, it is here the doctor's place to discover the 
 cause, and apply the proper treatment, — ^which is often 
 surgical, — ^while there is still vitality enough left in the 
 patient to ensure success. 
 
 " I find in your question box to-day the question : 
 ' Do young women need a chaperone? ' If a woman 
 has been properly trained and educated by wise par- 
 ents, she is generally safe alone. She who needs a 
 chaperone at all when at a social function, will go 
 wrong whether she have a chaperone or not. If she 
 have an elder brother to accompany her when travel- 
 ing, she is indeed fortunate, as a right-minded, manly 
 brother is always an excellent escort. 
 
 " While one shrinks from the bitter truth, it is a sad 
 fact that in every community, in factories, business of- 
 fices, colleges, and even churches, there are men who 
 look upon unchaperoned girls as their natural prey; 
 and innocent girls must be taught to shield themselves 
 against these libertines when they go out into the 
 world. For in this country especially, there are many 
 young women who are forced into business competition 
 for self-support, and possibly also the support of par- 
 ents or small brothers and sisters. 
 
 " Country girls, trustful and ambitious, fill our cities, 
 seeking emplojmient; and the parents who fail to put 
 a shield of truth around them are criminal, for there 
 are large organized bodies of men, and even women, 
 who make a business of sending out attractive men and 
 
110 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 women to lure girls into their nets, and ever after hold 
 them as white slaves. This infamous trade has be- 
 come the curse of every large city, and, in fact, its 
 branches reach out even to the small towns and vil- 
 lages, and the girl who lets herself be lead away by a 
 stranger, whether man or woman, may bitterly rue her 
 foolishness. 
 
 "Another danger against which I would warn you, is 
 answering ' Personals ' published in the newspapers. 
 Some of you may be tempted through a spirit of fun ; 
 but I know that many of these are from this same re- 
 morseless organization of white slave traders. 
 
 " In this land in which so few restraints are placed 
 upon our girls, young women should highly prize the 
 limitations which wise parents put upon them because 
 of their love for them, and should not demand the ex- 
 clusive right to judge for themselves in questions relat- 
 ing to sex. 
 
 " It should be our aim to make our girls independent, 
 with self-respect as their protective chaperone, and 
 teach them wisdom that they may not fall victims to 
 the lures of the libertines. Even the most foolish of 
 girls feels the sting of disrespect ; and every young man 
 has far higher respect and feels a far greater sense of 
 delicacy toward the young woman who is not permitted 
 to go out with him alone, until her parents have made 
 his acquaintance, and are satisfied that he is a fit com- 
 panion for their daughter. 
 
 " In closing, let me implore you to cherish high 
 ideals, looking forward with tender anticipation to the 
 time when you will be happy with the only joy that can 
 really fill a woman's heart, — ^let those scoff who will at 
 motherhood, it is yet the highest glory we can know to 
 
WHAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD KNOW 111 
 
 give birth and training to those who shall be noble and 
 useful men and women. 
 
 " Some of you may never marry, for life-mates pass 
 us by sometimes like ships in the night, perhaps be- 
 cause we are not over-anxious, while others, in their 
 haste, mismate. Nevertheless, firm as the everlasting 
 hills, stands the fundamental principle that love is es- 
 sential to fulness of life. 
 
 " Men and women are suffering today because, di- 
 rectly or indirectly, they have been unjustly dealt with, 
 wrongfully educated or not educated at all, along sex 
 lines. 
 
 " This beautiful instinct upon which the happiness of 
 human life is based, has been degraded, abused, out- 
 raged and cheapened. It has been prostituted by peo- 
 ple without ideals and with perverted tastes, while 
 others have scorned it as carnal and unworthy, — some- 
 thing that should be crushed and killed, or else re- 
 garded with an indifference which they do not really 
 feel. 
 
 " There are few who have the purity of spirit to real- 
 ize its meaning to men and women, to nations and the 
 whole world. We forget God's mandate when He cre- 
 ated man and woman, and said to them, ' Ye shall in- 
 crease and multiply upon the earth.' It is not by 
 chance that we find, implanted in the human heart, the 
 natural, home-making instinct, — an instinct which, alas, 
 in the complexity of modern life, has been crowded 
 down into the dark corners, and, in many cases, seem- 
 ingly destroyed. 
 
 " The day is not far distant when there will be free, 
 frank, honest teaching everywhere, enabling young 
 men and women to understand their physical, as well 
 
112 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 as their mental selves. In that day parenthood will 
 have become a science, and the whole story of sex life, 
 with its wonders, beauties, and joys, will be as simple 
 in its understanding as reading and arithmetic. Many 
 changes will then take place in our social laws and cus- 
 toms, and among other things, it will be considered a 
 shame to bring weakly, sickly children into the world. 
 "Our honored ex-president Roosevelt has said: 
 'The greatness of a nation lies not in its army; its 
 money; its possessions; but in its homes; for, within its 
 homes, and by the mothers, are the men of a nation 
 made,* and John Ruskin has written that ' the final out- 
 come and consummation of all wealth is in the pro- 
 ducing as many as possible full-breathed, bright-eye<j- 
 and happy-hearted human creatures.' " 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 113 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 
 
 THE first day of rose-garlanded June, the Lyon 
 family set forth like a gay caravan, bag and 
 baggage, the favorite " homey " pictures, books, 
 furniture, piano, organ and children's toys all en route 
 to the new home on the farm. 
 
 Aunt Mehetabel bade her friends goodbye with many 
 forebodings. " I do hope it turns out all right, only I 
 feel in my bones that the children ought to have stayed 
 to get their certificates of promotion ; but it is hard to 
 tell which has the queerest ideas, Ruth or her husband, 
 about the subject of child-training." 
 
 " Think so, Auntie? Why, what is a certificate com- 
 pared to a good healthy coat of tan? " smiled Dr. Lyon, 
 who had just entered to see if Aunt Mehetabel were 
 ready. "Are you ready to be off? " 
 
 " Yes, I'm ready, and I suppose you will be quoting 
 that pet verse of yours next," retorted the old lady, 
 
 " What is so rare as a day in June, 
 
 Then if ever come perfect days, 
 Then Heaven tries earth, if it be in tune. 
 
 And over it softly her warm ear lays; 
 Whether we look or whether we listen 
 We hear life murmur or see it glisten." 
 
 " Well done," applauded Dr. Robert. 
 
 " Humph ! I ought to know it, after having it dinned 
 in my ears every June for at least fourteen years. I 
 may tire of the country and return at any time." 
 
114 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 The touring car came whizzing up, and Aunt Mehet- 
 abel was soon comfortably tucked in with Dr. Ruth 
 and Miss Archer; the children in front of them. Dr. 
 Lyon sprang up beside the chauffeur, and away they 
 flew to the country. Nebbie, the family cat, an es- 
 teemed member of the Lyon household, purred se- 
 renely, comfortably settled on Dr. Ruth's lap. His 
 huge body was safely secured in his roomy bandana 
 traveling bag, gathered gracefully about his sleek furry 
 throat, and secured by a new crisp red ribbon, which he 
 recognized as becoming to his jet black coat and spot- 
 less " shirt front." Nor, in his joy and pride, did he 
 forget to properly distend his whiskers, in a manner 
 that not only expressed his satisfaction, but also ex- 
 cited the admiration and laughter of the children. 
 Nebbie had traveled with the Lyon children every sum- 
 mer of his life, and, like the wisest of cats that he was, 
 had learned all the arts of cultured catdom. 
 
 In a few days all were fitted into their respective 
 places in the great farmhouse, and the household ma- 
 chinery was in perfect working and playing order. 
 
 One evening Dr. Lyon and Miss Archer stood watch- 
 ing the sunset from the broad piazza. " Is it not glor- 
 ious? " questioned Miss Archer, her pale wan face tak- 
 ing on a tinge of color. "This is living. Talk of 
 Italian sunsets, how could they be more perfect than 
 the sky yonder, reflected in the bay in even richer 
 hues?" 
 
 "I thought you would enjoy it," said Dr. Lyon 
 quietly, " and recollect, you and the children are to live 
 the simple life, close to Nature, until September, — reg- 
 ular savages. All of us need relief from civilization, 
 and we are going to enjoy it right here, now," 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 115 
 
 " But I shall feel I am wasting your valuable time," 
 remonstrated the conscientious Miss Archer. 
 
 " Nonsense ; you have the work habit fastened upon 
 you so relentlessly that you need to strike off the tenta- 
 cles before they become more strongly imbedded. Do 
 not forget; for the next three months you are my pa- 
 tient ; after that we will lay our plans for work," 
 
 Grateful tears dimmed the tired eyes of the teacher, 
 for she fully realized that she had nearly reached the 
 limit of her strength. 
 
 " She is a living illustration of the broken-down 
 woman," said Dr. Lyon, as Miss Archer strolled down 
 the path toward the bay, hand in hand with Esther and 
 Lewis ; for Dr. Ruth had just joined him on the piazza. 
 
 " Born of parents who could not afford the luxury of 
 good care for their children; ambitious, goaded by the 
 need of becoming self-supporting as early as possible; 
 studying without intermission at the time of the attain- 
 ment of puberty; never halting in her high school life 
 during menstruation; becoming a teacher at twenty- 
 one ; on her feet and forcing mental energy all day long, 
 sick or well; no wonder her youth has flown, leaving 
 her almost a physical wreck." 
 
 " It is certainly to be deplored by every right think- 
 ing man and woman," agreed Dr. Lyon, earnestly. 
 " Unfortunately, our school and labor systems are turn- 
 ing out many just such wrecks every year; and, as if 
 this were not enough, no account whatever is taken, in 
 our public schools, of the fact that each child is a sepa- 
 rate entity, having its own peculiar mental and physical 
 constitution, and therefore requiring that its curricu- 
 lum and also the manner in which it is taught shall be 
 adapted to its talents, its possibilities, and mental and 
 
116 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 physical traits. It is to one an incessant source of 
 wonder and indignation that, at the very time when 
 children should be treated with the greatest possible 
 care, as being more susceptible to outside influences 
 than the most delicate scientific instruments, they are 
 forced through the same processes as though they were 
 so many rough castings all from the same mould." 
 
 " Well," continued Dr. Ruth, " there are two children 
 laughing and scampering down that field, that are not 
 going to be sacrificed to such an educational system 
 while we have breath to protest. I would rather see 
 our Esther in her coffin than have her grow up the un- 
 developed creature, physically, that many women are 
 today. It is criminal ; it is barbarous." 
 
 " Worse than that," protested Dr. Lyon, bringing his 
 hand down vehemently upon the arm of his chair, " for 
 barbarians had at least physical perfection of develop- 
 ment, which was something in their favor, even though 
 they were not pruned and polished intellectually." 
 
 " Yes, Robert, it is a disgrace to our twentieth cen- 
 tury, with all its vaunted scientific knowledge, that we 
 pay practically little attention to the one thing on 
 which all life, progress, and greatness of individual and 
 of race depend — ^the healthy parenthood of the nation." 
 
 "There seems neither wisdom nor chivalry left in 
 our land," continued Dr. Lyon, " We seem to forget 
 the excellent instruction of the ancient Greeks regard- 
 ing women and their care. We can not afford to ig- 
 nore the lesson, handed down through ages of experi- 
 ence, that a noble race springs only from healthy noble 
 parents." 
 
 " Possibly, Robert, we are wasting energy on such 
 protests, but I cannot think so; even could we save 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 117 
 
 one woman from passing on weakness of body and brain 
 to future generations, our work has not been in vain." 
 
 " I am glad that you are, in this, as in all things, in 
 harmony with me ; for as I said a few moments ago, I 
 would rather lose our dear little Esther now, before the 
 bud blossoms into womanhood, cruelly as it would tear 
 our hearts, than have her become a half developed 
 woman, breaking beneath the first strain of mother- 
 hood, and possibly settling into chronic invalidism." 
 
 " Alas, too true," replied Dr. Ruth, " and I feel as if 
 I ought to cry out a warning against women overtax- 
 ing their physical strength at these periods, as well as 
 against their marriage to men of unclean lives, thus 
 risking the reaping of a dreadful harvest of confirmed 
 invalidism. And if it be true, as some declare it is, that 
 there are more women than men in the United States, 
 and we must reduce the number of men by ninety out 
 of every hundred, leaving only ten worthy to become 
 fathers, we surely have a most difficult problem to face, 
 — Economic, Industrial, Numerical and Physical. In 
 such circumstances a woman can hardly dare hope for 
 the matrimonial proposition. I think I hear the first 
 tinkle of the dinner bell, and I see Miss Archer and the 
 children playing ' tag ' as they come up the path." 
 
 A day or two later. Miss Archer found Dr. Ruth 
 Lyon alone, and ready to talk; so she approached her 
 upon the topic which still puzzled her. 
 
 " Dr. Ruth, would you kindly explain to me exactly 
 what your theories are with regard to this period of 
 your children's lives? For fifteen years I have taught 
 children at the pubescent age, and in all this time, so 
 far as I can tell, neither superintendent, principal, nor 
 even any great educators have sounded a word of warn- 
 
118 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ing regarding this critical time in child life. Through 
 experience I have learned that at this age children ac- 
 quire knowledge rapidly, and I fear I have taken ad- 
 vantage of this, sometimes, to push them forward. At 
 no period during the school course is more crowded 
 into two years than during the last two of the grammar 
 course; so necessarily we have to force these human 
 plants as the florist forces his hot house flowers to 
 early blooming." 
 
 " Oh, the shame and ignorance of it all ! " exclaimed 
 Dr. Ruth, " I am glad of the opportunity to explain 
 to you what I believe to be the correct treatment of the 
 pubescent child. You know that nature has certain 
 periods which she devotes to the development of some 
 one part of the physical organism. At one time it is 
 the teeth; at another the stature; and at still another 
 the weight; until at the age of thirteen or fourteen 
 comes nature's crowning work — the development of 
 the reproductive organs. Previously, these have lain 
 dormant, nature desiring to put all the energy of the 
 child into building up a good physical foundation — 
 vigorous, sound in every part — that it may reproduce 
 healthy offspring for the perpetuation of humanity and 
 the nation. With the development of these organs, the 
 soul itself expands and bursts forth in all its sublime 
 beauty. The boy's ideas of strength and manliness de- 
 velop ; he feels himself a living, working power in the 
 community; he is restless and rebellious, his powers 
 wrestling within. He builds great schemes, as he 
 plans for the future. His brain awakes to its full 
 grown vigor, ambition inspires him; he can work as 
 never before. You have observed in your teaching how 
 some boys, hitherto slow and stupid, become at this 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 119 
 
 time energetic and alive, taking hold of their studies 
 with a will. Their parents, encouraged, and proud of 
 this change, and ignorant of the physical cause, do not 
 interfere, but spur them on with praise as if there were 
 no limit to what they could attain if they so chose. 
 
 " Equally great changes come to the girl. It is now 
 that the girl's form changes into graceful, rounded 
 curves and suppleness. Eyes grow luminous in a half 
 concealed mystery and joy of living, and, if the health 
 be good, — and every girl has a right to vitality and 
 strength, — the skin becomes velvety in texture, with 
 soft peach-like tints. Childish things may lose their 
 charm in a day and be replaced by the longings and 
 ambitions of maturity. Hope soars like the lark, bent, 
 in its gladness, on reaching heights unreached before. 
 Talents hitherto dormant flash out unexpectedly into 
 dazzling brilliancy. Today we have the rosebud, to- 
 morrow the opening petals drinking in the the dew of 
 knowledge, the sunshine of hope, the vitality fed from 
 the well-spring of youth, and becoming a river of life. 
 Many an indifferent child becomes a brilliant pupil at 
 this time, and many an apparently hopeless child gives 
 unmistakable signs of ambition and talent. This is as 
 it should be; for, whether we like to admit it or not, 
 whether we have false ideas or true, the sexual organ- 
 ism is the foundation of everything that is strong and 
 brave and generous ; the foundation of physical endur- 
 ance and intellectual achievement, of virility both phjrs- 
 ical and mental. 
 
 "The girl, at the pubescent period, needs to live 
 close to nature where the air is unpolluted ; out among 
 the trees and bird-songs, with all the wide space of the 
 fields for tramping groimd. Give a girl such surround- 
 
120 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ings, and you are bestowing upon her a rich heritage, a 
 corner stone for spiritual moral and physical life, fitting 
 her for woman's sacred mission, — ^motherhood." 
 
 " How blind I have been," sighed Miss Archer. " Ig- 
 norantly following a profession I have always consid- 
 ered one of the most noble ! " 
 
 "True, for what do we do?" continued Dr. Ruth. 
 " In conscious or unconscious lack of interest, we as- 
 sume control of this splendid vigor and turn it into 
 artificial paths, ignoring the accumulation of power 
 Mother Nature meant to be used in building up vigor- 
 ous organism. In our zeal for accomplishment, we 
 pervert the blood supply, and force energy out of its 
 natural channel. Noting the new intellectual brilliancy, 
 we push the child along these lines, drawing the blood 
 from the reproductive organs to the brain, stealing the 
 strength from these new developing organs, and using 
 it to further what the modern school system fosters 
 and applauds— one of this system's brilliant pupils, a 
 bud forced into flower too soon, and rapidly withering 
 upon its stalk, — a child, thanks to the modern cram- 
 ming falsely called education, trembling with mental 
 and physical exhaustion." 
 
 " Oh, if I could but live my life again ! " exclaimed 
 Miss Archer anxiously. " How I do wish that I had 
 known these things before ! " 
 
 " Yes, it is a great pity that teachers unwittingly 
 steal from nature's storehouse to build up the knowl- 
 edge of Latin and Algebra and a thousand other things 
 of comparatively little importance, exhausting the res- 
 ervoir of strength, perverting the blood currents, mis- 
 appropriating nervous energy, and, in place of a 
 healthy human being, producing one whose reproduc- 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 121 
 
 tive organs are only partially developed, to remain 
 henceforth only half alive mentally and physically. 
 You may cultivate the brain and polish it to a certain 
 tinsel brilliancy, but in so doing may have defrauded 
 the life centers of youth. 
 
 " A child is like a delicate musical instrument v?hose 
 highly tensioned strings may easily be made to snap or 
 jangle into discord, and the instrument itself may never 
 recover from the strain it is unnaturally and ignorantly 
 forced to undergo. If only we could secure statistics 
 of the condition of the reproductive organs of eighth 
 grade prodigies, what a great light might be thrown 
 upon the physical wreckage of both men and women. 
 
 " Step by step the work of physical weakening goes 
 on through high schools and colleges, and no one holds 
 up a warning signal crying * stop the strain of study, 
 and do not work during the days when developing 
 womanhood needs undivided vitality.' " 
 
 " If only every school would plan its curriculum so 
 that young women students might be free to rest on 
 menstrual days, especially during examinations, which 
 are brain exciting periods ! " interposed Miss Archer. 
 " But no, I recollect only too well my own experience, 
 doctor. When the ovaries were hard at work and 
 needed every drop of blood which nature could supply, 
 I had to study and undergo examinations ; then, to pay 
 for the defrauding, there were blinding headaches and 
 general depressions, and I crept about like a creature 
 benumbed, almost longing for death. Latin and Greek 
 were like murderous giants, crushing me in their cruel 
 grip. I feel it is not higher education that is ruining 
 modem women, but cruel disregard for the most simple 
 laws of sexual hygiene." 
 
122 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Very true," replied Dr. Ruth; " it is an endless sub- 
 ject and I fear that I am wearying you. It is of vital 
 interest to Dr. Robert and myself, and our four hands 
 seem so powerless to stay the evil. If, like the women 
 of ancient times, those of today were proud of their 
 capacity for motherhood, looking upon menstruation as 
 a sacred function, and realizing that incomplete sexual 
 development and its consequent illnesses are to be de- 
 plored, and that to be the mother of sons and daugh- 
 ters, strong, morally and physically, to carry on the af- 
 fairs of the nation, is a thing to be desired, then parent- 
 hood would become a glory and a crown and precocious 
 attainments would be considered a drawback. 
 
 " When high school and college courses are length- 
 ened during the most critical period of youth, health 
 and perfect physical development being counted as pre- 
 eminent, then, and not till then, will we have a perfect 
 race, whose women shall be worshipped by their hus- 
 bands, revered by their children, and glorified by the 
 nation. Could we but realize the truth, we would see 
 that the mothers are the corner stones of republic and 
 empire, which either totter and crumble because of ill 
 health, sinking politically, socially, and morally, or 
 stand firm and strong against every beating storm, ac- 
 cording as weakness or strength are characteristics of 
 the mothers of the race." 
 
 " But, Dr. Ruth, have the fathers no part in produc- 
 ing good or evil stock? " said Miss Archer. 
 
 " Oh, yes, indeed ; and because of this, our girls 
 should know the dangers that threaten them and their 
 future children through marriage with impure men. I 
 will hand you some of the literature published by the 
 American Society of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis, 
 
A TALK WITH THE TEACHER 123 
 
 which deals with this question, and has called it the 
 " Black Plague." If a woman is infected with either 
 of the foul diseases arising from £in impure life, she be- 
 comes unfitted for motherhood. 
 
 " When I tell you that eighty per cent of inflamma- 
 tory diseases peculiar to women have come to them as 
 a direct result of infection; and that thousands of 
 women are rendered invalids for life because their 
 husbands, in their thoughtless, ignorant youth, have 
 gone astray, you will see how important it is that the 
 matter should be plainly dealt with, and our girls be 
 warned against the dangers that threaten them; for 
 not only are healthy women made invalid, and often 
 sterile, but children, and children's children have to 
 pay the penalty. It is but too true, in this respect, that 
 ' no man liveth to himself alone.' 
 
 " It is because of these hideous facts, and what they 
 mean to the family, church and nation, that Dr. Robert 
 and I have been urging upon the mothers of the school 
 of our little town, the necessity of true sex teaching in 
 the home and school, as the only safeguard for our 
 children. 
 
 " There can be no better equipment against these 
 evils than knowledge; for statistics show that a large 
 percentage of men first contracted these diseases while 
 still in their teens, being totally ignorant of results." 
 
 " How early, then. Dr. Ruth, should children be 
 taught these things? " asked Miss Archer. 
 
 " I believe they should be taught these most sacred 
 truths of their being, according to their mentality, and 
 in so natural a manner that they no more know how 
 they came into the first or foundation knowledge than 
 they know when they learned to eat. The very spirit 
 
124 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 of curiosity, — ^the questioning attitude of the child's 
 mind, — ^is indicative of the Creator's plan for him to 
 know, and also for his natural guardian to be his natu- 
 ral instructor in this, as in other things. I do not mean 
 that the whole truth should be told at once, as some 
 conclude. The child mind is not ready for all the facts 
 of life at one stroke. It reasons philosophically, and 
 if it be taught to understand the processes of life in the 
 plants and lower animals, it will, in most cases, come 
 intuitively and reasonably to an understanding of the 
 plan for the perpetuation of the human family. 
 
 " My idea in writing the Nature Stories for children 
 is based upon this belief; and my hope for them is, that 
 every mother shall read and begin to impart them to 
 her little ones as soon as their infant minds can listen 
 to any story. 
 
 " Mothers, and their elders generally, seem very anx- 
 ious to fill the tender minds with the Santa Claus myth, 
 and then wonder when they should tell the children of 
 God and divine truths, as they are revealed in nature ! 
 
 " I believe, also, that every child should be likewise 
 led by its parents into a consciousness of at-one-ment 
 with God, so that they will know that they are one with 
 Him, even though they may not be able to say when 
 the new life began. 
 
 " Thus equipped, there need be no anxious moment 
 when the boy or girl takes his place or hers in college, 
 home, or business life." 
 
 " Oh," exclaimed Miss Archer, in a tone of pity and 
 regret. " If only all parents and children could come 
 under such teaching. It all seems so plain, and sane, 
 and natural," 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 125 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 
 
 THE summer holidays passed all too soon, bring- 
 ing September and its renewal of school work 
 for Miss Archer and her pupils. 
 
 One day Dr. Robert Lyon placed a syllabus in the 
 teacher's hand saying, " Kindly fit your pupils for this 
 course. I leave all to your judgment regarding their 
 work with this one restriction, that there shall be only 
 a few hours study each day and no evening work for 
 Esther during the three days each month that nature 
 calls its own. On those days her mother will find con« 
 genial passive occupation for her." 
 
 " Will it not retard her advancement? " 
 
 " How hard it is for us to rid ourselves of the fetters 
 of old time ways," smiled the doctor, looking into her 
 anxious, questioning eyes. " I think you will find the 
 child only the more receptive, the more quick in 
 thought and action because of this three days' rest once 
 a month." 
 
 " How many years will it take to fit her for college 
 at such a rate? " sighed Miss Archer doubtingly. 
 
 " That I cannot tell ; but whether the time be long or 
 short, it will bestow upon her powers of endurance and 
 a strong body, so that what she may lose in time for 
 study now will be atoned for by extension of youth and 
 by unimpaired mentality at the far end of life. It does 
 not matter to me if the children do not enter college 
 until they are thirty, so long as they gain that vigor 
 
126 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 which no amount of work can exhaust after they are 
 physically matured." 
 
 "All shall be done as you direct," answered Miss 
 Archer, still wondering at the strange parents, so prod- 
 igal of time. Her own youthful days had been always 
 crowded so full of work that they were not half long 
 enough, and she had been compelled to steal many 
 hours from sleep in consequence. Just then Dr. Ruth 
 entered and took up the conversation. 
 
 " What are you two debating about now? You 
 ought both to have been lawyers." 
 
 " We are laying out the preparatory course for the 
 children along the lines which we have decided shall 
 be enforced," replied Dr. Robert. 
 
 " And I suppose, dear Miss Archer thinks it mere 
 chimerical dreaming. Still, Miss Archer, you know 
 our beliefs, and our insistence that from conception un- 
 til eighteen, nature's behests should be held para- 
 mount." 
 
 " Fortunate, fortunate children ! " exclaimed the 
 teacher, after Dr. Robert had bade them good-bye for 
 the day. 
 
 " Yes," replied Dr. Ruth. " Yet all children should 
 have this blessed privilege, and will have during the 
 ' Millenial Reign,' enabling them to gain strength and 
 courage, that their efforts for success may not be con- 
 tinually hampered and paralyzed through poor physical 
 conditions. Your lowered vitality, my dear Miss 
 Archer, and your present inability to reach your best, 
 are results of the old methods ; but cheer up, — ^you will 
 gain physical energy during your stay here." 
 
 " It is only too true that I sadly need more energy," 
 replied the teacher, laying her weary head against the 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 127 
 
 cushions piled behind her, for she was tired, although 
 the day had but just begun. " God forbid that your 
 Esther should ever be like me." 
 
 " You are a brave little woman ! " and Dr. Ruth laid 
 her hand gently upon her head. " I am so glad that 
 we are able to make these years easier for you, and by 
 and by we hope to see the roses in your cheeks again. 
 Meanwhile," she added, as she took up a piece of 
 needlework and seated herself by Miss Archer, " we 
 protect our children by teaching them plain facts, 
 'broidering them with sentiment' as I am embroidering 
 this strong practical linen with silken floss, making 
 a combination of beauty and earnestness by uniting the 
 silken flowers of romance to the strong fabric of prac- 
 tical common sense; for to my thinking it is true senti- 
 ment, controlled by virtue and truth, that moves the 
 world. No moral battle ever was won, no habit of 
 fine feeling developed and established, through cold, 
 calculating, intellectual appreciation alone. Some 
 greater power and incentive is required, cultivating and 
 elevating the spiritual as well as the moral and intel- 
 lectual." 
 
 " Oh, Dr. Ruth, am I capable of becoming such a 
 mentor to your children? You and Dr. Robert have 
 indeed honored me far more than I deserve." 
 
 "We are the best judges of that, Miss Archer. I 
 only want those children of ours to learn now, that 
 they are standing at the portal of physical manhood 
 and womanhood, awaiting entrance thereto with joy 
 and pride combined with the reverent knowledge that 
 a great and holy gift is about to be bestowed upon 
 them, — the gift of reproductive power, the sacredness 
 Qf creation, of fatherhood and motherhood, and that a» 
 
128 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 they pass through this opening portal they will behold 
 Life's wonderland opening before them." 
 
 "Why do you not go out and preach this to the 
 world? " asked Miss Archer, with sparkling eyes and 
 glowing cheeks. "Surely it is your duty and your 
 privilege." 
 
 " We must live first and preach second. We are 
 now in our infancy and have, along these lines, only 
 our theories to preach. Some day, when our children 
 have proved the practicability of our teaching, we hope 
 to be used to help humanity on a large scale by writing 
 or lecturing. I am keeping records, and occasionally 
 have a vision of a book that shall prove a blessing to 
 the world. Does this sound egotistical or presump- 
 tuous? " asked Dr. Ruth. 
 
 " No, indeed," replied Miss Archer. " You should 
 get that book out immediately. I cannot see where 
 you could find time for another interest; and yet you 
 seem to have a faculty for making time for, and being 
 interested in everything and everybody. So I know 
 that, if you could see it to be your duty, you would find 
 time to write the book." 
 
 " Certainly," answered Dr. Ruth. " If the book is 
 to be, it will be written; but such a matter is not 
 lightly to be taken in hand. But to return to the sub- 
 ject of teaching, or ' preaching ' as you called it. I do 
 sincerely believe that teaching mere facts does not 
 necessarily make good men. We cannot group spider, 
 fish, frog and woman all in one biological category. 
 No; the child must be taught that only a few elements 
 of the first three are to be found in the human 
 being, and that men and women are endowed with 
 faculties given only to the highest of God's creatures. 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 129 
 
 He must learn that between fathers and mothers of 
 men there should be deep, abiding love, atoning for 
 the sacrifice and pain of motherhood by the tender 
 support and watchful protection of the father during 
 the pre-natal existence of the helpless, dependent, min- 
 iature man or woman. He must be taught that the 
 devoted mother broods over the tiny child more ten- 
 derly than the bird over its nestlings, always ready to 
 immolate herself upon the altar of parental sacrifice." 
 
 " I understand ; because of this great mother-love 
 you would have me teach the boy reverence and readi- 
 ness to serve women, and to regard motherhood as a 
 most sacred thing." 
 
 " Yes, Miss Archer, for such teaching creates purity 
 of thought, chivalry toward all women, and pity even 
 for the fallen ; for in the latter case they will fully com- 
 prehend the heartache that comes to an awakened, 
 wronged and sorrowing woman. With children prop- 
 erly informed there is no fright or rash attempt at con- 
 cealment when they come to 'where the brook and 
 river meet,' as Longfellow so beautifully has it, — only 
 the figure of speech should have applied to either sex. 
 Then secrecy would not blight the whole future of the 
 child, as too often happens now." 
 
 " But people, — parents, — need more receptive minds, 
 a greater willingness to teach their children vital truths 
 that will save them from the pitfalls into which their 
 own ignorant feet had stumbled," interposed Miss 
 Archer. " While visiting my home last month, I tried 
 to talk of these things, — of your teachings upon this 
 subject. At first the seed fell upon barren soil, but 
 finally, by much gentle harrowing, it found some fertile 
 lodging places and burst into life." 
 
130 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 "We can only be patient, my friend, and unflinch- 
 ingly carry on our purpose. You recollect those lines 
 of Tennyson, 
 
 " ' Yet I doubt not through the ages one increasing purpose 
 runs, 
 And the thoughts of men are widened with the process 
 of the suns.'" 
 
 Several days after this conversation Esther entered 
 her mother's study. A new light, pure and unabashed, 
 glowed in her beautiful eyes as she said gently, " I am 
 a woman now, Mother." A new dignity expressed it- 
 self in her whole bearing, and in the use of the word 
 " Mother," instead of the usual " Mama." 
 
 There was no irritability, no sullen wonder, con- 
 tempt, or defiance, such as all too often mark this crisis 
 in young lives among the masses of neglected children; 
 for Esther had been properly taught that she should 
 accept this forecast of the maternity that might some 
 day be hers as pvoof of the glorified divine power of 
 creation. 
 
 All through the day the maiden remained very quiet 
 with that far-off look in her eyes, as if she were seeking 
 to lift the veil of the future. Her mother watched her 
 without seeming to do so, and did not question, but 
 when she kissed her good-night, the daughter drew her 
 mother down upon the bed beside her, saying softly, 
 " I mean to be always a good woman, and some day to 
 be a mother, dear and sweet and good like you." 
 
 What wonder the mother's heart swelled with emo- 
 tion too deep for expression, and that her eyes were 
 misty with tears. Those words were more than recom- 
 pense for all maternal anxiety and sacrifice. 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 131 
 
 A month passed by, and the other twin soul sought 
 the father, a look of new manliness upon him. Father 
 and son had been confidential friends since that evening, 
 six years previous, when Dr. Robert took the boy upon 
 his knee and told him of the expected new baby and 
 explained the mother's need of protection and helpful- 
 ness from both son and husband. Since that day they 
 had vied with each other in sharing that noble service ; 
 and throughout these years of comradeship there had 
 been no barriers between them. It was but natural, 
 therefore, that when the boy felt the awakening of man- 
 hood, he should seek his father for sympathy and coun- 
 sel, feeling himself fortunate that he could be honestly 
 and reverently advised at this critical period, — a bene- 
 fit he would appreciate still more in his maturer years. 
 
 What would this world become if all boys could be 
 so taught and saved from the debasing experiences that 
 come to those who learn from the polluted lips of 
 chance companions, or through the obscene literature 
 which, in some mysterious manner, so often finds its 
 way into the hands of even the youngest boys? 
 
 " So old Mother Nature is drawing my boy still 
 closer to his father? " asked Dr. Robert, after Lewis 
 had confided in him. " We are both men now." 
 
 Oh, if parents could but realize the potency of that 
 small word " we," and what a unity of strength it im- 
 plies. " We " are conquerors as we struggle shoulder 
 to shoulder across the battle field of life. 
 
 Dr. Robert realized this, as he took the hand of the 
 boy close in his own, and added, " You little dream 
 now, my boy, of the swarm of temptations that will be- 
 set you, so I want you to let me be henceforth, not so 
 much your father as your elder brother, guiding you 
 
132 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 across the treacherous places that I had to cross alone 
 and without the teaching you have had, my boy. 
 Thanks be to God that I did not tiunble in headlong. 
 Shall we pledge the new friendship, my new-man-son, 
 — the new coniidence? " 
 
 " ' Sure ' we will," responded Lewis, squaring his 
 shoulders, as if to strengthen them for any burden he 
 might have to bear. 
 
 "Never hesitate to come to me whenever you are 
 troubled or in doubt. Recollect that I was crossing the 
 stepping-stone from boyhood to youth not so many 
 years ago, and have not forgotten that what seemed 
 silly to confide to another was oftenest the cloud that 
 developed into a storm." 
 
 " Sure, I'd come to you about everything just as I 
 always have. I wish other fellows had a father like 
 you. I can't see how any boy could ever want to go 
 wrong after such training as you and Mother have 
 given me," said the manly Lewis. 
 
 " Thank you, my son. It gives your mother and me 
 Sieartfelt satisfaction to see you and Esther so appreci- 
 ative. You have always been a comfort and a joy to us ; 
 but back of all, the great object of living is for eternity; 
 and I must at this time emphasize what I have so often 
 said, and that is, you should never fail to take Christ, as 
 your Lord and Master, into all these councils, remem- 
 bering always that you have within you the gift of the 
 Holy Spirit, not only to comfort, direct, and guide, but 
 also as the Source of Real Power to energize you, and 
 that through that Spirit you may overcome every ob- 
 stacle. Recognizing this power, you can never be a 
 • cad ' or a ' namby pamby ; ' you will always be a man." 
 
 " I am too fond of sport and fellowship to ever be a 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 13S 
 
 ' cad,' Father; and I have too many faults to let conceif 
 get the better of me, or to feel too confident of my own 
 strength outside of the Divine. So do not worry. Pop." 
 
 " No, my Lewis, I shall not worry. I know about 
 what sort of a youngster you are. Will you go along 
 with me to make some professional calls? " 
 
 " Will I? Just you wait until I get my cap." 
 
 With the fleeting years, the Lyon children attained 
 manhood and womanhood easily, naturally, and heart- 
 ily, thanks to the priceless privileges of simple living 
 and practical teaching, given by their parents. 
 
 Miss Archer, despite her fears, found there was no 
 real loss of time. Her pupils readily accomplished the 
 average amount of work. Beginning preparatory work 
 when twelve and a half, they dropped the useless bur- 
 den of the eighth grade studies, thus enabling them 
 without crowding to enter upon their college course 
 when they were eighteen. At this time Lewis Lyon 
 was the straightest, strongest and most manly youth in 
 the vicinity, while Esther had developed into a firm, 
 well-poised, womanly maiden. When the two were 
 ready for college, an institution was chosen where the 
 co-educational spirit was truest and strongest, and 
 where regard for natural talents and their subsequent 
 development was the rule, rather than the pernicious 
 cramming that so blindly seeks to force the square peg 
 into a round hole, and results in sad misfits — ^black- 
 smiths who should have been physicians, and physi- 
 cians who ought to have been blacksmiths. 
 
 " It will bring out the chivalry of the boy," said Dr. 
 Ruth when they were talking it over. " Lewis has al- 
 
134 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ways been taught that nothing so marks the true gen- 
 tleman as courtesy toward the opposite sex, and we 
 cannot afford to have him attend a college where this 
 teaching will be lessened through association with the 
 masculine element only. I also wish Esther to have 
 right-minded boys for companions, as well as right- 
 thinking girls. 
 
 "Each sex needs association with the other for 
 proper all-round development of faculties. It is true 
 that in certain studies girls excel, while boys show 
 greater aptitude in others. These differences are again 
 a result of accumulative inheritance resulting from en- 
 vironment. They are rapidly being out-grown, and 
 will soon reach the level of individual differences rather 
 than sex differences, as they are now supposed to be. 
 This will right itself when we shall have established an 
 educational system that shall individualize, and shall 
 foster, rather than hamper, or even blot out from many 
 sensitive natures, the originality that should have full 
 liberty for development. A co-educational college is 
 the one for our children." 
 
 "Better put her in a school where she will study 
 books instead of boys," suggested Aunt Mehetabel, 
 sternly. " She'll be getting engaged by the time she 
 graduates if you put her into what you call a ' co-edu- 
 cational college.' " 
 
 " I do not wish her to study to such a degree that she 
 will get out of touch with simple human relations," re- 
 plied Dr. Ruth, "What if she does become engaged? 
 It is something I hope will happen, sooner or later. If 
 it be to a college man whom she sees informally each 
 day, and whose tastes are in harmony with her own, 
 would it not promise a happier union than one based 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 135 
 
 upon the shallow opportunities for real knowledge of 
 each other that society allows? " 
 
 " One would think you were sending Esther to col- 
 lege purposely to get her married off, the way you 
 talk," retorted Aunt Mehetabel, who, although softened 
 toward what she called " the Lyons' queemess," could 
 not always follow their theories with logical interest. 
 
 For a moment Ruth remained silent, in fancy living 
 over again her own delightful college days, her meeting 
 with Robert, their companionship and friendship, even- 
 tually ripening into love. What happier fate could she 
 ask for Esther than a repetition of her own experience 
 when she found Cupid a member of the college faculty? 
 " Well, Aunt Mehetabel," she continued, recalling her- 
 self to her aunt's rebuff, " even if I did choose a college 
 for Esther with definite reference to her matrimonial 
 opportunities, would it be any more crude and vulgar 
 than the schemes of the average society women, who 
 load their daughters with jewels and costly raiment, 
 and set them up in the market place to win the highest 
 bidder? " 
 
 " Maybe not, maybe not," hesitated the old lady. " I 
 think I'm losing my faculty of argufying with you 
 headstrong parents, Ruth, and things are not as they 
 used to be when I was young." 
 
 "Thank heaven!" exclaimed Ruth, "for you cer- 
 tainly passed through the Refiner's fire of suffering, and 
 fortunately came out of it pure gold, — even though still 
 a little rough along the edges." Dr. Ruth crossed over 
 to her aunt, and leaning over kissed her wrinkled cheek, 
 sa3ring, " You're a darling Auntie, if you cannot always 
 agree with us ; and we love you for your goodness." 
 
 Time is no idler, and before this busy, happy family 
 
136 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 was aware the time for departure to college had ar- 
 rived. Signs of breaking up and return to town were 
 everywhere. Trunks and bags strewed the veranda, 
 while other belongings were being packed in a huge 
 van for transportation to the city. 
 
 The last hours came; those minutes that drag so 
 heavily — dread of good-bye weighting the tongue and 
 staying the feet which long to step out and away, yet 
 dread to leave familiar environments and companion- 
 ship. Having completed his final tasks, Dr. Robert 
 called to his son, " Come, Lew, let us tramp down to 
 the woods for a good-bye chat." 
 
 " Sure, Pop ; it was just what I wanted to do, but 
 I thought you were too tired." 
 
 Some well-meaning parents come in on the home run, 
 as it were, and give a grand final lecture of instruction 
 and warning to their children regarding temptations 
 and sexual problems, just as they are under the excite- 
 ment and heart ache of leaving home for the first time. 
 While this is better than the silence of other parents, it 
 is an unwise method, for the youthful human mind has 
 not the power to absorb all this vast knowledge at once, 
 any more than to absorb all the intricate problems of 
 mathematics in a day. 
 
 Fortunate Lewis Lyon had been prepared for life by 
 teaching that was to prove a strong wall of protection 
 and faith. 
 
 " It is a sweet privilege to bring you out here into 
 God's temple to bid you be strong, strong as the oaks 
 over there which storms may bend but never break. 
 Even in your secluded college life you will find much of 
 evil; but since, at four years of age, you questioned the 
 mystery of the coming of little Wallace's sister, we 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 137 
 
 have tried to prepare you for this going out into the 
 world, that you might wear an armor of purity against 
 the shafts of evil. We have not desired for you the 
 purity of ignorance, but that which comes from scien- 
 tific knowledge, combined with true manliness and 
 honor. It has been largely with this end in view that 
 we have sought to give you children perfect physical 
 development." 
 
 " I understand, and can't half thank you. Father. It 
 was for this, I know, you brought us out to this beauti- 
 ful country home, even though it meant inconvenience 
 and sacrifice for yourself and Mother; and the memory 
 of it will be a blessing to us always." 
 
 " Dear boy, your gratitude touches me deeply. I 
 would rather have seen you in your grave than have 
 you a puny moral or physical weakling; for perfect 
 physical and sexual development aids all that is highest 
 and noblest in life, and without it there is little mental 
 energy, and no vigorous thought or feeling. If you be 
 healthy in body, mind and spirit, you will have all your 
 passions under perfect control, and you can then, with 
 God's help, become master of your destiny. You will 
 without doubt meet men who will scoff and look at 
 these things from a different viewpoint, — ^men to whom 
 sex life is a huge joke. It is such men, without rever- 
 ence for women or virtue, who have weighted the world 
 with an immeasurable burden of sorrow, sickness, suf- 
 fering and despair." 
 
 " Yes, I have already seen some of these things," re- 
 plied Lewis sadly. 
 
 " I do not want this last talk to be a sad one, my boy. 
 You alone can choose your path, and you must be your 
 own master, but you know that our prayers and love 
 
138 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 are with you always. Remember, my son, that there is 
 never any excuse for immorality; and when you come 
 into contact with women do not forget that though 
 other men may differ from this opinion and boast that 
 any woman may be won, a good woman can be won 
 through love and love alone. A man who plays upon 
 such love for his own selfish pleasure is a brutal coward 
 who commits a vile, low crime. The love of a good 
 woman is unselfish, — ^it is the divinest thing in nature, 
 a continued self-renunciation. To desecrate such love 
 is to trail in the mire of lust the highest and purest of 
 God's gifts to his children." 
 
 " Mother has told me of women to whom such a grief 
 comes bringing awful mental agony, the prostration of 
 hope, courage, will and ambition, and long years of 
 heartache." 
 
 " Nor is this all, Lewis, for it is not always the love 
 of the woman for the man that crushes her life. She 
 has often strength to bury that memory; but in the 
 woman's heart has been aroused the truth ; the fountain 
 of self-knowledge springs up within her and she drinks 
 to its full the bitter cup of rue. There awakens a long- 
 ing for pure, sanctioned, wifehood and motherhood, 
 and throughout her earth life that woman's heart 
 yearns for her own. She sees the budding flowers, the 
 mating birds, the innocent love of the pure and true, 
 and her heart cries out in rebellion that she must al- 
 ways walk alone, trying to hide the scarlet letter 
 branded upon her breast through the self-indulgence of 
 a conscienceless libertine. Should temptation assail 
 you, my son, think of that letter seared into the tender 
 flesh of every wronged woman, and turn away. 
 
 " We are almost back to the house ; promise to write 
 
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE 139 
 
 often and to question whenever doubt or ignorance 
 beset you, and I shall never be too busy to answer 
 you. I see your sweet mother coming, and the car is 
 waiting at the door for you and Esther." 
 
IM FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 
 
 ONE day after the Christmas holidays with their 
 good cheer had passed, and Esther and Lewis 
 had returned to college to work with renewed 
 zeal, Dr. Robert Lyon received a social call from the 
 superintendent of the public schools, an old family 
 friend. 
 
 " Thought I would drop in a minute, for I knew you 
 must be lonely after those fine children of yours had 
 gone." 
 
 "Lonely? Well if it were not that we are busy 
 every moment it would seem as though the days had 
 been stretched to an interminable length since their 
 departure." 
 
 " Fine children, that boy and girl of yours; splendid 
 illustration of what right environment and teaching can 
 do for young people. Hardly five per cent of our school 
 girls have the robust, well developed figure and vigor- 
 ous, graceful carriage of your Esther. Nor have many 
 boys the square shoulders and erect manly presence of 
 your Lewis. — No cigarette shoulders there ! " 
 
 Dr. Lyon responded, " Yes, I have some natural par- 
 ental pride in the twins. This morning I was noticing 
 the boys and girls as they entered the school building, 
 and I felt deep indignation and resentment as I thought 
 how poorly prepared most of these children would be 
 to face the battle of life. 
 
 " I tell you, Mr. Stanley, the work of teaching sex 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 141 
 
 truths, neglected as it is by the parents, should be taken 
 up in the schools. Futhermore, parents should be 
 made to see that the body supports the mind, and 
 should be the first consideration with regard to the 
 growing child's well-being and future development. I 
 sometimes think we have gone ' intellect mad.' " 
 
 " It is a fact. Doctor. But what can I or any of the 
 teachers do? The school curriculimi must be covered. 
 The parents feel that the child must plow through it 
 without rest or diversion. Many times I have tried to 
 explain to parents that while this curriculum stands for 
 what wise and thoughtful experts consider a liberal 
 education, there is no school law which can claim that 
 a child shall cover it in four consecutive years. It is 
 the fault of the parents as much as the schools that 
 girls are forced through their studies at the pubescent 
 age. Every high school teacher of my acquaintance 
 regrets this urging forward of the tender humcin plants 
 during the most trying period of their lives, and I sin- 
 cerely believe that every superintendent would encour- 
 age mothers to extend their daughters' school life for 
 the sake of their perfect physical development." 
 
 " If you feel that your co-workers are in sympathy 
 with your ideas, why not arrange a course of lectures 
 for parents, teachers and the children themselves, that 
 shall direct them all into the right paths?" interposed 
 Dr. Lyon. 
 
 "A good idea ! I will do all in my power to further 
 the plan and see if we cannot overcome the erroneous 
 ambition of those parents who storm about the pressure 
 of the public schools, yet, through their vanity, strive 
 to have their children excel those of their neighbors. 
 Within the sanctity of home — ^while they berate the 
 
142 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 pace of study the schools have set, claiming that their 
 children are being killed with cramming — ^they urge 
 them on, for to such parents a high percentage in 
 school is far more glorious than vigorous health and 
 mental capacity to fill a woman's place in the world, 
 with virtuous strength of body, mind and spirit." 
 
 " You express my sentiments upon this subject, 
 fully," replied Dr. Lyon. " Your words are proved 
 true each day by the great number of growing girls 
 who are brought to Dr. Ruth. Most of them are upon 
 the very verge of nervous collapse, when they ought to 
 be pictures of health. ' They are worn out by over- 
 study,' sigh the mothers ; but let the doctor even hint 
 that the regular school curriculum is a rich feast spread 
 before the children, which, properly studied, instead of 
 being rushed through, would develop the brain in pro- 
 portion to the rest of the body, and they throw up their 
 hands and exclaim ' What else can the poor things do 
 but rush through? My daughter must graduate with 
 her class, and the time for study is all too short.' " 
 
 " Does Dr. Ruth advise that girls leave school en- 
 tirely at this period, and under such conditions? " 
 
 " No; this is rarely necessary. What the girl needs 
 is an even balance of mental and physical development. 
 If parents could be made to realize what pubescent 
 health means to the young woman's future life, and to 
 that of the children with which she should some time 
 be blessed, it might easily be arranged for a girl to con- 
 tinue study to the end of the curriculum without de- 
 stroying her health, or impeding her growth." 
 
 " Do you think if I called the mothers of our high 
 school girls together some afternoon or evening, that 
 Dr. Ruth would talk to them upon the subject? " 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 143 
 
 " I will send for her, and you shall ask her for your- 
 self." 
 
 "If she consent, may I place myself and the people 
 under obligations to you still further, by requesting you 
 to give a similar talk upon the boy question? " 
 
 " I will certainly be glad to grant your request ; for 
 one may well question which of the two sexes need 
 most earnest, honest instruction along these personal 
 lines — the girls whose chance information so utterly 
 unfits them for their high calling in life, or the boys 
 whose companions may so pervert and pollute their 
 minds that they have no conception of real manhood. 
 It seems strange to me that the one fundamental, all- 
 essential thing in life is left untaught in the home. 
 Parents should be the first to reveal the spiritual sa- 
 credness of life's functions; but if they will not, then 
 the State, in self-protection, should take the matter up 
 and command, in the public schools, the teaching of 
 sex knowledge by those equipped to give it, as it now 
 insists on the teaching of science, mathematics and 
 English." 
 
 " You are right, doctor ; and I may add that reputable 
 physicians are the people who should be appointed to 
 teach these facts, that they may be taught in a scientific 
 manner calculated to win the respect of the young 
 people, and to insure obedience. There is a deluge of 
 books in the market, touching upon the mysteries of 
 sex life and exhorting boys to right living, but many of 
 them are lacking in convincing statement." 
 
 " Yes," answered Dr. Lyon. " Boys of today do not 
 like sermonettes or prudish sentiment. The whole- 
 some, normal boy demands straight-from-the-shoulder 
 facts regarding himself; and he has a right to receive 
 
144 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 them. Well, here comes Dr, Ruth to welcome you, 
 and as it is the dinner hour she will wish you to join 
 us, and then, if you like, we will discuss arrangements 
 for the lectures." 
 
 " I will need no coaxing, for it is a feast of reason 
 and good cheer one always finds at your hospitable 
 board." 
 
 It was arranged that a meeting should be announced 
 for an afternoon of the coming week, and that all the 
 mothers of the high school girls should be invited to 
 come to one of the class rooms for a " heart to heart 
 talk " with Dr. Ruth Lyon. 
 
 The large well-ventilated room was filled when the 
 doctor entered and took her place upon the platform. 
 
 " Dear mothers," began Dr. Ruth, " I have not come 
 here to lecture, so much as, figuratively speaking, to 
 take each of you by the hand and first of all congratu- 
 late you that you are mothers, then remind you that 
 God has placed in your keeping spotless young souls, 
 and that upon you rests the responsibility of keeping 
 them spotless, by filling their tender, trusting minds 
 with the highest ideals of purity, from infancy to full 
 maturity. Your mission — or rather, let me say, the 
 greater part of your mission — is to plant the garden of 
 your children's minds with God's own flowers of purity 
 and true nobility, that no place may be found for the 
 seeds of evil to spring up and bear unwholesome fruit. 
 
 " There is no other gift of God more precious than 
 that of motherhood. He has brought you close in 
 touch with Himself by making you a creator of life 
 through Him. 
 
 " ' God created man in His own image, in the image 
 of God created He him, male and female created He 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 145 
 
 them ; ' so reads the Scripture, and He gave them do- 
 minion over all the earth. 
 
 "We here note that God gave mankind dominion. 
 Let me call your attention first to this fact. Man hav- 
 ing dominion, we may surely reason that he himself has 
 no powers not under his own control. 
 
 " Now, mothers, did God give man and woman, — the 
 two as one, for ' Neither is man without the woman, 
 nor the woman without the man,' — dominion over all 
 living things, and no dominion over self? Surely not; 
 and yet, because man has fallen so far short of his 
 standard throughout the ages, we have come to count 
 him as a creature under the pall and dominion of his 
 lower passions, and one of the surest signs that he has 
 fallen is the shamefaced secrecy and prudishness of al- 
 most every one of us concerning sex matters. The re- 
 sult is that a few of us, struggling through the dark- 
 ness, have come out pure, but not unscathed; while 
 others have yielded themselves to the blackest and 
 most destructive vices, — vices to which they would 
 never have fallen a prey, had they been taught aright. 
 
 " This reasoning, God-inspired being, called man, of 
 all the living, is the only creature falling below the 
 standard God has set. Every other living thing fulfils 
 its destiny. Man alone descends from liberty to license 
 and perverts his highest privileges to the lowest degra- 
 dation. In consequence, we find ourselves and our 
 children, with an accumulative inheritance of evil from 
 within and from without to contend against. Some of 
 us have learned the lessons that we need from bitter 
 experience, some from close touch with other lives. 
 
 " Some of us can look with unveiled eyes and see the 
 fearful pitfalls set for our boys and girls. We shudder 
 
146 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 as we read of the ' White Slave Traffic ' and the ' Red 
 Lights,' or the ' Black Plague,' so called, with which 
 the 'White Plague,' tuberculosis, cannot compare. 
 When we read of the disappearance of the sixteen year 
 old girl on her return from her church choir rehearsal, 
 we are not wont to think ' It may come to my girl to- 
 morrow.' So also when we hear of bo3rs going wrong. 
 But, mothers, only last week, in my office, the boy of a 
 well-known minister cursed his parents because they 
 had never taught him the truths he should have known 
 about sex matters, declaring that, had he known, he 
 would never have contracted the filthy disease which 
 now disqualified him from highest manhood and no- 
 blest development. 
 
 "It was not long before this that a heartbroken 
 couple mourned over the dead baby that had just been 
 born to them. And great as was the grief of the mother, 
 who had in joyful expectation prepared her welcome 
 for the little one, greater and more bitter, if more silent, 
 was the grief of the father when he looked upon the 
 poor unsightly babe; and only the doctor, who knew 
 his secret, could fully understand as the poor fellow 
 said to him, ' Why didn't somebody warn me when I 
 was a boy that this might come of a wild life? ' 
 
 " These and other facts, my dear sisters, I bring, not 
 to disturb your peace of mind and confidence in human- 
 ity, but to aid you in realizing the necessity of fortify- 
 ing your boys and girls against the evils which are 
 bound to reach them in one form or another; and thus 
 avert a possibility of your children being placed in the 
 not uncommon position of those just mentioned. 
 
 " Mothers, some of our boys and girls are about to go 
 out from our town to their business or college life. It 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 147 
 
 is their parents' duty to see that they are properly 
 equipped with the knowledge that should save them 
 from the temptations to which they will probably be 
 subjected. 
 
 " Our younger children, also, are not exempt from 
 the danger that vile, polluting knowledge may be 
 imparted to them. It has recently been the painful 
 duty of the teachers of this school to ferret out a fer- 
 ment of impurity that has been at work in the primary 
 and grammar schools. It may not have gone further 
 than impure talk, and suggestive writing on the walls, 
 and elsewhere; but, unless immediately rectified, it 
 will, in the natural course of things, lead to that which 
 in adults, would be designated immorality." 
 
 As Dr. Lyon said this, an expression of surprise 
 passed over the audience, — ^mothers looked anxiously at 
 mothers. It seemed as though each were saying to 
 herself, " It cannot be my child," yet half afraid that it 
 might be. Some of them showed plainly their disap- 
 proval of such behavior, and one ventured to say, " It 
 must be among the poorer children." 
 
 " Not so," answered the Doctor. " In that you are 
 altogether mistaken." 
 
 Those whose children were least likely to be among 
 the number looked awed, and as though determined to 
 talk to their own children. Censure, however, seemed 
 to be the prevailing spirit. This the speaker quieted 
 by an admonition not to blame the children, whose ig- 
 norance and very innocence had made them victims. 
 Even the older victims were themselves innocent when 
 first the evil was thrust upon them, and were probably 
 still ignorant of its results. 
 
 " Nor is our school alone in this," continued the doc- 
 
148 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 tor. " Teachers all over the land bear testimony to the 
 immorality prevalent among children in the best regu- 
 lated schools. 
 
 " The experiment of seeking to open the eyes of in- 
 dividual parents, has been tried, — ^but it is not received 
 kindly, and, after careful consideration, your principal 
 has appealed to Dr. Robert Lyon and myself to help 
 the parents that they may know how to save their boys 
 and girls. 
 
 " It is necessary to know the facts, — repulsive though 
 they be, — that we may awaken to the true gravity of 
 the situation, and therefore I am not only justified in 
 placing before you these facts, but also in opening your 
 eyes by giving you the following statistics. 
 
 " Of the thirty thousand prostitutes in New York 
 City, ten thousand came from respectable homes ; these 
 I fear we cannot save, but begone with prudery, and 
 save the ten thousand innocent little girls, now the idols 
 of ten thousand happy homes, that otherwise must fill 
 their places, by teaching them sex facts that shall for- 
 tify them against this foul death, and by putting truth 
 in such a light as to make purity their constant aim. 
 These facts are terrible; but I believe this knowledge 
 necessary, that our mothers and instructors may 
 awaken to the necessity of saving our children. As 
 mothers we must face the facts as they are. Some of 
 my colleagues, and many of the laity, who, perhaps, 
 themselves are guilty, will condemn the speaker for 
 thus speaking plainly. But it is too vital a matter to 
 longer keep them from mothers; when it is said to be 
 true that ninety per cent of men have gone wrong, and 
 that very many of them have contracted diseases which 
 are bound to affect the innocent vdves and prospective 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 149 
 
 children. Mothers, do you realize that this leaves only 
 ten pure men out of each hundred from whom our 
 daughters may select husbands? I would not place 
 the blame upon all these men. Some deliberately go 
 into libertinism, but the larger proportion of these in- 
 fections occur among young men who are totally ig- 
 norant of the dangers to which they submit themselves, 
 and before this stage is reached, their minds have been 
 perverted by false teaching with regard to their sex 
 nature. They have probably been made to believe that 
 licentious lie expressed in the words ' Man's Physical 
 Necessity.' The boy who becomes licentious is to be 
 pitied, not blamed ; the blame lies at the door of parents 
 and instructors who have neglected their duty: and, 
 mothers, our daughters and their children must reap 
 the penalty along with him, of his debauches. 
 
 " Our hope lies in knowledge of sex truths being 
 taught to the children in the homes, by such methods as 
 will lead them to regard procreation as pure and nat- 
 ural, and their bodies too sacred to be in any way 
 abused. This is, I believe, their only safeguard, and 
 they can be so taught that all sense of shame shall be 
 removed, and they will go out into the world knowing 
 where they stand; while if asked when they received 
 their knowledge, they could honestly say, ' I always 
 knew it.' 
 
 " It is to help mothers so to teach their little ones, 
 that I hope shortly to publish in book form the Nature 
 Stories which I have related to my own children, so 
 that they may begin as soon as the child is able to lis- 
 ten to any story to gradually lead them on to the 
 knowledge of their being and of the sacredness of sex. 
 
 " Most mothers vrait too long, and then find that it 
 
ISO FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 is hard to begin at all; and as a result, even when they 
 do approach their children on the subject they are non- 
 plussed by what they find out. One girl of thirteen 
 years, whose mother had decided to speak with her of 
 her coming womanhood, said, 'Why, Mother, if this 
 thing is of God, why haven't you told me before? I 
 thought it must all be wicked, and I didn't like to tell 
 you what the girls have told me.' 
 
 " I believe it is for mothers and daughters to free 
 themselves and their husbands, sons and brothers from 
 this terrible curse. Mothers, by teaching their boys and 
 girls true ideals; and daughters, by demanding purity 
 of the prospective fathers of their children. Our girls 
 should be taught to feel so strongly on this matter that 
 it would be impossible for a man addicted to vicious 
 thought and habits to be at ease in their company, 
 much less to ask the hand of a pure girl in marriage. 
 As it is now, society encourages the educated, finely 
 groomed man, even though he be reeking with immor- 
 ality. Man will give just what woman demands; 
 and it is for her to demand the highest standard of 
 morality. 
 
 " Let us not feel disheartened, mothers, we can do 
 much to save our children, now that woman is emanci- 
 pated from her many forms of subjection. She has 
 proven herself worthy of rising above the humiliation 
 of the past and its resultant suppression of her best. 
 She is no longer a ' dependent,' who must take, or give, 
 whatever her husband has demanded. Man had, ig- 
 norantly, and, as he now begins to see, unwisely, cre- 
 ated for himself a special masculine privilege of con- 
 trol; but now his honor, his manhood, his sense of 
 justice, show him that this position is both unfair and 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 151 
 
 dangerous to his well-being and to the welfare of his 
 home and of society. 
 
 " It is the pubescent girl we were chiefly to consider 
 this afternoon ; and some may say that so far we have 
 hardly referred to our subject. This would be true 
 were it not that our dependent baby girl of today is the 
 responsible mother of tomorrow. The laughing, happy, 
 little school girl quickly develops into full womanhood, 
 and almost before we realize it, the joyous wedding 
 bells are heard. Her place at our home is vacant, and 
 we miss her; but we rejoice in her joy. It will be a 
 delight to watch the home-making and to see the new 
 home grow, though every mother heart grows lonely 
 when the birdlings fly away. 
 
 " Now to the new home makers comes the time for 
 the unfolding and developing of the teaching always 
 received from parents who are wise; and if the founda- 
 tion has not been well laid, parents have missed their 
 high calling, and school training has fallen far short of 
 its ideal. 
 
 " Without the home nations cannot exist; happiness 
 and normal social relations cannot exist; anything, 
 therefore, that tends to destroy or build up the home is 
 vital ; and consequently the discussion of the question, 
 as I have taken it up, is essential to the well-being of 
 our girls, and bears directly on the subject. 
 
 " You are mothers of girls in the high school ; you 
 are anxious to do your best for them; you long to have 
 them become flrst of all noble, well-balanced women, 
 and, God helping me to give you of my experience and 
 my best, I will help you. Some of you are burdened — 
 I see it in your faces. One has a girl, who is forward 
 and inclined to be wayward; another is anxious on ac- 
 
152 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 count of her daughter's over-religiousness; another, 
 her daughter's carelessness and irresponsibility; and 
 many, over pale faces, languid manners, long hours of 
 study, and lack of buoyant life ; each one has her own 
 problem. We may not be able to cover all these phases 
 in this talk, but I will do my best. 
 
 " I wish, first, to arouse your solicitude for the over- 
 worked school girl, who, faithful to her studies day 
 after day, takes little time for necessary rest and play. 
 She may not be really ill, but she is not strong. She 
 can enjoy a good time with her comrades, but after- 
 ward she is unduly tired. One would not label her a 
 dyspeptic, but her digestion is not good. She has a 
 tendency to headaches, suffers from dysmenorrhcea 
 (painful menstruation) and constipation, and is often 
 called ' indolent ' when, in reality, her physical condi- 
 tion makes every effort irksome. No one thinks of her 
 as really ill, and if she were never called upon to un- 
 dergo physical or emotional strain, — if her life forces 
 did not wane as the years passed on, this type of semi- 
 invalid might really live out her life vrithout becoming 
 a confirmed invalid. Her negative condition would still 
 be termed ' merely delicate.' 
 
 " One common cause for this condition is, likewise, 
 the most common cause of painful menstrucition, (dys- 
 menorrhcea), which in young girls may be traced back 
 to the time when they were quite little, — ^the dysmen- 
 orrhcea having its origin in what is called a tightened 
 or adherent ' prepuce,' requiring for girls an operation 
 similar to that terme d ' circumc ision ' when applied to 
 thebaic. These conditions cause a constant pressure 
 upon most important nerves, which in turn, through 
 the sjmipathetic nervous system, affect the nutrition 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 153 
 
 and growth of the uterus and ovaries, causing them to 
 become retarded in development, and very often mis- 
 placed. Especially in these cases do we find the uterus 
 bent forward on itself, the canal thus becoming so ob- 
 structed that nature must make a painful effort at each 
 menstrual period to allow the scanty flow to escape. 
 This, in its turn, often leads to the general constitu- 
 tional condition spoken of as chlorosis, in which the red 
 blood corpuscles become so affected that their capacity 
 for carrying oxygen is lessenedT' As a result we often 
 find anaemia, digestive disturbance, irregular heart ac- 
 tion, tuberculosis, mental disturbance and various 
 forms of neurasthenia. Add to this strain upon the 
 system the compulsion to study at the menstrual pe- 
 riod, and physical wreckage will follow, sooner or later. 
 On the other hand, if judicious attention be paid at the 
 first sign of such discomfort, and her studies be judi- 
 ciously arranged, she may be entirely cured of all her 
 troubles. 
 
 " It is unnecessary to dwell upon the various disturb- 
 ances of the menstrual function; these and the ordinary 
 precautions are too well known to the intelligent 
 mother; I prefer, therefore, to call your attention at 
 this time to one of Nature's laws whereby we may be 
 shown the ill results to our daughters when natural 
 law is thwarted. 
 
 " When Nature has work to do, she sends an extra 
 supply of blood to that point upon which the greatest 
 strain will come, so that the tissues may receive proper 
 food for development. At no time does she supply this 
 nourishment so generously as at the age of puberty, 
 when the sexual organs begin to arouse to activity. 
 Reproduction of the species is Nature's dearest object, 
 
154 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and she spares no pains to prepare the organs that will 
 carry on her great work. Many times, before menstru- 
 ation appears, nature engorges the tissues in the 
 ovarian locality, and in the years to follow she never 
 forgets to repeat this physiological process until that 
 time arrives when she accounts it best that possibility 
 for reproduction cease. 
 
 " We know that a plant or tree, stunted in early life, 
 never attains the symmetry and strength of one more 
 perfectly nourished. We know, too, that a human be- 
 ing, improperly nurtured in babyhood and childhood, is 
 seldom able in later years, no matter how painstaking 
 his treatment, to reach the standard of robustness and 
 endurance which should have been his. It seems as 
 though an organism established its standard for future 
 capacity in its early stages. It is so with the ovaries, 
 for it is during the first three or four years of puberty 
 that their standard of nerve force and vigor is estab- 
 lished for all time. The condition of these organs in a 
 given individual, is a criterion by which we may judge 
 of the rest of the body ; and it would be well for us all 
 to realize that this is so. Force and achievement result 
 from normal reserved sexuality. 
 
 " A normal, properly taught and nourished girl de- 
 velops rapidly, mentally, emotionally and physically at 
 the time of pubescence. Love, hope and ambition are 
 all in the ascendant; the sexual organism, as I have 
 said before, becoming the foundation of noble deeds, 
 physical endurance and intellectual achievement. Un- 
 fortunately, in this over-zealous world, few girls have 
 the opportunity for natural development, at this, the 
 most critical time of their life. Through thoughtless 
 ignorance of nature's demands, our fine schools often 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 155 
 
 become a menace to health; and society robs the girl 
 of precious hours that should be spent in recuperative 
 sleep. Poor light and ventilation, and ill-adjusted 
 chairs and desks are harmful; but all of this cannot 
 compare with the nervous strain that is often forced 
 upon a girl during the two to four years of her high 
 school course. 
 
 "Hours that should be spent in bed, are passed 
 drooping under artificial light, the tired eyes trying to 
 photograph lessons upon a brain that demands rest. 
 Her very emotions, bom of this period, make her more 
 brilliant; but the new force that has become such a 
 powerful stimulus is spent poring over books, instead 
 of being conserved, as nature meant it should be, for 
 the building up of a splendid system. 
 
 " One earnest educator has asked the question, ' Why 
 is it that girls who are so brilliant and scholarly in high 
 school, so seldom arise to prominence in after life; 
 while a large proportion of boys, who were inferior 
 scholars, rise to high rank in the business and profes- 
 sional world? ' To properly consider this question, we 
 would have to cover a large field, but this may be said 
 in answer: one cause is that they have wasted their 
 energy in mental exertion at a time when nature de- 
 manded it for purely physical development of those 
 organs upon whose health depends the girl's future 
 mental development and strength. 
 
 " How is it with your girl today? Do you impose 
 long hours of study upon her, stealing the blood from 
 the newly awakened organs to the brain cells for com- 
 bustion? Do you spur her on, and help her to cool the 
 overheated brain by wrapping it in cold cloths, that she 
 may keep awake and not miss promotion? Do you 
 
156 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 draw still more and more upon her nervous energy by 
 telling her that people scorn ' left-overs? * 
 
 " From twelve to thirteen the whole nature of a girl 
 is wrought up by physical changes, and the mystery of 
 the future wreathes its poetic fancy around her, until 
 one day arrives the testimony of matured ovaries. If 
 this knowledge come with pain and weariness, nervous- 
 ness or eccentric emotions, it is evidence that the or- 
 gans can only do their natural work with over-exertion, 
 and over-exertion means congestion in continuing her 
 work; a second menstruation appears, and again comes 
 weariness and perhaps pain to the girl who is forced to 
 study at this period, instead of the physical exhilaration 
 that she would feel under more fortunate conditions. 
 Again, the blood is drawn from the ovaries to supply 
 the brain, the ovaries are thus defrauded of proper 
 sustenance, and the nervous system is kept under ten- 
 sion. So the months pass, until the girl graduates 
 from grammar school, when she has already laid the 
 foundation for some form of neurasthenia. But her 
 work must still go on through the four years of high 
 school, and from month to month is repeated the cruel 
 treatment of the most important organs of her body. 
 Dysmenorrhcea, which means congestion and pain, and 
 amenorrhcea, which is insufficiency, have now become 
 chronic. You still think the girl ' pretty well,' and no 
 one thinks her an invalid. ' A year of rest will build 
 her up,' say the fond, proud parents. This may be 
 true, for nature is resourceful and youth elastic, but 
 frequently the injury can never be wholly repaired. 
 
 "Very many women, having passed through this crit- 
 ical time under artificial conditions, are unable to pre- 
 serve either physical or mental energy into middle life. 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 157 
 
 and become semi-invalids when they take upon them- 
 self natural burdens. Such women are often barren, 
 or, bearing children, meet with calamity. One neurol- 
 ogist states that a large per cent of the neurasthenic 
 cases can be traced back to imfortunate pubescence, 
 causing chronic, imperfect ovarian functioning. 
 
 " You ask, ' What shall be done with the developing 
 girl to prevent these results? ' Let it be impressed 
 upon your minds and hearts indelibly that one of your 
 most divine duties and privileges is to prepare your 
 daughters for perfect womanhood and motherhood. 
 There is no class of women who need cultured minds 
 more than the mothers of children; but, without health, 
 superior scholarship avails little. Teach them to take 
 their school work more slowly, for health is worth al- 
 most any sacrifice. I appeal to you mothers, for you 
 are the natural guardians and instructors of your 
 daughters, who, however intelligent, are too young to 
 realize what lies before them, or to understand the 
 magnitude of the responsibilities that, later in life, will 
 be laid upon them, if they are to live up to their God- 
 given possibilities. 
 
 " You should realize that the whole educational sys- 
 tem might better wait, than that your daughters should 
 be overtaxed during the early days of menstruation. 
 There is no reason why school systems should not ar- 
 range for a cessation from emotional strain, and from 
 the study which implies strenuous effort, during men- 
 struation; but as this is not done, mothers must take it 
 into their own hands and lengthen the term of study 
 for their daughters, so that their health will be pro- 
 tected. 
 
 "Because not all girls will receive instruction at 
 
158 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 home, there should be wholesome, natural sex instruc- 
 tion from some teacher especially prepared to impart 
 this knowledge in a delicate way, so that a girl will un- 
 derstand the laws of her own being before it is time for 
 her to menstruate, rather than have to wait for such in- 
 struction until the end of her college career, as is now 
 the custom in some colleges. Thousands of girls have 
 had their lives wrecked by imprudence, ignorance or 
 false modesty, when the menstrual period arrived, and 
 the blame for this sad state of things rests entirely with 
 their neglectful parents and teachers, but especially 
 with their mothers. 
 
 " During the period of menstruation the school cur- 
 riculum should be made sufficiently elastic to permit 
 the necessary rest without anxiety for the future ' mak- 
 ing up ' of lost recitations and examinations, and only 
 mild mental stimulation should be allowed. 
 
 " Following out this plan, under proper supervision, 
 there is no reason why a High School girl should not 
 graduate at sixteen, splendidly developed physically, 
 sweet and pure morally, with high ideals of self, 
 womanhood and motherhood, and ready to take up the 
 regular college course as one conscious of a lofty 
 mission in life and determined to be fully prepared 
 for it. 
 
 " Should the time ever come when we shall count 
 honest, healthy preparation for motherhood a jewel 
 above price, and when girls will reverently thank the 
 Father for that privilege, and will see that no sacrifice 
 is too great to keep their bodies sacred, we shall see 
 strong, brave, joyous women singing songs of praise 
 because they are women. It is from such mothers that 
 a race of men and women shall spring, brilliant in in- 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 159 
 
 tellect, clear-brained, clean-souled, and with an inherit- 
 ance greater than gold or lands. 
 
 "Thus far we have considered the purely physical 
 side of our pubescent girls ; now I would call your at- 
 tention to the emotional and spiritual natures, hoping 
 that we may come to understand them better, and 
 thereby help our girls, and our boys also, over very 
 trying, but not less important, crises in their lives. 
 
 " Whether they realize it or not, they have come to a 
 time of important decisions. The sub-consqious self is 
 perhaps more active than at any other time in life. It 
 is now they sub-consciously form their ideals and so 
 decide what type of man or woman they will be. 
 
 " Your boy now has his eye on some good or it may 
 be poor type of manhood, from whom he will in a large 
 measure shape even his manners, tones, the carriage of 
 his body, and his method of looking at life. Sometimes 
 the very traits that he dislikes in his ideal, will become 
 his. Likewise, with your girl. 
 
 " So, if your boy has his gaze fixed in secret admira- 
 tion on the cigarette smoker, with his stooped shoul- 
 ders, forward and downward tilted head, and attitude 
 of general ease and abandonment of responsibility, you 
 can see the same characteristics soon manifesting them- 
 selves in him. 
 
 "If your girl's eye be fixed upon the fashionable 
 woman, or the self-satisfied air of the professional 
 bridge-player, you will see her mannerisms gradually 
 change accordingly ; and the reverse will be true also. 
 
 " Thus it behooves us mothers to invite to our homes 
 to meet us at our evening meals, when the duties of the 
 day are laid aside, the highest and noblest types of 
 manhood and womanhood that we can command; and. 
 
160 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 while discouraging hero worship, to hold before our 
 boys and girls the best in the nature of all our friends. 
 Some of these noble types will be poor, and others may 
 be rich. Let this be no factor whatever ; character and 
 talents being the important factors to be considered. 
 
 "To make use of your table for close touch with 
 would-be companions of your children, will result in a 
 natural and easy elimination of the undesirable. Your 
 children themselves, will thereby sooner learn the 
 power of selection, while the family interest tends to- 
 ward good fellowship and mutual happiness. 
 
 " Again, your children are at the age for making de- 
 cision as to their religious life, their minds being now 
 plastic and easily affected by influences for good or evil. 
 It is now that greatest care and delicacy are needed 
 to guide the spirit through the troubled water into the 
 haven of peace and harmony. It is now that great care 
 must be taken not to discourage them in their desire to 
 know more of God ; and if they take a stand, making a 
 claim to a new life, or choose a church-relationship, be 
 very cautious in your dealings with them at this time, 
 and do not allow criticism of their action. 
 
 " These things are in God's hand, my dear mothers ; 
 let Him lead you while you in turn point the tender 
 soul to Christ, their Savior from sin, their Friend and 
 their Shepherd. This is God's time, also, to talk to 
 the children. It is the normal, psychological period 
 that He makes use of to begin the moulding to the 
 highest and best, but let us not forget that the voice of 
 God comes more surely to the child through its own 
 parents, if they be what parents should be, — ^partly be- 
 cause of the fact that none can so well understand and 
 help one who must inherit many of their own traits 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 161 
 
 and whose environment has deepened the likeness be- 
 tween them. 
 
 " It is a remarkable fact that, among all nations, the 
 time of puberty has been marked by religious rites, and 
 that most Christians so become before twenty years of 
 age. 
 
 " It is at this period also, that mental balance is often 
 lost, and children brood over some imaginary ill, or be- 
 come restless and defiant, even to criminality. These 
 children need a physician, — ^perhaps even a surgeon. 
 Often circumcision is necessary, and will result in a 
 total abatement of the distressing conditions. This 
 may be called a metastasis. 
 
 " There is what I will call an emotional metastasis ; 
 that is, a change from the place of attack, to a part that 
 may be remote. In sexual irritation, we often find a 
 metastasis from the physical to the emotional sphere. A 
 boy of twelve years, for instance, developed, with great 
 rapidity, a faculty for lying. A wise physician discov- 
 ered that he required circumcision ; and no sooner was 
 the operation performed than the boy became, and is to 
 this day, remarkable for his honesty. 
 
 "A little girl had become thieving, untruthful, and 
 sadly deficient morally. She seemed to be beyond 
 hope, for reasoning and punishment were of no avail, 
 and she began boldly to practice pernicious habits. A 
 surgical operation resulted in restoring the child to 
 sweetness, honesty and purity; and she is now a re- 
 fined, lovely young woman, 
 
 " Again, at the pubescent period, a boy will often get 
 into mischief and do the most unreasonable things. 
 This is often a metastasis from the physical to the emo- 
 tional, sometimes seen in over-religiousness. 
 
 "A wise and loving mother, who is capable of 
 
162 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 directing the spiritual needs of her children, and carry- 
 ing them safely through the storms and stress that 
 often come at this time of life, is a veritable gift of 
 God. 
 
 " None can deny that Christianity in early youth has 
 a beautifying and strengthening effect upon the char- 
 acter, and is a safeguard all through life. To get a 
 young soul anchored in divine love, is a firm foundation 
 for a sound and useful life; and the whole being, — 
 body, soul and spirit, will be brought, at these early 
 years, in harmony with its Maker and itself. 
 
 " One more suggestion, mothers, and I have finished. 
 It is that of responsibility and confidence. It is against 
 all laws of nature to develop character apart from a 
 sense of confidence and responsibility. Our boys and 
 girls should be made to feel that they have a place 
 to fill in the home ; that they have a mind to use, and 
 judgment to exercise; therefore, they must not be 
 leaners. 
 
 " A parent cannot begin too early to encourage the 
 child to select its own clothes; to exercise its thought 
 concerning all matters of importance. 
 
 " A story is told of a butterfly, struggling to rid it- 
 self of its chrysalis. A witness to the struggle, pitied 
 the * poor thing ' ; and aided it to liberty without diffi- 
 culty. But the butterfly never flew. The struggle 
 was necessary to strengthen its wings for subsequent 
 flight. It is so with our budding boys and girls. Let 
 us guide and protect them, but see to it that we do not 
 deprive them of the things they most need, in our inju- 
 dicious love. 
 
 " I trust I have not wearied you, dear mothers, but I 
 pray for you, and with you, that you may be endowed 
 
A PLEA FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS 163 
 
 with grace and wisdom to help your children to grow 
 up healthy and vigorous in mind and body. 
 
 " And now, permit me to thank you for your inspir- 
 ing attention, which assures me of your hearty ap- 
 proval and co-operation, when, in my coming lecture to 
 your daughters, I shall seek to inspire them with noble 
 thought and desire as I tell them things they ought to 
 know." 
 
 " We certainly will be with you," said one mother, 
 " and I, for one, will earnestly try to be a better mother 
 in consequence of what you have told us ; " and it was 
 long before the doctor could get away, for almost every 
 mother there wished to thank her personally, to consult 
 her, privately, about her own loved child, and to prom- 
 ise that she would try to profit by what she had learned 
 that day. 
 
164 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 FATHERS AND SONS 
 
 FOLLOWING the talk of Dr. Ruth to the mothers 
 of the High School girls, there was much dis- 
 i:ussion of the subject among the parents. Some 
 praised the doctor for her plainspoken truths; others 
 criticized severely, and many of them recollected long 
 forgotten visits, which enabled them, under the guise 
 of a call, to go over the ground with old acquaintances. 
 In fact, it had been a long time since the town had been 
 in such a flurry. Never, since the previous election, 
 had there been so much debating. 
 
 The conservatives thought that while Dr. Ruth had 
 told the unvarnished truth, it was dangerous to touch 
 upon such matters on account of the extreme delicacy 
 of the subject. The ignorant and prejudiced declared 
 such talk positively shocking and indecent. On the 
 other side, there were many who thought it time that 
 parents should be aroused to a greater sense of re- 
 sponsibility with regard to the physical welfare of their 
 children. 
 
 All the clear-headed people were in sympathy with 
 the honest desire of the superintendent of schools to 
 make strong men and women, instead of weaklings, of 
 the High School pupils. All the agitation resulted, 
 however, in lectures being planned for the study of 
 proper parental teaching for the younger people. Once 
 a month, these groups met in some central locality, or 
 at the High School, for the purpose of listening to 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 165 
 
 scientific lectures, given by well known physicians, 
 both men and women, who freely and gladly gave their 
 services. 
 
 Two weeks after Dr. Ruth's lecture to the mothers, 
 Dr. Robert gave his address, and to it were invited not 
 only the fathers of the High School boys, but all men 
 and boys over sixteen years of age. 
 
 " Brothers," said he, " for such we all are, I have 
 come here to tell you what science has revealed con- 
 cerning man in his relation to his sexual or creative 
 nature, and to show you the need of being prepared to 
 take your boys by the hand, and say to them, ' Confide 
 in me, my son, for you need a man's strength and ex- 
 perience to guide you across the pitfalls which will 
 open before you now that you are emerging into man- 
 hood." 
 
 " It should be the great aim of parents and teachers 
 to fit the child for his second physical birth, which is 
 spoken of as the pubescent or adolescent period. But 
 first those parents and teachers must themselves be 
 freed from the influence of centuries of false sex teach- 
 ing, that they may get a new perspective, — a broader 
 view of this all-pervading sex principle. From this sex 
 principle, even though so misdirected by the mass of 
 humanity, have been created all the wonderful works 
 of civilization ; and one may almost say that there will 
 be no limit to human achievement when genius is once 
 freed from the embarrassment of disordered and mis- 
 directed sex functions with its consequent hampered 
 inspiration. 
 
 " Created life demands its perpetuation, and there- 
 fore impresses its principle of reproduction upon every 
 living thing. This is the strongest and highest force 
 
166 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 within us, and, instead of the Creator having made a 
 mistake in placing it first and foremost, man has made 
 the mistake of degrading it, by making it minister to 
 selfish satisfaction, — ^trailing it in the mire of sensuality 
 and prostitution. The result of this mistake has been 
 fatal to social purity. Woman came to be regarded 
 almost as though she had been created with a view to 
 the gratification of man's physical passions. She was 
 brought under subjection and made practically a slave 
 to her husband and owner, and when she began to at- 
 tain some slight degree of freedom the satanic doctrine 
 of ' man's physical necessity ' was formulated for the 
 benefit of perverted men. 
 
 " In ancient Babylon, the dishonoring of girlhood be- 
 came a part of temple worship, and service, as it is to 
 this day in many temples of India. Throughout the 
 historic period, sexual crimes have been so revolting 
 that their details cannot be published. Crimes against 
 the sexual nature are as old as sin. Ignorance of them 
 leads one to believe that they do not exist, or that they 
 are quite infrequent,— a 'carnal security' this. Man 
 cannot much longer keep his sexual secrets from 
 woman. His history of sexual secrecy and license is 
 near its close. Good men and women everywhere are 
 opening their eyes to sex facts, a full knowledge of 
 which will bring them to the standard of Christ, who 
 said to the woman, — after a thrust at her guilty ac- 
 cusers that sent them away, overcome, for the moment, 
 and convicted of their own prostitution, — ' Neither do 
 I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." He then struck 
 a telling blow at the two codes of morals that had been 
 set up by man, and one the full import of Which is, as 
 yet, not generally realized. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 167 
 
 " Today, the American Society of Sanitary and 
 Moral Prophylaxis, headed by many of the strongest 
 physicians and lawyers of the country, and composed 
 of men and women of science and position, is doing 
 much not only to bring about reform, but also to teach 
 true conceptions of the sex principle. Every man here 
 should be identified with that society. To quote from 
 its Articles, — ' II. The object of this society is to limit 
 the spread of diseases which have their origin in the 
 Social Evil. It purposes to study every means, sani- 
 tary, moral and administrative, which promises to be 
 most effective for this purpose. III. The Society to be 
 composed of members of the medical profession and of 
 the laity, including women.' Among its list of mem- 
 bers appear the names of Dr. Howard A. Kelly, of 
 Baltimore, author and surgeon, and Dr. W. M. Polk of 
 New York City, surgeon; while Prince A. Morrow, 
 M.D., author of ' Social Diseases and Marriage,' de- 
 servedly holds the honor of being president. 
 
 "Through our Secular Magazines and papers, this 
 question, in one or another of its many phases, is being 
 discussed; and nearly every medical Journal has pre- 
 sented articles bearing on the subject. At medical 
 meetings, all over the country, it is being debated, and 
 the general feeling among physicians is toward doing 
 away with the binding conditions of their Hippocratic 
 oath, so far as the social evil is concerned, and no longer 
 protecting the venereally diseased man. This protec- 
 tion has not only condoned sexual promiscuity, but it 
 likewise has made the doctor an unwilling accomplice 
 in the crime of contaminating the innocent with the 
 diseases of the vicious ; with which diseases smallpox is 
 not to be compared for virulence and for danger to the 
 
168 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 community. From the latter, the law demands pro- 
 tection, — even to the compulsory vaccination of all 
 school children; but as to the former, it still licenses 
 vice, and consequently its diseases also, — to the great 
 detriment of the home, the city and the nation. Some 
 one has recently said, ' Let us protect the innocent, not 
 the guilty,' and this idea is gaining prevalence. 
 
 " Honest pure-minded physicians (all are not thus) 
 because of the fearful and long-lasting results of ven- 
 ereal diseases, — are seriously considering the advisa- 
 bility of being no longer bound to secrecy; and when 
 all of them adopt the attitude of a Boston physician, 
 who said to two wild young men engaged to two pure, 
 sweet girls whom the old doctor had cared for from 
 birth, ' If either of you marry either of those girls be- 
 fore I pronounce you cured, I'll attend the wedding 
 ceremony and raise my voice in protest against the 
 marriage,' much good will be done. 
 
 " But more than this is necessary. The unfortunate 
 wife of a venereally infected husband should be in- 
 formed of the fact. The result will be the breaking up 
 of some homes ; and, for this reason, it will be a terrible 
 burden added to the already heavy responsibilities of 
 the physician. But that such a stand will inevitably 
 be made, it takes no prophet to discern, — one has only 
 to watch the proceedings of the various medical socie- 
 ties, and to read the articles referring to the subject in 
 medical magazines and other periodicals. When med- 
 ical societies in general take this stand, — as it is be- 
 lieved they will, — and our girls are taught the facts 
 concerning these matters, our men, young and old, will 
 be forced to change their mode of living. 
 
 "Too often our boys have been taught by some 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 169 
 
 sensual elder, that it is their legitimate right, and that 
 their physical health and their real manhood depend 
 upon deliberately seeking illicit sexual relations. Had 
 they been previously instructed by judicious and right- 
 minded parents, they would have had a high ideal of 
 their sex life. They would have known that true man- 
 hood depends on self-control, and that strong, vigorous 
 men conserve their sexual forces. The vile stories too 
 often told to youth, and the still viler advice, would not 
 reach them, or, reaching them, would find no lodgment 
 in their minds, and they would pass their pubescent 
 period pure and strong, to await the real joys and satis- 
 factions that are in store for every pure man to whom 
 shall come happy union with a true, well-chosen wife. 
 This is the aesthetic fulfillment of true love, that can 
 never be vouchsafed to the man who has prostituted 
 his life to unfortunate but degenerate and diseased pub- 
 lic women. 
 
 " It would be much pleaeanter for me to bring im- 
 mediately to your minds the interesting study of the 
 pubescent boy. But that I may be true to him, I must 
 first expose to your view the horrors that you would 
 have your boys and girls escape. These you know in 
 a measure ; but to review them is, I trust, to bring you 
 to decision concerning them. It is my object, also, to 
 bring out in strong relief, — as I trust I may be able, — 
 the glorious possibilities of pure and normal manhood. 
 
 " ' The welfare of the family,' says Herbert Spencer, 
 'underlies the welfare of society.' Whatever inju- 
 riously affects the family will also injuriously affect 
 the community, and it is but a poor morality which 
 does not consider the actions of the individual in the 
 light of their effect, not only upon himself, but upon 
 
170 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 his wife and children, and upon society as a whole. 
 Men have no moral right to marry for purely selfish 
 reasons. The chief end of marriage is the bringing 
 into the world of intelligent, well-formed, vigorous 
 children, who shall help to perfect the human race. 
 What, then, can we think of those men who, if not 
 themselves impure, are yet apparently indifferent to 
 the wrongs that are inflicted on humanity by those 
 who degrade their manhood by sexual excesses and 
 sexual promiscuity? 
 
 " We have no time to dwell upon the many physical 
 evils which entail untold suffering and enormous ex- 
 pense through the direct results of sexual immorality. 
 Yet it is necessary that we should consider such facts 
 as that from twenty to thirty per cent of blindness in 
 the United States can be traced to infection due to 
 illicit intercourse, resulting in a cost to the community 
 of many millions of dollars every year. 
 
 " That you may have some idea of the extent of the 
 evil, I would call your attention, first, to statistics 
 concerning the two social diseases. 
 
 " Statistics show that in Europe seventy-five per cent 
 of adult males have had gonorrhoea, and twelve and a 
 half per cent of adult males have had syphilis, and that 
 in the United States seventy-five per cent of adult males 
 have had gonorrhoea. It is the most prevalent con- 
 tagious disease next to measles. In this country, eight 
 hundred thousand males reach maturity annually, and 
 of this number five hundred thousand become infected 
 with the last named disease. 
 
 "Morrow stated that in 1906 twenty per cent of 
 those who became infected were less than twenty-one 
 years of age; sixty per cent were not yet twenty-five; 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 171 
 
 and eighty per cent not yet thirty, in the United 
 States; and the most reliable observers calculate that 
 eight million have gonorrhoea or its sequelae. 
 
 " As to the * race suicide problem,' concerning which 
 much has been said with unkind thrusts at woman's 
 supposed unwillingness to bear children, it will be 
 judged from another view point when it is generally 
 known that ' seventy-five per cent of sterility in child- 
 less marriages is due to the gonorrhceal infection.' It 
 is true that here and there there are married women 
 who rebel against child-bearing without good reason; 
 but there are many whose hearts are bursting with 
 mother instinct and desire that can never be satisfied. 
 Every womanly woman cherishes mother love in her 
 heart and must mother something. 
 
 " In this connection may be mentioned such women 
 as Francis Willard, whose mother love extended its 
 arms to all the world, until to-day, in our schools, the 
 influence of her great loving heart touches your child 
 and mine, teaching them the dangers of alcohol and 
 narcotics. Nor has her great creative power ended 
 here ; it has reached beyond our means of measuring, 
 and shall live when her critics and their children are 
 no more. My heart goes out to those noble women of 
 the past, who dared, against bitterest opposition, dis- 
 dain, and tradition, to raise their voices outside of the 
 home shelter and strike the blows that have proved to 
 be the beginning of great and needed reforms. Brave 
 men have gone through hardships, faced wild beasts, 
 and stood before the cannon's mouth without flinch- 
 ing, but the courage of such women is of a higher tyipe. 
 Their faith, their courage, their endurance, their per- 
 sistence, their ability and their true worth have made 
 
172 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and are making for them a place that is well earned, 
 and true men reverence them, and, through them, are 
 coming to have a just appreciation and reverence for 
 womanhood, and to acknowledge the justice and the 
 necessity of demanding that men as well as women 
 shall be pure and noble. 
 
 " It ought not to be necessary to point out that this 
 can never be while we uphold, directly or indirectly, 
 any institution which does not manifestly make for 
 greater purity. Yet, even in this twentieth century, 
 there are those who claim that the welfare of society 
 demands the licensing of prostitution! On this point 
 I may perhaps be excused if I quote from Dr. Sprague 
 Carleton. 
 
 " ' Many profess the opinion that prostitutes are of value to 
 a community, believing that their presence indirectly protects 
 what they choose to call " the innocent maids " of that com- 
 munity. However, it is the contrary only, that is true. If 
 any positive assertion can be made in this connection, it is 
 that " innocent maids " in a community are not only a danger 
 to themselves but a temptation to the male element of the 
 community in which they reside, for man's sexual craving is 
 not always conditioned by his own instigation — ^but is more 
 frequently the result of the attitude and actions of his asso- 
 ciates Since we know that association with prostitutes 
 
 exposes a man to venereal diseases which he may transmit to 
 another, and that association with prostitutes gives a man a 
 false idea of genuine womanliness, and that association with 
 prostitutes frequently unfits a man for being an ideal sexual 
 husband, how can one argue that prostitutes in a community 
 tend to protect the "innocent maids" in that locality? On 
 the contrary, prostitutes tend to corrupt young men by en- 
 couraging them to dissociate the sexual act from admiration 
 and respect. They cause men to misunderstand women,— 
 they deprive women of lovers or give them diseased husbands. 
 Thus we see that countenancing prostitutes is surely no way 
 of protecting " innocent maids." There is but one right way 
 to protect " innocent maids " and that is that the parents and 
 guardians do their duty and enlighten and transform these 
 ignorant and so-called " innocent maids " into chaste maids, 
 for chastity is not so easily seduced as is ignorant innocence. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 173 
 
 . . . The thought that prominent men, the representatives of 
 the people, so acknowledge their use of the wares of the 
 prostitute, that they pass laws legalizing her profession, tends 
 to remove the ban from this element of society. Any repre- 
 sentative that votes to control prostitution by laws for segre- 
 gation or medical examination is inviting and enticing the 
 public to indulge in his labeled and guaranteed wares. 
 Though medical examination may now and then be the means 
 of preventing a man from acquiring a venereal disease, it in- 
 vites so many more to take chances with what may be looked 
 upon (but is not) a lesser risk, that we must insist that these 
 acts of government are absolutely harmful.' 
 
 " How illogical is the mind of the man who believes 
 that laws for the degradation and slavery of women, 
 without whom there could be no world of human 
 beings, must be enacted for his special good, and who 
 reasons, from his preconceived, perverted ideas, that a 
 man must indulge his sexual instinct or suffer men- 
 tally! 
 
 " Legislating against prostitution, and vigorously 
 enforcing such legislation, combined with the legal 
 demand to report venereal disease to Health Boards, 
 would limit illicit sexual relations to those men and 
 women who mutually elect to live that kind of life, 
 and would be of untold benefit to society. 
 
 " Sin can never be a blessing. A perverted or en- 
 slaved woman gives to her criminal patrons those in- 
 fections which result in locomotor ataxia, necrosis of 
 bone, and degeneration of brain and spinal cord or 
 incurable insanity, to be cared for at public expense 
 in our hospitals and asylums. 
 
 "The 'White Slave' question has been fully dis- 
 cussed in several periodicals, and of it the ' Encyclo^ 
 paedia Britannica ' says : ' Though it may coexist with 
 national vigor, its extravagant development is one of 
 the signs of a rotten and decaying civilization, a phase 
 
174 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 which has always marked the decadence of great 
 nations.' We can hardly afford to pass it by; for do 
 not the daily newspapers continually report that some 
 poor girl is missing, only to be found, if found at all, 
 in some den of vice? It is a large subject and cannot 
 be adequately dealt with in the little time allotted to 
 a lecture. 
 
 " Says Edwin W. Sims, United States District At- 
 torney, Chicago: 
 
 " ' I am firmly convinced that when the people 6f the nation 
 understand and fully appreciate the unspeakable villainy of 
 " The White Slave Traffic " they will rise in their might and 
 put a stop to it. The growth of this " trade in white women," 
 as it has been officially designated by the Paris Conference, 
 was so insidious that it reached the proportions of an inter- 
 national problem almost before the people of the civilized 
 nations of the world learned of its existence. 
 
 " ' The traffic increased rapidly, owing largely to the fact that 
 it was tremendously profitable to those depraved mortals who 
 indulged in it, and because the people generally, until very 
 recently, were ignorant of the fact that it was becoming so 
 extensive. And even at this time, when a great deal has been 
 said by the pulpit and the press about the horrors of the 
 traffic, the public idea of just what is meant by the "white 
 slave traffic" is confused and indefinite. 
 
 " ' The characteristic which distinguishes the white slave 
 traffic from immorality in general is that the women who are 
 the victims of the traffic are forced unwillingly to live an im- 
 moral life. The term "white slave" includes only those 
 women and girls who are actually slaves — those women who 
 are owned and held as property and chattels — whose lives are 
 lives of involuntary servitude. The white slave trade may be 
 said to be the business of securing white women and of sell- 
 ing them or exploiting them for immoral purposes. It in- 
 cludes those women and girls who, if given a fair chance, 
 would, in all probability, have been good wives and mothers 
 and useful citizens. 
 
 " ' There is still another point upon which I feel moved to 
 place all possible emphasis — the hideous depravity and the 
 fiendish cunning of the criminals who engage in this most 
 abhorrent and revolting of all criminal pursuits. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 175 
 
 " ' Kipling said in one of his poems, describing the doings of 
 lawless people in the camps of one of the Northern countries, 
 that, "There is never a law of God or man runs north of 
 Forty-nine." That and more too might be said of the dis- 
 tricts where the white slaver grows rich from his traffic in 
 girls. The men and the women who engage in this traffic 
 are more unspeakably low and vile than any other class of 
 criminals. The burglar and holdup man are high-minded 
 gentlemen by comparison. There is no more depraved class 
 of people in the world than those human vultures who fatten 
 on the shame of innocent young girls. Many of these white 
 slave traders are recruited from the scum of the criminal 
 classes of Europe. 
 
 " ' And in this lies the revolting side of the situation. On the 
 one hand the victims, pure, innocent, unsuspecting, trusting 
 young girls — not a few of them mere children. On the other 
 hand, tiae white slave trader, low, vUe, depraved and cunning, 
 —organically a criminal.' 
 
 "The following, taken from 'War on the White 
 Slave Trade,' by Ernest A. Bell, is sufficient to arouse 
 any normal man to do his part toward bringing about 
 legislative enactment against this fearful curse: 
 
 "'While many American wage-earning girls find homes in 
 private families or among friends, many others are rooming in 
 houses where there is no one to look after them. Many of 
 them have no sitting room in which to receive men friends 
 and have to use their bedrooms for this purpose. Some girls 
 speak of this necessity with regret and a serious realization 
 of the situation. Such girls can live under such conditions 
 and be safe. Others resent the implication that these con- 
 ditions are dangerous, feeling that tfieir own virtue is ques- 
 tioned. Others treat the matter flippantly. 
 
 " ' The men and women who are interested in girls for no 
 good reason have no difficulty in meeting the American girls, 
 working as they do in stores, offices, hotels and restaurants. 
 I believe that the American girl is surrounded by more numer- 
 ous and far more subtle temptations than is the foreign girl.' ' 
 
 KITTY SCHAY. 
 
 (This story is clipped from The National Prohibitionist.) 
 
 " ' Another of the horrid stories that have come to light in 
 
 the work of the Law and Order League of Chicago is ^t of 
 
 a young girl who may be known here as Kitty Schay. This 
 
 girl was bom in Milwaukee twenty-one years ago, and be- 
 
176 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 came an orphan when only four years old. She was brought 
 up in the home of an aunt who seems to have been a good 
 woman, but somewhat unfeeling, and was given little or no 
 opportunity for education, going to work at an early age. 
 
 " ' Seeking amusement and companionship that her home did 
 not give her, the poor girl began to frequent the public halls 
 where dances were given, under saloon auspices, and came 
 to attract much admiration and secure many acquaintances 
 because of her graceful dancing. These associations led to 
 late hours, and although the girl, under circumstances that 
 made truth-telling likely, insists that she was guilty of no 
 offenses against virtue, her aunt became angry with her and 
 drove her from her home. 
 
 " ' Thrust upon her own resources, the poor creature sought 
 work, living in a cheerless furnished room, and found her as- 
 sociations for companionship and pleasure at dances and in 
 concert halls and in the back rooms of some of the numerous 
 gin mills that flourish in the city of Milwaukee, with the ap- 
 proval and consent of so many of that city's good people. 
 
 " ' Thus she lived, comparatively blameless, amid perils and 
 temptations, until one night she was introduced to a young 
 woman who offered her a position in Chicago where she 
 could earn " good wages." The winter was coming on. The 
 child had no store of winter clothing and looked forward to 
 the terrible days of December and January with dread. She 
 realized that the scanty pay for which she worked would buy 
 her little of what she needed, and when the temptress talked 
 to her of what seemed to her fabulous pay she consented all 
 too willingly. 
 
 " ' Perhaps she did not inquire too closely into the character 
 of the work to which she was going. She had begun to drink, 
 indeed, she says she was partially intoxicated at that moment 
 with drink that had been furnished her by the woman and a 
 male companion. At least, she agreed to go, and at the 
 depot in Chicago was met by a closed hack in which she was 
 taken at once to one of the dives of Chicago's greatest vice 
 preserve where the police, to whom she glibly told the story 
 that she had been instructed to tell, speedily enrolled her as 
 a woman of the "underworld." 
 
 " ' Then began two months of horror. Exposure to disease, 
 unthinkable brutality, degradation never before dreamed of — 
 these were her portion in a full cup; and the alluring prospect 
 of pay that had baited the trap faded away and she received 
 in return for all this nothing but the barest, scantiest living. 
 
 " • At length a frequenter of the place, in whom honest im- 
 pulses were not wholly dead, moved by her sorrowrful story, 
 fought her way out of the dive and reported the case to thp 
 Law and Order League. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 177 
 
 " ' The police have sent the poor creature back to Milwaukee, 
 to what improvement of fate it may well be imagined. And 
 the vice mills grind on, and the police are busy "registering" 
 new victims. 
 
 " ' Some time ago a Chicago girl found herielf orphaned and 
 almost friendless; her aunt cared for her a little while, but 
 life was so unbearable there that she decided to try domestic 
 service. 
 
 " 'One of the best known department stores in this city was 
 at that time running a Labor Bureau; the girl went there and 
 in due time was presented to a pleasant-faced ladylike woman, 
 who offered her employment as "parlor-maid." 
 
 " ' The poor girl, with glad heart and bright hopes, set off 
 for her new home; but before night fell she found that she 
 had been sold into a slavery worse than death. Her pleadings 
 and tears were all in vain, and it was some months later be- 
 fore an opportunity of escape presented itself. Then, while 
 walking on Clark street with the keeper of the house, she sud- 
 denly espied a little group of Salvationists holding an open- 
 air meeting. To the amazement and consternation of the 
 Woman with her, the girl not only paused to listen, but took 
 her stand between two Army girls, saying, "You will take 
 care of me, I know." 
 
 " ' That night she slept in an Army Rescue Home and stayed 
 with us for some time. An operation, made necessary by the 
 life she had been forced to live, ended her days; but she died 
 in peace, confident that she was going to a world where sor- 
 row and sin never can enter. 
 
 " ' Captain G., a Salvation Army oiKcer while doing house to 
 house visitation in the " Red Light " district, was amazed to 
 meet a woman who came from her own township in the 
 Fatherland. 
 
 " 'It was perhaps a sentimental feeling which prompted the 
 woman so freely to speak to the officer in reference to her 
 chosen life. She said that years ago she had been beguiled 
 to this country by an advertisement, which promised a good 
 home and good wages to suitable girls. She replied to the 
 advertisement and in due time was met at a Chicago railway 
 station by the parties with whom she corresponded; and a 
 few hours later found to her horror, that her confidence had 
 been betrayed and that she was an unwilling guest of a resort. 
 
 " ' There seemed to be no way of escape; and as time went 
 on she grew accustomed to it and concluded that as others 
 were making money in such fashion, she would follow their 
 example. For years she has maintained a disreputable housed 
 and most of the girls who live in it were entrapped and snared 
 
178 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 from their country homes much after the same fashion as she 
 herself. 
 
 " ' A Canadian school girl started to make a visit to her mar- 
 ried sister in New York State. The train reached its destina- 
 tion several hours late. The sister, vrho had been waiting at 
 the railway station for hours, had just returned to her home 
 when the train arrived; thus there was no one to meet the 
 little girl at the end of her journey. 
 
 " 'A man who had been lounging around the railway station, 
 stepped up and asked her whom she was waiting for. Inno- 
 cently enough she told him the whole story, when he re- 
 marked that he had been sent by the sister to take her to her 
 home. Stepping into a carriage they drove to a well ap- 
 pointed house; but in his haste to leave the station unob- 
 served, the man had forgotten to ask for the check for the 
 child's trunk. 
 
 "'Leaving the little one, he returned to the station where the 
 married sister was frantically making inquiries in reference to 
 the traveler and was told that no one, answering that descrip- 
 tion, had stepped from the train. However the trunk stand- 
 ing there with the child's initials on it made her confident 
 that her sister had arrived and, in some unexplained fashion, 
 had disappeared. 
 
 " ' While the controversy with the station-master was going 
 on, a man came up to claim the trunk; and an innocent girl 
 was thus saved from the hands of the procuress, for the house 
 to which she had been taken proved to be a notorious house 
 of ill-fame.' 
 
 " The white slave trade is not confined to one coun- 
 try. It has become a money power, and men are living 
 in luxury on the money earned by their slaves. One 
 girl alone is said to have brought her master seven 
 hundred dollars per month, and out of this amount 
 she was no more able to obtain for herself more than 
 was sufficient for a bare existence than to obtain her 
 liberty. 
 
 " Having taken a general view of the degradation 
 of the sex function, we will return to a view of the 
 subject when bereft of sensuality. Let us bear in 
 mind that there is a vast difference between sexuality 
 and sensuality. Sexuality is high, noble, aspiring, 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 179 
 
 achieving, creative, constructive and beautiful. Sen- 
 suality is its negative, — all that is low, ignoble, de- 
 basing, hampering, degenerating, destructive and hid- 
 eous. It is our children's right to be shown this 
 difference plainly. Impress it upon your boy that 
 continence is never harmful, and that the sexual 
 glands are no more weakened from disuse than are 
 the tear ducts. Teach him that excessive sexual 
 activity of any kind, and at any time of life, will 
 weaken the sexual organs and the general health, 
 robbing the man of his mental creative talents, and 
 reducing him below mediocrity in his body, his mind 
 and his spirit. 
 
 " If we review the history of living organisms, we 
 find that one of the very lowest, simplest, most primi- 
 tive forms of life is what scientists term the * amoeba.' 
 The amoeba is without emotion, or sense of right and 
 wrong. All sense of feeling belongs to the higher 
 forms of life, and varies in proportion to the com- 
 plexity of those forms. The amoeba eats uncon- 
 sciously, for it has nothing which can be compared with 
 what we call consciousness; and through this same 
 blind method it propagates its kind by subdivision. 
 When it comes in contact with substances which 
 stimulate its activities, it absorbs them, and when it 
 has arrived at a certain stage in its development its 
 'nucleus' divides into two, its shape becomes elon- 
 gated — something like an hour glass — and at length, 
 where there was one amoeba at first, the observer now 
 sees two. These little things know neither sin of 
 gluttony nor vice, nor are they conscious of any 
 ethical laws bearing on the two fundamental activities 
 «f nutrition and procreation. 
 
ISO FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " In the higher orders of life, however, these two 
 fundamental conditions of being develop and become 
 more complicated; until, in the human being, we are 
 likely to lose sight of the unity of life's functions in 
 their multiplicity and complication. I wish you to 
 realize my full meaning in this. Some scientist has 
 said: 'AH we are by nature, — all our feelings and be- 
 liefs, are but irradiations from one of these two life 
 principles,' and in this I fully agree with him. 
 
 " All art, — I mean art in the broadest, most compre- 
 hensive sense, — is a highly developed expression of the 
 instinct which underlies the attraction of the sexes. 
 From the nutritive centre comes self-consideration ; from 
 this also emanates selfish qualities, such as envy, malice, 
 revenge, jealousy and all forms of cruelty. Through the 
 development of the sex centre, we reach that highest 
 stage at which mutual attraction results in conscious 
 love, and the consequent attainment of the self-sacrifice 
 which characterizes all true love between husband and 
 wife. As we rise, step by step, from the amoeba to 
 humanity, love becomes more and more a part of life, 
 until at last, in human beings, we see it culminating in 
 the divinest elements of character. The aesthetic qual- 
 ities are derived from the sex principle. If you study 
 the lives of birds, you will note that at the time of 
 mating there is developed a remarkable beauty of 
 plumage, and that at no other time is the singing so 
 sweet or the bird so given to the pretty coquettish 
 tricks by which the other sex is charmed. This is one 
 of nature's wonderful phenomena showing the incom- 
 pleteness of either sex alone, — ^the twain should be one. 
 
 " Among human beings, our very choice of clothing 
 is, even yet, more or less affected by this same sex in- 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 181 
 
 stinct. Nature attires the birds in beautiful colors to 
 allure; savage man tattoos or decorates himself, that 
 he may awaken admiration from the one he chooses as 
 the mother of his kind ; and civilized men and women 
 choose their clothing, — often unconsciously, — ^with the 
 same end in view. 
 
 " These are but illustrations to prove that all that is 
 artistic, aspiring, loving, masterful, forceful, creative, 
 altruistic, generous, devoted, self-sacrificing, even rever- 
 ent and religious, are but inspirations drawn from that 
 too often misinterpreted, and too often wasted force 
 within us, — ^the creative force. The influences for good 
 or bad dependent upon the noble or base uses of the 
 creative functions are, therefore, practically immeas- 
 urable. 
 
 " Throughout childhood, the sexual organs lie dor- 
 mant in the healthy, normal child. This is a wise 
 provision; for during the first years of a child's life, its 
 vitality and force should go to the building up of a 
 strong physical constitution. Nothing so detracts from 
 perfect physical development as precocious sexuality. 
 In cases in which this precocity is found, parents should 
 spare no effort to learn its cause, and insist upon its 
 correction. Far better that a child should pass away, 
 than grow into that nervous, incomplete, unsound 
 creature that a sexually precocious child cannot fail to 
 become, if left to itself. Happily, this condition is 
 usually due, in either boy or girl, to terminal nerve 
 irritation calling for circumcision ; and so can easily be 
 remedied ; but, if not remedied, it will result in serious 
 conditions, both physically and morally, when the child 
 reaches puberty; or, passing this period without out- 
 
182 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 break, it will make of the individual a nervous wreck 
 later in life. 
 
 " When sexual awakening arrives normally and nat- 
 urally at pubescence, then we have the unfolding of Na- 
 ture's greatest work. We will never have a scientific, 
 wise, helpful school system, until this period in the 
 growth of the human being is understood and appre- 
 ciated; nor ever a healthy, sane community, governed 
 by a healthy, sound, sane system of ethics, until this 
 period, holding within itself the wonders of life and the 
 prophecies of the soul, is comprehended, and, more 
 than that, is regarded with respect and reverence. As 
 fathers, we should recognize that the most glorious, 
 most promising period of man's whole range of life's 
 experience and development in the physical realm, is 
 the period of adolescence. 
 
 " I therefore plead with you for both the boy and girl 
 at this critical period. Let us think of this awakening, 
 studying it in the spirit of investigation, and trying to 
 understand the emotional and spiritual stress that make 
 themselves felt at this time; for pubescence is the 
 dawning of the second life, — the ethical, the altruistic, 
 and the spiritual, — as well as a crisis in the physical. 
 
 " The importance of this second nature-birth, — this 
 birth of the emotions, — ^has been celebrated in most 
 nations ; frequently in ways most strange to us. The 
 savage celebrates the coming of the boy into manhood 
 with feasts, ceremonies, and mystical rites. Some 
 churches celebrate the event with rites of confirmation 
 and various festivities. Among certain savage tribes, 
 the tooth of an adolescent boy is broken, his flesh is 
 gashed or bruised, or he is made to feel the sting of a 
 lash, to prove whether he has in truth come into man- 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 183 
 
 hood, brave and unflinching. The civilized Romans 
 placed upon their pubescent boys the ' toga virilis,' as 
 the sign that they had attained manhood, expecting, 
 like the savages, that their young men would now be- 
 come warriors ; and throughout all the world, the boy 
 must pass through nature's ordeal, — for it is an ordeal, 
 and enter upon the inheritance, the privileges, and the 
 responsibilities which the centuries have laid upon 
 him. He becomes a warrior indeed, if he becomes a 
 man in the true meaning of the word. 
 
 "We are all familieir with the physical changes of 
 this period; the increase in size of the reproductive 
 organs ; the enlargement of the larynx ; the elongation 
 of the vocal cords, causing a change of voice; the 
 strengthening of the heart's action; the broadening 
 shoulders; the hardening muscles; and the starting 
 beard. Equally important changes take place in the 
 brain; the shape of the head is altered ; new intellectual 
 and emotional activities are aroused, resulting from the 
 growth of cerebral centers which, until now, have lain 
 dormant. With these come a change which, too often, 
 careless parents do not note ; namely, the great influx of 
 new sensations that come with the increase of brain 
 activity and the awakening of new thoughts. 
 
 "Your hitherto careless, thoughtless, irresponsible 
 child, is becoming a man, who feels, thinks, and de- 
 duces as never before. New hopes and dreams are 
 his ; new ideas and new ideals ; sometimes, perhaps, also 
 tempestuous passions. He begins to have social, eth- 
 ical and religious impulses; his boyish egotism prob- 
 ably changes to altruism ; and often political, social, or 
 religious zeal will take possession of him. As one of 
 our best writers states, 'The boy finds himself 
 
184 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 launched, at adolescence, into a sea of storm and 
 stress.' A noted German scientist says that ' In highly 
 endowed natures, this yearning and struggling grows 
 beyond the limits of individual personality, and ex- 
 tends to plans of reform for the world; contrariwise, 
 in a nature low and brutal in its impulses, this tempest 
 of emotion is apt to gravitate toward foul personal aims 
 and debauchery. In the case of the former, these great 
 plans and lofty ideals, these tremendous altruistic im- 
 pulses, may be so guided by sympathetic parents and 
 teachers, that no one can estimate the good that may 
 be brought from the adolescent state of mind.' 
 
 " Let us never laugh at the efifervescence, the vaga- 
 ries of adolescence. Impractical they may be, but they 
 are the expression of an awakening soul, and we can- 
 not afford to crush or blight, by laughter, or sarcasm, 
 one of these Heaven-bestowed impulses. 
 
 "Teachers in the last grammar grades, and in the 
 High Schools, should, of all people, realize this; but 
 they often embitter and turn in upon himself, in sullen 
 reservation, these awakening boys. 
 
 " Perhaps we are too prone, in looking upon our 
 boys, to forget our own coming into man's estate ; for 
 if we could recall the experiences through which we 
 passed, and give them to the world, they might be of 
 priceless value. However, if we read intelligently, 
 literature gives us many instances of this unrest and 
 fermentation to which we can go for guidance. For 
 example ; in the earlier pages of Rousseau, we have an 
 honest, if not altogether pleasant, confession of this 
 state. We find similar confessions in the diary of 
 Marie Bashkirtseff, which is probably an honest ex- 
 position of that young woman's changing emotions. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 185 
 
 George Eliot gives us many similar illustrations ; Mag- 
 gie TuUiver, for instance, with her volcanic upheavals 
 of imprisoned passion, and her wild, hopeless yearning 
 for that something which should be greatest and best 
 of all things. Darwin, in his autobiography, gives an 
 honest revelation of himself; and, some years ago, 
 Tolstoi, in his ' Confession ' set forth his emotions as a 
 boy. 
 
 " Among the many phases of adolescence is defiance 
 of control, the throwing off of all restraint, rebellion 
 against existing conditions, the fever for adventure, the 
 longing to get out ' into the open.' Possibly it is the 
 ' Call of the Wild,' but no parents can afford to ignore 
 these conditions. Woe to the father or mother who 
 dares to rule with a rod of iron during this critical time. 
 Unwisdom soon might form a barrier between them 
 that grows greater day by day, till at last adamantine 
 walls shut out forever all confidence, if not also all love, 
 between them, and the boy's one thought is to escape 
 from what he terms their ' tyranny.' At no time in a 
 boy's life does he so much need one in whom he can 
 confide; and blessed is the father who draws his son 
 close to his heart in this hour of trial and temptation, 
 becoming his friend rather than his master. 
 
 " ' It is at this period,' says one writer, ' that ancestral 
 qualities, good or bad, come to the surface. I have 
 watched the development of a boy who all through 
 childhood was morbidly conscientious, passive, shrink- 
 ing; but when puberty arrived his whole nature 
 changed, and he became one of the most inveterate of 
 liars. I have never met one to equal him. Timidity 
 and self-consciousness were thrown aside; he stole, 
 forged, and continually sank deeper and deeper into 
 
186 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 vice. This boy was the offspring of depraved parents, 
 and at the age of eighteen, when I saw him last, he had 
 sunk to the lowest depths that his father had ever 
 known.' I believe, however, that, could this same boy 
 have been placed under proper surgical treatment, and 
 wisely instructed, he need not have fallen to this depth. 
 We shall some day learn that we need more hospitals 
 and fewer jails, almshouses and insane asylums. My 
 experience as a surgeon has proved to me that very 
 many cases of unnatural sexual activity can be cured 
 by means of surgical operations performed on the lower 
 orifices of the body, for my observations have caused 
 me to fully agree with Dr. Edwin Hartley Pratt when 
 he says : 
 
 "'The slavery of the morbid sexual appetites can thus 
 be ended, and sympathetic nervous forces wonderfully 
 conserved. Aside from the local relief which such pa- 
 tients experience under the magical touch of orificial 
 surgery (surgery of the lower orifices of the body), I 
 have witnessed most marvelous transformations in 
 other human characteristics and tendencies. I have 
 seen the insane made rational ; I have seen the irritable 
 made amiable ; the discouraged made hopeful ; the tear- 
 ful made cheerful ; and the lustful made virtuous. 
 
 " ' As a bird let loose spreads its pinions and soars 
 sksrward; so does a caged spirit when freed from the 
 unholy suggestions and associations of morbid physical 
 conditions demonstrate its aspiring tendencies. 
 
 " ' A knowledge of these things only makes one char- 
 itable for the weaknesses and eccentricities of the 
 human kind, and so breeds a hope that punishments 
 may give place to cures, and that before man sits in 
 judgment upon his fellow-man, a physical examination 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 187 
 
 may be instituted to determine whether the offending 
 member of society on trial, may not be an invalid in- 
 stead of a criminal.' 
 
 " So, my friends, consider all that it means to a boy 
 at this age to have the benefit of good inheritance, and 
 of a normal body, and the great danger that surrounds 
 him when he inherits only evil. If he inherit good, 
 then he shall have an anchor to hold him amid the 
 storms that beat around him when his boat of manhood 
 is launched upon the treacherous sea of life, and to 
 keep him from destruction upon the rocks of immoral- 
 ity, of crime, or of insanity. 
 
 " Now, at puberty, the boy feels new vitality and en- 
 ergy, and we often see a child who has been delicate, 
 perhaps, from birth, blossom out into vigorous youth, 
 because hitherto dormant energies have awakened the 
 deepest, most powerful forces in the human body. In 
 fact, so persistent is the phenomenon, that we are prone 
 to become too neglectful of childish ailments, saying: 
 ' Oh, he will outgrow it and be all right when he ma- 
 tures ' — and it is true enough that nature sometimes 
 does verify this hope, although it is not always so. 
 
 " With boys, as with girls, the increase of physical 
 energy must be planned for, and if properly appreci- 
 ated, and the youth is set to some kind of work, well 
 and good; but when the boy, unguided and alone, be- 
 comes conscious of this new force, perversion may ex- 
 press itself in most unfortunate activities. Sometimes 
 it will manifest itself in egotism, in capriciousness, or 
 hysterics ; or, again, in religious fervor, which may be 
 normal or abnormal; and most judicious guidance is 
 here needed, that false religious zeal should not be en- 
 couraged, or normal religious zeal discouraged. We 
 
188 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 often find, also, devotion to morbid poetry, or lurid 
 tales of adventure ; or, it may be, entire self-renuncia- 
 tion. We need to be always careful of our boys during 
 this early adolescence, and to be sure that they are 
 understood and receive judicious consideration from 
 parents and teachers. No greater mistake can be made 
 than to laugh at their castle-building, for it will only 
 rob you of their companionship, sending them else- 
 where to receive appreciation, when, through tactful 
 guidance of their imagination, you could have helped 
 them to understand the one great talent that God im- 
 plants in every human heart at puberty, to grow self- 
 reliant, and strong, to lead others in the path of right. 
 
 " In very truth, parents need the wisdom born o£ 
 God, and the love and compassion of the Christ, that 
 they may be ever thoughtful and may fully comprehend 
 the awakened emotions that sometimes drive our boys 
 like leaves before the wind. 
 
 " Dr. Stanley Hall expresses this condition of things 
 well in the words, 'Old landmarks are rushing by; he is 
 losing hold on all that he once cared for ; and for which 
 he now finds he cares so little. He now needs above 
 all else, a father; for the first time his mother learns 
 that she cannot be all to her boy. Father has lived 
 through it all ; father knows from experience, hence is 
 able to counsel through personal knowledge, and, if he 
 will, he may now save the child for God and himself.' 
 
 " My dear fathers, you must learn fully how your 
 boys crave sympathy and instruction along sex lines. 
 Your own boy, whom you look upon as a child, may 
 already be learning from his companions lessons that 
 will forever coarsen and pollute his mind. He may be 
 ignorant of the experiences which are to come to him 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 189 
 
 personally ; — ^the physical unrest, and the physical func- 
 tioning which are characteristic of this period. He 
 needs, now, the advice and comradeship of a good man, 
 and that man should be his father. It is cruel to de- 
 prive him of such counseL He must have it, if he is to 
 develop into a clean, upright, self-controlled man. 
 
 " Recollect that all which irritates the brain has its 
 reflex action upon the reproductive organs, and vice 
 versa ; and you will then know the great need of keep- 
 ing your boys free from the contamination of all stim- 
 ulants, whether it be the inner sensitiveness that is 
 stimulated, or the irritation produced by intoxicants 
 and narcotics which, I regret to say, find their way 
 even to the youngest pupils in our schools, thanks to 
 those conscienceless beings who are determined to ob- 
 tain the almighty dollar no matter at what price to 
 others it is coined, and who have even gone so far as 
 to sell chocolate drops filled with brandy, and surrep- 
 titiously to introduce liquor, tobacco, cocaine and sim- 
 ilar products to those who are scarcely out of their 
 swaddling clothes. 
 
 " We need indeed to be lynx-eyed, as well as tenderly 
 solicitous, if we would shield our children from all the 
 things which demoralize and dwarf the body and the 
 intellect. Unfortunately, for many generations, par- 
 ents have regarded all reference to the sex organs and 
 their care as vulgar and immoral. But why? Should 
 not our bodies be held in reverence? Are not these 
 organs the very life of the body which the beating 
 fountain of the heart supplies with blood that ought to 
 be kept uncontaminated by stimulants, narcotics and 
 all that is unclean? 
 
 " I have no desire to weary you, yet I do wish to 
 
190 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 awaken within you a sense of your grave responsibility 
 to your children. You brought them into the world 
 without their volition. To you God gave little, inno- 
 cent souls to develop and train, as the florist loves, de- 
 velops, and trains his flowers, to ever increasing beauty 
 and fragrance and strength. 
 
 " Consider the matter well ; strive to read along 
 wholesome physiological lines, and when we meet here 
 again we will take a step farther with the parents whose 
 sons have reached another stage of life, and are just 
 beyond the threshold of manhood. 
 
 " To quote once more from Dr. Stanley Hall, who is 
 an authority on adolescence : ' What then is the con- 
 clusion of the whole matter? First, that the boy shall 
 consider, honestly and healthfully, through proper 
 teaching, the mystery and wonder of his adolescence. 
 He should have, in his own father or mother or teacher, 
 a true friend to whom he can go with confidence, and 
 who will in turn direct and guide him, explain to him, 
 and arouse him to a high sense of the greatness of this, 
 the psychological hour of his life.' 
 
 " Bear in mind that the great influx of activity in your 
 boy's life must be recognized, appreciated, and pro- 
 vided for. The boy must be kept busy, — busy in mind 
 and body, — ^and the new activity made intelligent, so 
 that he will become a reasonable thinker, laying a men- 
 tal and physical foundation adapted to the needs of this 
 period of his life. 
 
 " The arousing of ideals at this time is good; but we 
 must not forget that for the adolescent boy, the ideal 
 emotion must be wholesome and pure and must also be 
 expressed in ideal action. See that he becomes that 
 which he believes in and idealizes. 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 191 
 
 " So, prayerfully, and in love, turn your boy's new 
 energies into channels of creative work, and let physical 
 awakening find its outlet through brain and hand pro- 
 duction. 
 
 " Next week I shall have the pleasure of talking with 
 your boys. This is a great responsibility. I mean to 
 help them to a right understanding of themselves, and 
 to urge them to go to their fathers with their diffi- 
 culties. I am sure that I may trust you men to stand 
 by all the truths that I shall teach them. Of this, you 
 may be positive; that upon their young minds I shall 
 impress the necessity of giving purity for purity, and 
 that I shall make it plain that it is never necessary for 
 woman's virtue to be sacrificed to man's health, and 
 shall show that illicit indulgence on the score of health, 
 is, under no conditions whatever, to be sanctioned. 
 
 " They shall be shown that chastity, — as Dr. Austin 
 Flint and others who are in a position to know, and are 
 in no wise influenced by sentiment or theological bias, 
 have said, — is not, and cannot be a cause of disease, 
 and that an All-seeing Designer did not give a physical 
 law that would cause us to break a moral one, or im- 
 pose on man a necessity that would mean the degrada- 
 tion of any woman. 
 
 " Remember, friends, that custom blinds the eyes and 
 hardens the heart, and leads the mind to accept as right 
 existent evils. Voluntary celibacy for life is often 
 necessary, and is maintained by many men and women 
 who turn their sexual impulses into some wide phil- 
 anthropy or mental achievement. This may be called 
 a metastasis of the creative force, and may be volun- 
 tarily brought about in the interest of science, art or 
 music. 
 
192 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " As examples of this metastasis may be named, in 
 music, Handel, Rossini, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and 
 Myerbeer. Their musical creations, — ^being their men- 
 tal children, will outlive children according to the flesh. 
 
 " Newton and Leibnitz were celibate scientists ; 
 Swedenborg the Mystic writer, and many others in 
 widely different fields, might also be mentioned ; while 
 many great men of to-day could be mentioned whose 
 sexual natures are kept under absolute control, and 
 are allowed no activity during months of mental strain 
 and achievement, though they are married. It is gen- 
 erally recognized by all well-balanced men, that con- 
 servation of this creative force means expansion of 
 mental achievement and physical endurance. 
 
 "Your boys shall be instructed in these facts.* They 
 
 * The following extract, taken from " Transactions of the 
 American Society of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis," is sig- 
 nificant, and is recommended to the consideration of those 
 good but mistaken people who imagine that it might do harm 
 to teach young people about their bodies. 
 
 "Dr. Mary Wood-Allen said it was desirable to present 
 these facts to the children in a serious light, and make the 
 subject a sacred one to them. As Dr. Elliott said, it was not 
 so much a question of knowledge of facts as the control of the 
 will-power through appeals to the higher nature. The speaker 
 said that during the past twenty years she had had consider- 
 able experience in addressing audiences of boys and yoimg 
 men, and she had never yet met with an audience that did not 
 accept this subject in the same serious light in which it was 
 presented. She recalled one instance in which she was asked 
 by a New York lawyer to address a school of boys in a small 
 town. She was informed that she would be expected to talk 
 upon the subject of the physical development of men and 
 women in their sexual relations, and, in spite of the fact that 
 she knew how morbidly curious boys were upon this subject, 
 she determined to make the experiment. In connection with 
 her talk, she made blackboard diagrams, showing the con- 
 struction and configuration of the male and female organs, 
 and explained the functions of the reproductive systems of 
 each. Her audience was composed of boys ranging in ages 
 
FATHERS AND SONS 193 
 
 shall be further taught not to be frightened at nature's 
 harmless method in the occurrence of involuntary emis- 
 sions, and I hope thus to set their minds at rest, and 
 to forewarn them against the demoralizing advertise- 
 ments of the ' quack ' who makes a dishonest livelihood 
 through getting into the hands of adolescent boys 
 pages that frighten and urge them to utmecessary con- 
 sultation. 
 
 " If your boy be not informed of these matters, he is 
 cruelly left to glean his information as to sex functions 
 from the perverting advice of thoughtless companions 
 and lewd men, and it may be also from illicit practices. 
 
 " You thus see that I intend to be true to your boys, 
 and I trust that you will stand by them and will save 
 them from the experiences and the regrets through 
 which some of you have passed. 
 
 " Finally, let me remind you that it is for us so to 
 live, and so to train our children, that it may be evident 
 to all the world that our bodies are temples, conse- 
 crated wholly to the service of the Highest, and kept 
 pure and undefiled. Nay, more, we must realize that 
 our bodily functions are divine, and must neither be 
 prostrated through selfishness or impurity, nor re- 
 garded as in any way unworthy of divine blessing and 
 divine guidance in their use; and, following this 
 thought in its application to the relations that exist 
 
 from 10 to 18 years. Upon the completion of her lecture, 
 many of those present thanked her, the boys themselves 
 passed her a vote of thanks, and one of the oldest boys told 
 her that, while it was a common practice for boys to discuss 
 these subjects among themselves, they had never before 
 heard them placed upon such a high ideal or explained so 
 clearly, and they were sure it would help them to be better 
 bays." 
 
194 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 between the parent and the child, we must so train 
 our boys that they will share our thoughts upon 
 this matter, and so be saved from contaminating in- 
 fluences." 
 
"KNOW THYSELF" 195 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 DR. RUTH'S LECTURE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL 
 GIRLS—" KNOW THYSELF." 
 
 DR. ROBERT LYON'S lecture to the fathers 
 aroused widespread interest throughout the 
 community, and it was soon apparent that in 
 some cases seeds of good had fallen upon fertile 
 ground. Some of the fathers were temporarily over- 
 come by a new, deep sense of obligation, and seemed 
 almost hopeless and forlorn in the presence of their 
 adolescent boys; while there were others who sneered 
 and criticized ; for in every community there are those 
 to whom any stirring moral appeal gives opportunity 
 for sneering. 
 
 A few days after the lecture, a great scandal burst 
 upon the town, originating in the High School itself. 
 It was the old, old story of a handsome travelling man, 
 selfish and sensual, and a thoughtless, untaught, and 
 unwisely loving girl. The world is full of such in- 
 stances. Every day, every hour, some woman's life is 
 crushed and her heart broken, and the busy world for- 
 gets; but in this small town the scandal and tragedy 
 had a more personal meaning, and struck home to the 
 heart of every parent. 
 
 One day, a white cofHn was laid in the old burial 
 ground; and the aged rector, who had confirmed the 
 young girl who thus paid the price of ignorance and 
 trust in the flattery of men, wept as he laid his trem- 
 bling hand upon her cold forehead, and murmured: 
 " Oh! God! Thou knowest that if she sinned much, it 
 
19& FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 was because she loved much. Thou wilt forgive and 
 receive her; for she needs Thy love, Thy pity and Thy 
 peace." 
 
 On that same day, the young man left the city for 
 the far west. For him, the incident was closed. He 
 would still be received into society elsewhere; women 
 would fall at his feet, and a few more would be ruined 
 by him; and probably the time would come when he 
 would marry a pure girl and become a respected citi- 
 zen. 
 
 " How blind we are ; and how weak and vacillating ! " 
 sighed Dr. Ruth, as she pondered over the subject, 
 while preparing her talk to the High School girls. Her 
 heart bled for the sweet girl, cut down like a flower 
 when just bursting into bloom because she had let a 
 blind god of love lead her through her woman instinct. 
 
 " She might have been saved from this," she repeated 
 over and over again ; " she might have been saved from 
 this calamity, had she been blessed with a mother who 
 understood the need of keeping her girl close to her 
 heart, and always being in her confidence." 
 
 That evening, at the lecture, Ruth found many 
 mothers with their daughters, in the audience ; and her 
 heart rejoiced. 
 
 "I am so glad to see mothers here to-night," she 
 said in greeting. " My heart has been grieved and 
 shocked by the tragedy so recently enacted in our city ; 
 and before I talk to the daughters, I wish to plead with 
 the mothers to let this lesson lead you nearer and 
 nearer to your boys and girls, and cause you, without 
 restraint other than that of love, to shelter them under 
 the mother wings of intelligent, practical and prayerful 
 affection. 
 
"KNOW THYSELF" 197 
 
 " The little babe in arms looks upon you, from its 
 birth, as its natural protector. Why destroy this con- 
 fidence when it has grown older and needs protection 
 even more? From faith in you, the child learns faith 
 in God. Guard its love for you jealously; shield it 
 when dangers threaten; and let no one but your own 
 dear self teach it the mysteries of life. A normal boy, 
 rightly and reverently taught, will never break the 
 heart of any woman; a girl who confides in a true 
 mother, will never be lead astray. 
 
 " To you, my young girl friends, this thought espe- 
 cially applies; for you are to become the future 
 mothers ; and, for the sake of the children who will, I 
 hope, some day be yours, there are many things I want 
 to help you to understand. 
 
 " First among them is that love, in its true sense, is 
 pure and undefiled, and that a man who seeks to de- 
 stroy your chastity under the guise of love, is only 
 cloaking selfish passion under the raiment of affection. 
 A man who truly loves a woman will allow no shadow 
 to rest upon her good name, even in his own secret 
 thought, nor will he desire her to grant him that to 
 which he has no right. Even though he may not be 
 strictly moral himself, he desires his children to be 
 born of a pure mother, — one whom they can always 
 respect as an example of virtue. So no matter what 
 specious promises of marriage a man may make, that 
 he may rob you of virtue, you may be sure he lies, and 
 that, after his sensual passion has been gratified, he will 
 probably leave you. If, through him, you bear the 
 pangs of motherhood, he will leave your child name- 
 less, unless the law compels him to marry you; and 
 marriage under such circumstances would mean a lin- 
 
198 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 gering death and anguish for you, and would but make 
 matters worse. 
 
 " It is to open your eyes to these facts, that I am 
 talking to you as if you were my very own daughters 
 or sisters ; giving to you of the knowledge vouchsafed 
 to me by years of study. 
 
 " For the purpose of the propagation of the species, 
 the Creator divided mankind into male and female, 
 making them complementary to one another and analo- 
 gous in all respects, the woman being equal to the man 
 and possessing, in addition to those parts which they 
 have in common, a marvelous mechanism for the 
 cradling of the race." 
 
 " In consequence of this marvelous provision, great 
 privileges and great responsibilities devolve upon her. 
 Your powers, my dear girls, are practically limitless. 
 But error in teaching and false environment have ham- 
 pered woman's development, so that but very few ever 
 realize the glorious possibilities of motherhood. 
 
 " As a consequence of sin, woman has suffered from 
 the effects of suppression and subordination. Christ 
 came to liberate and to change all these conditions, and, 
 although perverse teachings have arisen through the 
 habit of wresting isolated passages of Scripture from 
 the context, further searching will reveal that in Christ 
 there is neither male nor female, — in other words, that 
 artificial sex distinctions are contrary to truth and to 
 the spirit of Christianity. Scriptural teachings that 
 seem contrary to this, need but careful consideration 
 and comparison with other Scriptures, to forever settle 
 this question, and to show that religion demands that 
 woman shall have the freedom that shall enable her to 
 take whatever place God would have her fill, regardless 
 of man-made regulations. 
 
"KNOW THYSELF" 199 
 
 "God has created each individual a triune being, 
 with his own life to live, his own battles to fight, his 
 own victories to win or lose ; he is a body, a soul, and a 
 spirit, each of these having separate and distinct func- 
 tions; and yet, so long as this life lasts, the three are 
 quite inseparable.* 
 
 " The body, then, was created a human temple, with 
 its marvelous component parts, or organs, — ^brain, 
 heart, liver, muscles, etc., — so constructed that at the 
 designed moment it should be set in motion by its 
 Creator. The soul or mind is the conscious life, hav- 
 ing power to think, decide and act. The spirit of us 
 is our life, and is, therefore, higher than the soul or 
 mind, and higher than the body. Without it, the body 
 is a dead form, and will crumble to dust; with it, life 
 or energy is passed on from one generation to another. 
 
 "This spiritual force within us is being much dis- 
 cussed in the pages of the various New Thought Mag- 
 azines, and in many other places under different head- 
 ings, and the discussions may be read with benefit ; but 
 the reader should be prepared to recognize the differ- 
 
 *The ideas here expressed, have been arrived at after a 
 study of mental therapeutics, " faith cures," and psychological 
 phenomena on the one hand, and of the instantly, but per- 
 manently changed lives of such men as Samuel Hadley, on 
 the other hand; and, thirdly, by seeking in Holy Writ, for an 
 explanation of these things. The author found that the 
 Scriptures plainly teach that the natural man is a three-in-one. 
 Body, Soul, and Spirit. To her mind, this explains much 
 that has otherwise been mystical in the psychic and spiritual 
 realms. It makes real a divine within, and therefore gives 
 confidence to undertake great things. Recognizing the source 
 of both natural and Divine power, one can cultivate confi- 
 dence and develop ability to succeed in all good. The only 
 Teacher who has had power to conquer death, and to give 
 life, tells us of the indwelling God, and she believes that what 
 she has written is in accordance with his teaching. 
 
200 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ence between the natural inherent spirit of life, and the 
 Holy Spirit. The spirit is the best of us, and that 
 which calls out after God. The ' God within us,' or 
 what has been somewhere called ' The Great Within/ 
 the ' Ego,' the ' Better of us,' or the ' Spiritual Man,' is 
 that through which we have affinity with God, and 
 through which all humanity is reaching out toward 
 God. 
 
 "But, as the boy is not the man, neither is the 
 spirit of man the Holy Spirit. If the soul of man has 
 listened to the call of His Spirit, — and this call cer- 
 tainly comes to everyone, in one way or another — ^he 
 then becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 " To reiterate, — the soul is, then, the self-conscious 
 life. It includes the emotions, desires and affections; 
 and is made sensate through the spirit, which is life 
 itself, or the real person. 
 
 " The body is the temple of the spirit, the machine 
 through which the soul and spirit have world-con- 
 sciousness and communication; therefore, if the body 
 become perverted through disease or bad habits, it will, 
 of necessity, carry wrong impressions to the soul, and 
 thus hamper the spirit, which, in turn, becomes devital- 
 ized, and leads to body and soul degradation and decay. 
 
 " In view of these facts, it is clearly important that 
 our triune being should be properly nourished; first, 
 with nutritious food for the Body-man; secondly, with 
 wholesome teaching for the Soul-man; and thirdly, 
 with spiritual truth for the Spirit-man. We will view 
 the individual from this standpoint, and so speak of 
 him; first as the Body-man; secondly, the Soul-man; 
 thirdly, the Spirit-man. 
 
 "We have come to think that the material form 
 
"KNOW THYSELF" 201 
 
 upon which we look, is yourself or myself; but this is 
 not so. It is the spirit-man that is the real individual, 
 living, in his earth life, in the material form which we 
 call the body. We are no larger and no smaller than 
 the spirit-man, regardless of the limitations of this 
 temple in which we dwell; and it remains with the 
 soul-man to choose how great he shall become. 
 
 " Have you not met people whose very presence 
 seemed to fill the room with good and to awaken happy 
 emotions, the sunshine of their presence often lingering 
 in the atmosphere, even after they are gone? Such 
 persons have developed the best within them, — the 
 spiritual man. 
 
 " You, my dear girls, are at a time of life when you 
 must shape your own destiny. Each of you has an 
 ideal, — it may be high or low. Each one is ambitious 
 for what she considers to be the best things of life ; but 
 you need help in deciding what things are best. 
 
 " I feel honored that you have given me the privilege 
 to thus aid you, and wish to impress it upon you that 
 that which you now decide for your own lives, will 
 influence those with whom you will be associated in 
 the years to come. 
 
 " In our last lecture, we considered the physical new 
 birth, — the development from boyhood to manhood, 
 from girlhood to womanhood, — and we must now, if I 
 am to be true to your best interests, consider the un- 
 foldment of your spirit life. 
 
 " You have emotions and longings that you cannot 
 understand. These are two-fold; some arising from 
 the birth of the creative forces within you, others em- 
 anating from the natural spirit-man within, reaching 
 
202 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 out towards its affinity, God. This has been beauti~ 
 fully expressed in the lines: 
 
 " ' There is a mystery in human hearts. 
 And though we be encircled by a host 
 Of those who love us well, and are beloved. 
 To every one of us, from time to time. 
 There comes a sense of utter loneliness. 
 Our dearest friend is stranger to our joy. 
 And cannot realize our bitterness. 
 
 " ' There is not one who really understands. 
 
 Not one to enter into all I feel;" 
 
 Such is the cry of all of us in turn. 
 
 We wander in a solitary way, 
 
 No matter what or where our lot may be; 
 
 Each heart a mystery unto itself. 
 
 Must live its inner life in solitude. 
 ******* 
 
 But those who walk with God from day to day 
 Can never have a solitary way.' 
 
 " These lines set forth the God affinity, calling us to 
 our own. All nature recognizes the call of the new 
 life, instanced in that marvelous awakening of young 
 manhood and womanhood. Cod recognizes it as the 
 time when every individual begins to need His love. 
 Learning to trust Him then, our entire life is shaped by 
 Him, and we are saved from much turmoil and strife 
 of soul that otherwise is sure to be our lot. 
 
 " I venture to assert that there is not a young woman 
 in this audience, who does not long to know God, and 
 to know Him now, in your youth, is to experience a 
 glad spiritual birth. While your body is undergoing its 
 re-creation, God would give you a new spirit, thereby 
 making you at one with Him. That He may bestow 
 this gift upon you. He asks but one thing, — makes 
 but one condition; and that is, that you should look at 
 Him who was God manifest in a human body, that you 
 
" KNOV/ THYSELF " 203 
 
 may know God as a personality. This historical Jesus, 
 whom £ill claim to have been a good man, said con- 
 cerning Himself, that He * came to give life, and to give 
 it more abundantly.' Here He refers to giving Him- 
 self to the natural spirit-man. Take Him, God's Man, 
 as your Lord and Master, and you are then on the road 
 to all truth. This constitutes to the spirit-man, what 
 pubescence does to the physical, — ^the entering upon 
 the threshold of the fulness of life. 
 
 "As with all mankind, the natural spirit of Nico- 
 demus had been born when he was bom physically. 
 The Christ therefore recommended to him, as He does 
 to us, that a new spiritual relationship be accepted. 
 Nicodemus, like men of to-day, was so material and 
 over-developed in bodily quality, that he did not, so far 
 as we know, at that time apply these words to his spir- 
 itual nature. 
 
 " The moment one enters into this new relationship, 
 God has a great gift for him. Of this Jesus spoke, in 
 those last earthly hours, when He so sweetly told of 
 the Comforter He would send, when He should go to 
 the Father, and of whom He said, ' He is now with 
 you but shall be in you.' Here he referred to that 
 person in the God-Head, who is called the Holy Spirit, 
 and who, under the new dispensation about to be in- 
 augurated, should be given to every believer to abide 
 within him forever, and to impart to him the more- 
 abundant life. Thus the Holy Spirit comes to abide in 
 this temple, this body. ' Ye are temples of the Holy 
 Spirit.' There He dwells with your inherent spirit, 
 newly energizing your entire being, and becoming your 
 Guide, your Helper, your Comforter, your Strength. 
 
204 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 He also will take of the things of God and reveal them 
 unto you. 
 
 " As your Teacher, He will show you how to feed 
 your spiritual nature; and all you bring to your being 
 through the medium of your mind, or soul. He will 
 store and use to the best advantage for your present 
 and future development, as well as to benefit those 
 about you. Only one condition can limit your useful- 
 ness under His guidance ; and that is unwillingness to 
 let Him so energize your being. Your God-given pow- 
 ers are thus limitless. You can do whatsoever He bids. 
 
 " The natural man may be beautifully illustrated by 
 the water lily bulb. As a bulb it is perfect, and has 
 within itself the spirit-of-lif e ; but, being only a bulb, 
 something must happen before its inherent powers of 
 God-spirit can evolve a new production or creation, — 
 the water lily blossom. There is a vast difference 
 between a water lily bulb and a water lily blossom, 
 just as there is difference between a little girl and a 
 woman, a boy and a man. 
 
 " In the muddy pond, may be planted this perfect 
 lily bulb. Its outer shell encloses its spirit of life, — its 
 ' great within ; ' but it remains an inactive or even dis- 
 integrating bulb, however perfect it may have been as 
 a bulb, whatever its environment of water and mud, 
 unless God's sun from the Heavens penetrates its sur- 
 roundings, reaching its inner spirit of life, — ^the God in 
 it, if you please. Then there arises out of the filth, 
 scum and mud of the pond, opening its petals of sur- 
 passing beauty above it all, the pure, unsullied water 
 lily, — a new and glorious creation indeed. 
 
 " So, my dear girls, the Sun of Righteousness would 
 penetrate all the outer circumstances of your life, and. 
 
« KNOW THYSELF " 205 
 
 reaching your inherent natural God spirit, would make 
 of you a new creation that shall rise up in beauty above 
 the sordid earthly environment, a beauty that, of your 
 natural spirit-self, could never be. It is when we thus 
 submit our talents and our whole being for real spir- 
 itual energizing, that we reach our highest possibilities. 
 
 " through your reason (an attribute of your soul- 
 mind), in quietness listening to your natural spirit 
 alone, regardless of the new spirit-life which Christ 
 came to give, you may reach great heights, but not the 
 most abundant life. 
 
 "Psychologists of various kinds. Mental Healers, 
 Hindoos, and followers of many other cults, are daily 
 demonstrating by psychological processes, the accom- 
 plishment that is possible through the development of 
 the ' Great Within,' the natural spirit. Through this 
 means, also, there is a law of health for the body, and 
 still greater will be its healing influence when the law 
 of the more abundant Power of the Holy Spirit is un- 
 derstood. 
 
 " It is for you to decide whether you will rise to the 
 greatest heights which may be attained through the 
 mental process alone, making full use of the natural- 
 spirit-man, or will accept of God's higher plan for 
 earth's children; and that is, to deliberately seek the 
 co-operation of His indwelling Spirit with your own 
 natural-spirit. Thereby you may not only bind your 
 soul and your spirit inseparably to God throughout 
 eternity, but also energize all your natural earth- 
 powers as well. It is through Him you can do all 
 things, and enjoy ' the peace of God which passeth un- 
 derstanding,' for, ' Spiritual things are spiritually dis- 
 cerned.' 
 
206 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " One cannot conceive of the highest things, if he 
 allow his mind to be absorbed solely with the body, 
 and with matters pertaining thereto. Herein must we 
 consider moderation in all things ; and while giving due 
 consideration to the body, — ^which, we have seen, is the 
 temple of the spirit, — and to the soul, our conscious 
 part, we must not neglect the development of our spir- 
 itual nature. 
 
 "It is because of the unequal care of this triune 
 human being, that we find so many unbalanced persons 
 in the world. In fact, in spirit and soul qualities, most 
 of us are maimed, halt, lame and blind. When we see 
 persons so affected physically, we are moved with pity. 
 When we discover these deformities in their moral 
 nature, we begin to censure, condemn, and imprison; 
 when what is really needed, is sympathetic helpfulness. 
 
 " We should ever bear in mind that, when inclined 
 to criticize another, we may be weak where they are 
 strong ; and while their weakness stands in strong relief 
 against our strength, to-morrow the tables may be 
 turned. Besides, it is almost invariably true that the 
 weaknesses which we most unsparingly condemn, are 
 the weaknesses to which — though it may be in a 
 slightly different form — -we ourselves are most subject. 
 
 " This thought brings us to the consideration of the 
 development of character ; and here I take it for granted 
 that each girl before me desires the very best for her 
 life, and, so desiring, is willing to accept the higher 
 spiritual birth. 
 
 "We have a right to apply to our lives all good 
 things, and it becomes us to seek for the good in all 
 things ; for, ' if we are His, all things are ours.' We 
 find in the epistles written to the early Christians the 
 
" KNOW THYSELF » 207 
 
 highest thoughts that apply to the building up of the 
 character; and, while an isolated passage is here and 
 there found that appears contrary to the highest ideals, 
 it is well for us not to come to hasty conclusions on 
 that account. The setting of a chapter has much to do 
 with the meaning of the passages it contains, and there 
 are some things we cannot understand, because it is 
 impossible for us to put ourselves in the position of the 
 people spoken to. Remember also that a correct trans- 
 lation of both the spirit and the letter, will sometimes 
 clear a most perplexing question. I would advise you 
 all to study the New Testament. When its teachings 
 are understood, — and not until then, is the mind in a 
 condition to get the greatest good out of the older 
 Scriptures. 
 
 "As to character-building then, I will ask you to 
 turn, when you are alone this evening, to the fifth 
 chapter of Galatians. Notice the nineteenth verse, and 
 see there what are the 'works of the flesh.' By this 
 phrase is meant the results of allowing the mind to 
 respond to all the suggestions that reach it through 
 perverted sensations of the body, with total disregard 
 of the better part of the man, — ^hisspiri/yand it includes 
 every sin to which humanity is liable. 
 
 "Now, contrast with this the twenty-second verse, 
 which tells you what the 'fruit of the Spirit ' is, — 
 meaning the Holy Spirit ; and do not forget that He is 
 in you. The attributes that go to make up the fruit 
 of the Spirit, are the attributes of God, and those which 
 every child of God may and should share with Him. 
 If you desire it, we will some day take up these attri- 
 butes separately, and see what each one means. In the 
 meantime, the Holy Spirit will teach you good lessons 
 
208 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 through your own contemplation of them. If you 
 place yourselves in the right attitude of mind, the 
 Spirit will never fail you. 
 
 " I see that the time allotted for this address is up, 
 and I must hurry to a close. But before we part I 
 wish to warn you that of all the evil done by girls and 
 women the greater part is due to the fact that so few of 
 us have grace enough to ' keep a watch over the door 
 of our lips' that we 'offend not with our tongues.' 
 This week, I have been impressed, as many times be- 
 fore, with the great strifes that are stirred up and the 
 great amount of suffering caused through thoughtless 
 and cruel words. I need hardly tell you that, just at 
 present, my mind is dwelling on the agonies endured 
 by the parents and friends of the poor young High 
 School girl to whose sad death I have already referred. 
 They already had all they could bear, yet their suffer- 
 ings were made far worse by the wicked words of con- 
 demnation uttered unsparingly by the modern counter- 
 parts of the Pharisee who stood in the Temple and said 
 ' God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men.' 
 
 " If you could see, my dear girls, as I have, how 
 much worry and agony, not to mention such things as 
 expense and loss of energy, come to all classes of so- 
 ciety, high and low, through the stinging biting tongue, 
 you would earnestly desire to love everybody enough 
 to develop a broad charity that will cause you never 
 to speak at all except in kindness, and will also cause 
 you to avoid even the tossing of the head and the lift- 
 ing of the eyebrows that sometimes mean more than 
 words would express. This not uncommon action 
 leads to a suspicion on the part of the hearer that is far 
 worse than the spoken truth, — and he often repeats his 
 
"KNOW THYSELF- 209 
 
 impression in actual words which result in irretriev« 
 able injury to all concerned. 
 
 " Cultivate the habit of prayerful thought before 
 speaking, and you will save yourselves from much hu- 
 miliation, and become a blessing to those with whom 
 you come in contact. 
 
 " Dr. Robert is at this same hour placing these mat- 
 ters before your brothers of the Boys' High School. I 
 trust they are as earnest in receiving the truths that 
 make life worth living, as you girls have been. They 
 are watching your lives. Be strong, noble, and brave ; 
 expect great and good things of them ; demand of them, 
 likewise, confidence in you, because of true merit, and 
 you will help them on to noble and worthy manhood. 
 
210 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 A HOSPITAL STORY 
 
 EACH evening, when the doctors were alone, it 
 was their custom to compare notes on the day's 
 work and experiences. The twins were at Col- 
 lege, and Edward was away during his school hours 
 and well occupied when at home ; so their parents were 
 throwing their lives and energies into whatever chan- 
 nels opened, for the benefiting of humanity. Much 
 time was spent at the hospital with private patients 
 and at their surgical clinic, where doctors from all over 
 the country brought their chronically sick for the skill- 
 ful, and in many respects, original, treatment, of the 
 Doctors Lyon. 
 
 Said Dr. Ruth one evening, "Robert, I must do 
 something to save our young men and women. I op- 
 erated on a very tragic case this afternoon. My heart 
 aches for the poor girl, and burns with indignation at 
 the criminal neglect of parents, in not preparing their 
 boys and girls for the dangers that threaten them. 
 Our own children and those of our educated acquaint- 
 ances would be no better, were they brought up in the 
 same environment; and yet, were some of them to 
 enter the hospital and know the history of that beau- 
 tiful girl, who may die of blood-poisoning before morn- 
 ing, they would hold their skirts about them, and would 
 manifest contempt and condemnation, even though no 
 word might pass their lips. Oh! how hard and un- 
 charitable is humanity!" 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 211 
 
 " Yes, my dear, I have also seen hard things to-day. 
 I was called to examine a father, who is in a sad plight. 
 He realizes, as far as his weakened brain cells will per- 
 mit, that there is no hope for his recovery. The family 
 must soon be left to struggle for themselves, the chil- 
 dren taken out of school, the household furniture sold, 
 and the father, in spite of our utmost efforts to save 
 him, must sooner or later be sent away to an asylum 
 for life. How much preferable death would be for all 
 concerned ! 
 
 " Then again, I hear that some weeks ago, when Dr. 
 Thompson was operating on a septic case, his eye be- 
 came infected and he was totally blind in forty-eight 
 hours.* That great and good man cut down in the 
 midst of a brilliant career! And still venereally dis- 
 eased persons continue to stalk through our land, vic- 
 timizing the innocent, and unnoticed by the law." 
 
 "I am not able," said Dr. Ruth, "to know yet, 
 whether the girl at the hospital was brought into 
 trouble primarily through specific infection or not; at 
 any rate it is now a septic condition. The patholog- 
 ical report will come to-morrow. In any case, she 
 stands little chance of recovery." 
 
 Just then a young man was announced who would 
 not leave his name, but who insisted upon seeing Dr. 
 Ruth Lyon upon a very important matter. 
 
 "Might I see him for you?" asked Dr. Robert. 
 
 " I had better go," replied Dr. Ruth. " I feel as if 
 it might be something in connection with my poor girl 
 
 ♦This chapter had just been sent to the printer, when 
 the daily papers drew attention to the fact that a certain city 
 was being sued for damages by a man who had lost his sight 
 entirely on account of infection of the eyes caused by using a 
 towel in a public lavatory!— E. H. M. 
 
212 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 at the hospital. A man claiming to be her father, and 
 in no wise a bad looking fellow, brought her in, se- 
 lected a good room, paid for the first week in advance, 
 and a small amount on the operation fee, and said that 
 he wished the best of everything for his daughter. 
 Whether he is the father or not, I do not know. At 
 any rate, he appears well, and talks well ; but the whole 
 matter seems wrapped in mystery." 
 
 A young man of slight build and of the nervous type, 
 was pacing the reception room floor as Dr. Ruth en- 
 tered. At a glance, the doctor knew in what class to 
 place him, and intuitively connected him with the girl 
 at the hospital. She had never seen him before, but 
 his type was unmistakable. He belonged to that class 
 who have by inheritance received a quick intellect, ir- 
 ritable nerves, and adventurous inquiring willful dis- 
 position, which, if turned into the right channels, could 
 count for good. It was evident that this young man 
 had wasted his best energies, although probably suc- 
 cessful in a measure in his business. He had evi- 
 dently let his passions run rampant. Evidence of ex- 
 cessive cigarette smoking was apparent, and there was 
 a general suggestion of low dance and dining halls 
 about him. Against all this, stood out inherent refine- 
 ment and mentality. 
 
 The physician soon learns to thus classify human 
 beings at a glance; and so it was that Dr. Ruth almost 
 read the story of her hospital girl, before he observed 
 her entrance. With a quick, nervous, assumed air of 
 importance, he raised his head and straightened his 
 sloughed shoulders, as he demanded, " I want to know 
 about that girl you operated on this afternoon." 
 
 From his attitude, he might have been a police 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 213 
 
 officer or a detective seeking to frighten or entrap an 
 unwary victim. He had not well read the character of 
 the doctor before him, in whom were stirring mingled 
 emotions of pity for the sinner, scorn and bitterest de- 
 nunciation for the sin, professional duty, and motherly 
 tenderness for the girl at the hospital, and sincerest de- 
 sire to deal aright for the good of both parties. Nor 
 might her own name escape questioning should this 
 girl die; for, while she had done her unquestionable 
 duty by her patient, she had been unable to obtain 
 any statement from her, and, should death result, 
 and postmortem reveal that a criminal operation had 
 been performed before the girl entered the hospital, 
 she could not be sure of keeping herself clear from un- 
 just implication; for she well knew that in certain 
 cities political influence occasionally places in power, 
 on our health boards, those who are more unscrupulous 
 than the practitioners who pay them " hush money " 
 for protection. These become a menace to honest 
 surgeons who scorn such proceedings, when they 
 bring false accusations against them. 
 
 The doctor quietly invited the young man to be 
 seated, and he obeyed, feeling that his life and char- 
 acter were an open book before her penetrating gaze, 
 and yet that it was not as humiliating to him as one 
 might suppose. It was a relief to a frank nature, as 
 his undoubtedly was, to feel that he was really under- 
 stood, perhaps for the first time in his short but event- 
 ful life. 
 
 " Now," said the doctor, seating herself where she 
 could look squarely into the face of the boy, — for he 
 was only about twenty-four years old, though already 
 
214 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 a ruined man, — " Tell me what you want to know, and 
 what you have to do with the girl at the hospital." 
 
 He replied, somewhat peremptorily, " I want to know 
 what was the trouble with her, who brought her, and 
 what name she gave." 
 
 Said Dr. Ruth, "You undoubtedly have a right to 
 show some interest in some young woman, but how am 
 I to know that any of my patients may be the girl in 
 question; and, again, you must remember I have no 
 right to tell a stranger personal matters pertaining to 
 my patients. You will first have to tell me who you are, 
 and what right you have to demand this knowledge. 
 You may be her husband, and she may be seeking re- 
 lease from you. The dear girl is too ill to tell me her 
 life tragedy. She may never regain consciousness." 
 
 The term " dear girl " hardened rather than softened 
 his fevered brain ; and he retorted, " Dear girl, indeed ! 
 She's only a prostitute ! She belonged to me, but I be- 
 lieve she has been off with someone else." 
 
 " Ah," replied the doctor, "I thought as much. But 
 you cannot call her by that name in my presence, un- 
 less you class yourself under the same heading." 
 
 At this, the color rose to his leathery cheeks, and 
 before he could make any attempt at defence, she con- 
 tinued, " There is no difference between a male and a 
 female prostitute. One is as bad as the other. Sin is 
 sin, and knows no sex distinction. Now to your story. 
 Tell it to me, and I will then tell you as much as I 
 consider right." 
 
 " Well, Doctor, will you permit me to see the young 
 woman? I will tell you ; I've been tracing her up, and 
 find that she was brought to the hospital, and the story 
 is this. I'll be frank. I'm the son of a well-known 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 215 
 
 public man in the city of Chicago. I'm the only son, 
 and they think I'm all right. They ' protected ' me 
 from all knowledge of myself, and I began to go wrong 
 while I was in school. In college, I let go all restraint, 
 and moved with the fast set. Since then, I have 
 stopped at nothing. Finally my chum, a young lawyer, 
 and I, said, ' We've gone far enough. Let's stop, and 
 get two nice refined girls who will keep an apartment 
 for us, and we will stop drinking, and settle down to 
 quiet evenings, cards, and music, and stop this round- 
 ing business.' So one evening, we dropped in to one 
 of the dining and dance halls that we knew very well, 
 and watched until we spotted two clean looking girls 
 that were new in the place. A couple of low brutes 
 had also spotted them, so we decided to do the protect- 
 ing act, and so got their confidence. We took them 
 home that night. We were invited in, and found that 
 the girls had no mother and their father was away most 
 of the time. They were lonesome, and just came 
 around to the hall to see a bit of life." This he said 
 with a pride that indicated, that to his mind, at least, 
 he had taken a high and brave step in the right direc- 
 tion. 
 
 He continued, "These girls were sisters, and nice 
 girls, altogether innocent, just looking for fun; and 
 their father, the miserable blackguard, didn't even care. 
 And we found out they had hardly enough to eat. We 
 got to liking them pretty well, and urged them to go 
 with us to a good respectable apartment, saying that 
 we would furnish it nicely, and give them all the com- 
 forts they needed. After some time, they consented, 
 and we lived decently together. My friend really fell 
 in love with one of the sisters, and married her, decid- 
 
216 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 ing to live a respectable life. So they left the city for 
 the far west, and now he is making a name for him- 
 self, and they are happy. I intended to marry this girl, 
 but there have been things in the way, so it has been 
 delayed. We had a quarrel, and she went off, and I've 
 not seen or heard from her for weeks, until to-day, 
 when I heard she had been with a man she called her 
 father, and that he took her to some hospital in this 
 city. I've been to three, and I believe I have found 
 her. Now if that waahtr father, I may marry her yet. 
 If it was not, she is untrue to me, and a common pros- 
 titute ; and I will not." 
 
 By this time, the young fellow was again pacing the 
 floor, while he demanded what name was given, and 
 asked for a description of the man. Dr. Ruth ventured 
 to describe him. He gave breathless attention; and 
 the eager tense muscles of his face began to loosen as 
 it dawned upon his consciousness that the man was 
 the girl's father after all. Then came the assumed 
 name given by him, which again led to ejaculations of 
 disdain for the man, because of his abandonment of 
 his daughter in the first place, and his lying cunning 
 in the second; for he had told Dr. Ruth that his 
 daughter was Mrs. J. C. Manning, who had married 
 unfortunately, that her husband had infected and left 
 her, that she had been ailing since her marriage, and 
 had been obliged to come home, and that he wanted 
 for his daughter the best care and skill, and had left 
 her accordingly at the hospital. 
 
 " You'll never see him again," said the young man. 
 " You will find that I am the only one in this part of 
 the country that will care a rap about the girl. And 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 217 
 
 she must prove that she has been straight since she 
 left me, or I'll never marry her." 
 
 "Now, see here," replied Dr. Ruth, "you want to 
 see this girl. You own you care for her ; and still you 
 want her to show a cleaner record than you can show." 
 
 " No, I don't, I've been true to her." 
 
 " Yes, but before you met her your life was just one 
 round of vice. Now, I am ready to help you, and to 
 help her, if she is alive to-morrow; but you cannot see 
 her until you see that you are no better than she is, 
 and that you have no right to demand purity from any 
 girl in exchange for what you can give. When you 
 see this, and will agree to forgive her all, and trust 
 and marry her, if she wishes you to, bearing in mind 
 that you yourself are at least as bad as she, — ^then, and 
 not till then, will I agree to let you see her, and to help 
 you both, if you want to be helped, to live cleaner, 
 better lives." 
 
 The man looked the Doctor straight in the eye, and, 
 after a little hesitation, said, " You are right. I am a 
 vile wretch, and am sick of it all. But I do mean to 
 live a decent life ; and if she will agree to it, I'll marry 
 her." With a gesture of denunciation he went on: 
 " I've always cursed the day I was born. People have 
 no business to bring children into the world when they 
 can only produce such as I, and then let them go to 
 the dogs. And her blasted father, — after his wife's 
 death, to let those girls come to this ! " 
 
 Ten days passed, and the patient was now out of 
 danger. Meantime the doctor had won the confidence 
 of the heart-sick girl, who was feeling the need of 
 long-lost mother-love. One day she sat by her bed, 
 and as she smoothed the light hair that fell in pretty 
 
218 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 waves over a well-formed and intelligent forehead, she 
 said, " My dear girl, do you think the time has come 
 to unlock the door of your heart and tell me all about 
 it? Let me be a mother to you now." 
 
 The poor girl burst into a flood of tears. When she 
 became composed, she said, " I had one of the best 
 mothers in the world," and opened a locket that hung 
 from a chain about her neck, exposing to the doctor's 
 view a truly sweet and noble face. " There," said the 
 girl in bitterness; "and she died of a broken heart. 
 The cruelty, — the cruelty of men! How coald my 
 father treat her as he did? — ^Then she died, and he did 
 not care what we did, — ^he left us months at a time, 
 sending just money enough to clothe and feed us. 
 But nobody cared for us, — ^just sister and I, two little 
 girls, — and we were so lonesome. He had brought us 
 to that big city where mother died, and no one knew 
 us. We would go out on the avenue every evening, 
 and finally decided to go to some place to dance, so we 
 might get acquainted with some one. And we did." 
 
 Then a burst of convulsive sobs, and, " Oh, God ! 
 Why can't I die, and go to mother? She will know I 
 didn't mean to. Dr. Lyon, what do you think of me? 
 How can you touch me? " 
 
 " My child," replied the doctor, " I love you for it 
 all, and because you need a mother and a friend now; 
 and I want to help you." 
 
 " But doctor, my terrible humiliation! I'm honest it 
 I am not good. You say my father promised to see 
 you again. He will not. I'm off his hands, and I 
 may not see or hear of him for a year or more. This 
 is the way he did before mother died. And I am help- 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 219 
 
 less and penniless, unless he sends me some money. 
 There is no one else to care." 
 
 " But come now," said Dr. Ruth. " Are you going 
 to tell me how you came to the hospital? And she 
 told the story of the two young men, who had made a 
 home for herself and her sister, the marriage of her 
 sister to one of them, her removal to another town, and 
 her own quarrel with the young man who had passed 
 for her husband. 
 
 " But," queried the doctor further, " what about this 
 young man? Do you care for him? " 
 
 In the abandonment of hopeless despair, she replied, 
 " I did, once ; but he didn't believe I was true to him ; 
 and, while he had promised to marry me, as his friend 
 had married my sister, he would never trust me, and 
 so I just left him, — and now I hate everything and 
 everybody. I used to think God cared ; mother taught 
 me to believe He did, but I don't take any stock in 
 that any more." And she added, cynically, " He was 
 brought up that way, too. No, I don't believe there is 
 a God." 
 
 "My dear girl," said Dr. Ruth, "please don't say 
 that again, because you think you mean it, but you do 
 not. I can feel for you, and know just how it seems. 
 Now let me ask you something. Would you allow 
 that young man to see you, and, if he would trust you, 
 and wanted to marry you, would you listen to him? " 
 
 " I'd rather die than live ; but if I must live, what 
 else can I do? But even that hope is gone, now." 
 
 "But tell me, would you wish to see this young 
 man, if you knew he wanted to live a better life? " 
 
 " Oh, yes ! If only we could be married, and be 
 happy like my sister." 
 
220 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 " Let me tell you, then, that he has found you ; that, 
 like yourself, he desires to reform; and, with your 
 consent, he may see you this evening." 
 
 Her saddened face lighted with what seemed a very 
 doubtful satisfaction, as Dr. Ruth pressed her hand, 
 and said, " I'll telephone him. You'll see him here this 
 evening. And — ^will you tell him that you believe in 
 God?" 
 
 Eight weeks passed; and one evening it was ar- 
 ranged that the parents of the young man, Professor 
 and Mrs. Wiles, — ^who were to visit the city, should 
 meet his new-made friends, the Drs. Lyon, at their 
 home, and also the young lady friend concerning whom 
 he had been writing them. A warm friendship arose 
 immediately between his mother and our hospital girl ; 
 for she seemed to take the place left vacant in the 
 heart of his mother by her own daughter's death a 
 year before; and finally she accepted a pressing invi- 
 tation to go home and live with them in the large, 
 lonesome homestead, and there make preparations for 
 the wedding day, — "A privilege," said the professor, 
 "about to be entered upon by our boy's sister, just 
 before the cruel typhoid fever tore her from us." 
 
 None but themselves and the two doctors know their 
 secret. And now, alas! though she is happy in her 
 husband's love, the young woman longs for offspring 
 of her own, but knows well, — as does her husband, — 
 that no such joy can be theirs. They had sinned, so 
 far as such hope was concerned, beyond redemption. 
 
 NOTE. — ^This is a true representation of only one phase of 
 life. The underlying principle is the same in all. Each girl 
 possesses in a greater or less degree the attractive and lovable 
 qualities of young womanhood, youth, healtli, beauty, inno- 
 
A HOSPITAL STORY 221 
 
 cence and sentiment that make or mar the ideal wife and 
 mother. All ^ possibilities of highest human happiness are 
 wrapped up in every maiden; and this is also true of every 
 mother's son. When an honest youth meets an innocent 
 maid, just at the time in life when her whole womanly nature 
 is waking to a yearning for a true man's love, she may be- 
 come a true wife and mother; but when met by the un- 
 govemed sensual man, she often becomes the victim of the 
 suggestions of the more powerful mind, which compel her to 
 believe in his love, — and he does "love" lafter the manner 
 of such men, though he soon forgets her for other matters, 
 and leaves her to suffer alone. It is not often that a story 
 closes like this one of our hospital girl. The woman who 
 surrenders to the suggestions of the unclean man through her 
 ardent desire for affection, by that surrender joins the in- 
 numerable army of those whose lives are passed in suffering 
 and angruish, and despair, and whose lot it is to be scorned, 
 despised and ostracized; and her misstep may lead her to 
 fatal sepsis, suicide, insanity, or a life of shame. There are 
 loving, ignorant, confiding girls, who fall among thieves, ap- 
 proaching them as friends, who strip them of all and 
 leave them, — ^for aught they seem to care, to die by the road 
 side; and society shrugs its shoulders and cries, "Unclean I" 
 while it accepts without question the man who is the delib- 
 erate cause of all their misery. To all humanity there- 
 fore, I would appeal for practical sympathy for the sinning 
 and erring. Every human being is subject to the influences 
 of heredity and environment, especially when young and im. 
 mature, and none who know what Science has already proved 
 in this respect would think of passing condemnation on the 
 sinner, however abhorrent may be the sin. By all means let 
 wrong-doers be restrained, but let the restraint be sjmipa- 
 thetic, not revengeful. — E. H. M. 
 
222 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 
 
 ** f AM not content," said the Superintendent, 
 meeting Dr. Lyon one day at the house of a 
 patient, "that our boys should go out from 
 school ignorant of everything but the worst phases of 
 sex life. Give them strong talk, doctor. I've been in- 
 vestigating and feel assured of their need." 
 
 " And many of them, I suppose, are going on into 
 college," said Dr. Lyon. 
 
 " Yes, twenty out of the class of thirty-nine." 
 
 "And if all one hears of college life is true, the 
 twenty are going to meet advanced sex problems face 
 to face." 
 
 " Too true, I fear," said the Superintendent. " My 
 own son I am sending to a small college, distant from 
 the city. I would like to keep him clean." 
 
 " If you have kept him clean even through the High 
 School you have done well," added Dr. Robert almost 
 with bitterness. 
 
 " Yes, I know, it is too true," said the Superintend- 
 ent. " If I were to tell half that I know of our own 
 and neighboring High Schools I should be ostracized 
 as a pessimist — possibly also as a vile-minded man." 
 
 " Not by those of us who know," said Dr. Robert. 
 
 "One wonders what ought to be done about the 
 moral conditions existing in many High Schools and 
 Colleges," the Superintendent continued. "I own I 
 don't know. Would you believe me if I should tell 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 223 
 
 you that I know of five cases of venereal infection in 
 our own High School?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Dr. Robert, "for I know of a 
 neighboring High School in which, it is said, nezirly 
 every boy is or has been infected." 
 
 The Superintendent started. 
 
 "I had it from one of the boys," said Dr. Robert, 
 " who told me, not in braggadocio or in the spirit of 
 the tale-bearer, but in honest concern for the safety of 
 himself and his class-mates." 
 
 "Are matters as bad as that?" asked the Superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 " Ask physicians," answered Dr. Lyon. 
 
 " Then why don't physicians do something about it? 
 Why don't they instruct the boys? " 
 
 " For the same reason that you stated of yourself a 
 moment ago." 
 
 " I have decided," said the Doctor, " to first instill 
 into the minds of the boys high ideals by which they 
 can measure the evil suggestions and temptations that 
 they will meet, and to add to this a scientific knowledge 
 of themselves from an anatomical and physiological 
 standpoint, and judicious information concerning sex- 
 ual vices and their results. I shall also hold before 
 them the possibilities for highest achievement through 
 the conservation of their creative functions. 
 
 " Even the slum-boy, who may become one of the 
 most notorious of criminals, is an illustration of the 
 masculine love of some high quality. He is usually 
 not without heroism, and is daring, romantic and ad- 
 venturous. As says Havelock Ellis, in his book on 
 the criminal, ' Those whom we call enemies of so- 
 cie^, are only following impulses which were praise* 
 
224 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 worthy in another age.' These same leaders in delib- 
 erate thievings and murders, possess the qualities that 
 would have distinguished them as chieftains of clans. 
 
 " For instance, take a boy who is strong, active and 
 full of daring, and who is conscious of restriction and 
 limitation owing to narrowness of circumstances. He 
 feels a strong impulse to throw himself heart and soul 
 into the dare-devil adventures of a boy hungry for a 
 big life, and bold enough to fight for it. This is no 
 extravagant description of some natures. Such a boy 
 cannot be neutral, he must be a power, a leader, in 
 good things or in bad. It is the manifestation of his 
 creative and original powers, and if they are turned 
 in the right channels, he will fill an honorable position 
 in life. If he be imprisoned he will but turn in upon 
 himself and become a menace to society as well as to 
 himself; that which might have manifested itself in 
 heroism then begins to take pride in lawlessness, until 
 he becomes a sort of hero among criminals, and he 
 desires more and more to be admired, as one fearless of 
 the power of the law. Our schools teach many things 
 less essential than the study of applied psychology. 
 Could parents and instructors recognize these qualities 
 as good in themselves, and appeal to boys through 
 them, they would save many a boy from going astray. 
 That tendency which manifests itself in vanity is a 
 good quality in a daring child, and if developed into a 
 pride in right doing its exercise is most beneficial. 
 
 Says Ellis, "The vanity of the sutist and literary 
 man marks the abnormal element, the tendency in them 
 to degeneration ; it reveals in them the weak points of 
 a mental organization, which at other points is highly 
 developed. Vanity may exist in the well developed 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 225 
 
 ordinary man, but it is unobtrusive; in its extreme 
 forms it marks the abnormal man, the man of unbal- 
 anced mental organization, artist or criminal." Did 
 you ever see a boy who suddenly developed a pride in 
 such things as his neck-tie as he emerges from the 
 dirty-hand-and-face period? This shows his desire for 
 approbation. If then the boy may from his very in- 
 fancy be led to recognize good instead of evil, as 
 praiseworthy, as he recognizes his clean linen and 
 properly adjusted neck-tie to be things desirable, his 
 very vanity will come to his rescue in saving him from 
 vice. Every normal boy wants to be recognized 
 among his kind as a leader; and if his associates be 
 evil, the deeper into evil will he go. That this very 
 element of vanity may be turned into worthy channels, 
 our boys must have worthy ideals. They can aim no 
 higher than they know. 
 
 "Thank you. Doctor," said the Superintendent, 
 "you have given me something to think of, and I 
 know our boys will be sent out the better equipped 
 for life's battles, because of your lectures. I will an- 
 nounce your talk to boys for Tuesday evening at the 
 Y. M. C. A. Hall, and will urge the attendance of boys 
 throughout the city, not confining the invitation to our 
 school alone. 
 
 " Good will surely come of it," said the Superin- 
 tendent, as he watched the doctor's carriage rolling 
 down the street. 
 
 So it came about that on the appointed evening Dr. 
 Robert again stood upon the platform of the Y. M. C 
 A. Hall, — ^this time with an audience of over a hundred 
 boys. 
 
 " Boys," said he, " I am meeting with you to-day. 
 
226 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 because I know you want to be Men. Every boy here 
 honestly desires and expects to be a Man, in the broad- 
 est and highest sense of the term, — and I am here to 
 help you. Some have one ideal, and some another; 
 but each one, if he looks deep into the recesses of his 
 heart, will find there an image of some kind, and an 
 underlying expectation of some worthy ambition or 
 accomplishment. The image may not be so well de- 
 fined with one as with another. But of one fact I am 
 sure; that not one of you is planning to be a thief, a 
 drunkard, or a libertine; nor, indeed, did any criminal 
 deliberately plan so to be. The seeds of criminality 
 were planted in his boyhood, although he did not know 
 it. It probably came about in this way. He first 
 admired something in somebody toward whom his 
 thoughts had been directed. That somebody may have 
 been a character in a story, — a pugilist, an outlaw, a 
 statesman or a soldier. The boy admired some strong 
 quality in the character, and unconsciously imitated 
 the entire man, not rightly recognizing the really good 
 quality dissociated from the bad. 
 
 "You know about the man, Tom Savage, who re- 
 cently closed up his Raines Hotel because he had de- 
 cided to take God's Man, Christ Jesus, as his hero, 
 and live a Christian life. He told me only a week ago, 
 that he arrived in America at sixteen years of age, 
 with an impetuous mind and a strong body, and 
 twenty dollars in his pocket. The first man to be- 
 friend him was a portly, self-satisfied, easy-going, well- 
 dressed race-track gambler, who wore a very con- 
 spicuous diamond on his shirt front. This brave but 
 homesick boy-heart was drawn to the man who thus 
 befriended him, and immediately he became a hero- 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 227 
 
 worshipper of a sort and said, " I'll be just like him 
 some day, and wear a diamond, too." Fortune smiled 
 at every turn, until he really was a second edition of 
 the man, and led many another lad in the same path. 
 " During my career," he told me, " I became a pugi- 
 list and my prowess was an attraction to many a boy. 
 I entered deeper and deeper into sin, until the day 
 came that I was never one minute sober, and my two 
 sons ran my business while I played cards and drank." 
 " On the other hand, another boy will select as his 
 hero one of noble character, and year after year will 
 become more like him, and fortunate indeed is the boy 
 if he has a father worthy of imitation. I recall a 
 preacher of my boyhood days, whose manly bearing, 
 and good wholesome fellowship with the boys was so 
 reflected in their characters, that to-day I occasionally 
 meet some of them and am reminded through certain 
 characteristics, — carriage of the body, or intonation of 
 the voice, as well as other traits, — of that pastor whose 
 person had long since passed out of their lives. Tak- 
 ing for granted, then, that you boys will recognize this 
 fact, and therefore see to it that you select only the 
 best out of the many men you shall meet, as worthy 
 of emulation, I must next call your attention to those 
 habits and practices which, if indulged in and contin- 
 ued, will as surely debar you from the possibility of 
 achieving any permanently great and high position in 
 life, as would the iron bars of a prison cell. These 
 practices to which I shall refer, may be stated in two 
 words, namely, SEXUAL VICE. This means a pol- 
 lution of the highest quality of your body ; that which, 
 if respected and conserved, vdll make of you strong, 
 noble men; and, if polluted, means a wasting of the 
 
228 FOUR EPOCHS OP LIFE 
 
 vital forces of your body as well as of the electric 
 energy of your life. 
 
 " There are several forms of sexual vice that can be 
 expressed in two classifications. First, — that known 
 as self-pollution, self-abuse, or secret vice; and sec- 
 ondly, that known as the Social Evil, or the illicit re- 
 lation of the sexes. The first means just what it ex- 
 presses, the pollution of one's self,^-one's self meaning 
 one's entire being. The body of a human being is the 
 most wonderful and most delicate piece of machinery 
 that was ever made, and it is expected to run, in good 
 working order, after being once set in motion, for at 
 least seventy years. It is a machine sensitized by a 
 marvelous electric nervous system that keeps the con- 
 scious part, or mind of the person in touch with the 
 outside world. Then your spirit is that life within 
 your body that makes possible the continued existence 
 of your body and its mind. This spirit is the real you. 
 It was born with you, and never ceases to manifest 
 itself until your body becomes too feeble, through pol- 
 lution, or sickness, or old age, to longer be a fit habita- 
 tion. Then death comes, and releases it. You thus 
 see how important is this body, this wonderful ma- 
 chine, given into your keeping to care for, develop and 
 nourish. This, then, is one's self, — ^his entire living, 
 feeling, thinking self, — and anything that pollutes the 
 body pollutes the whole. There are times when a 
 stream of pure water becomes polluted by typhoid fever 
 germs and carries death and destruction to hundreds. 
 Often such water looks clear and pure, though perhaps 
 the entire stream is polluted. So it may be with you. 
 In your case it is certain that self-pollution means the 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 221 
 
 pollution of the entire being, and that pollution may 
 result in moral and physical disease. 
 
 " Boys, I am not here to condemn you, but to save 
 you from the further continuance of such a habit, if any 
 of you have been so unfortunate as to have fallen vic- 
 tims to it, and to give you wholesome advice that shall, 
 if taken, keep you out of the weak, low, degraded ranks 
 of mankind, and help you to attain the highest achieve- 
 ments and positions of which true manhood is capable. 
 
 " In this lecture, I cannot take time to speak to you 
 of the anatomy and the functioning of those organs of 
 your body which distinguish your sex. Nature, — ^for the 
 purpose of the reproduction of the species, — ^has given 
 to every man the power of fertilization, — and thus, 
 after the boy reaches puberty, he is capable of becom- 
 ing a father. He has no right to waste this gift, but 
 must carefully guard and preserve it. He is therefore 
 given a mind, a controlling force by which he is en- 
 abled to make himself master of his high creative 
 power. It is not so with the lower animals, which 
 propagate their species by instinct alone. They live 
 up to the standard required of them in this manner, 
 and man alone falls below the standard set for him. 
 This creative force in man has been so perverted 
 throughout the ages that parents have become shame- 
 faced, and do not tell their children what they ought to 
 know about themselves. As a result a boy, inheriting 
 an over-sensitive nervous system and weakened self- 
 control, often goes to his play-mates and learns from 
 them to cultivate the practice of mechanically irritating 
 his organ of procreation; as a result the brain cells 
 which preside over his sexual functions become devel- 
 oped over-much and so responsive to that part of his 
 
230 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 nature that he comes to enjoy the foul stories which 
 depraved boys are only too ready to relate. These, in 
 turn, excite his sensations, and he begins, perhaps, to 
 have frequent, involuntary discharges at night in his 
 sleep, sometimes accompanied by licentious dreams. 
 He gets into a state in which he is always tired, and 
 languid, he dislikes study, can't think as clearly as he 
 ought, wants something exciting to do, and somewhere 
 to go, and perhaps his face begins to break out in pim- 
 ples. Perhaps there falls into his hands literature, 
 written by a conscienceless medical firm, describing his 
 condition exactly, and advising a consultation. With- 
 out advice from father, — ^for his father failed to speak 
 to him a few years before, of his coming manhood,— 
 and, feeling that his case has some special feature 
 peculiar to himself, and that he needs treatment, he 
 consults the advertising medical firm. He enters the 
 office, his urine is examined, and on the addition of a 
 certain chemical, generally a solution of silver ni- 
 trate, it makes a white deposit; this glass container is 
 then held up to view, and he is led to believe that this 
 is due to the existence of the vital fluid (semen) in the 
 urine. He is told that he must have treatment imme- 
 diately, when all he needs is wholesome advice and 
 appeal to his manhood that he will be master of him- 
 self. Next, a relative of his own family who himself 
 has known only perverted sex nature, may give him 
 such advice as was given, only last week, to a seven- 
 teen year old boy by one who said, ' Say John, what do 
 you want to be such a fool for, go with a girl and get 
 that face of yours cleared up.' A man calling himself 
 a physician, said to a mother who went to see why her 
 nineteen year old boy did not recover from his attacks 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 231 
 
 of indigestion, ' Mrs. X , if Henry is not better 
 
 soon he must get married or get a ' mistress.' My 
 boys, I would rather a doctor should send a bullet 
 through the heart of any boy while he was innocent, 
 than give him such advice as this. 
 
 " The Social Evil, as I have said, is the illicit relation 
 of the sexes, — and this need never be. Says Dr. 
 Sprague Carlton : ' There comes a time in the life of 
 every youth when, due to the developing sexual desire 
 and the doings and sayings of his associates, he feels 
 called upon to decide for himself the question of " Pros- 
 titution vs. Masturbation," There is nothing more 
 vital to the mental vigor and calm of a man than his 
 sexual manhood, and it is in the fear of losing this that 
 he acts on the common misinformation and advice of 
 the day and decides to seek prostitution, or, fearing 
 such results of this as he may know, he secretly in- 
 dulges in masturbation. Life to the contrary, physi- 
 ology teaches that there is no such vital question for 
 the unmarried man as " Prostitution vs. Masturbation." 
 Statistics show that there is no degeneration of the 
 sexual apparatus in those who do not cohabit — ^pro- 
 vided that they do not abuse themselves— due to that 
 functional phenomenon known as the nocturnal emis- 
 sion. With the great majority of men, however, en- 
 vironment has played so forceful a part in their mental 
 and physical development as to eradicate almost abso- 
 lutely such peace of mind as should be conditioned by 
 an acquaintance with the aforesaid scientific fact, and 
 has forced many unmarried men to believe that there is 
 a question of engaging in one or the other of these two 
 practices.' 
 
 "The Social Vice is followed by venereal disease 
 
232 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 in nearly every case. Of these there are two; the 
 first and more common is often, and that ignorantly, 
 lightly spoken of; but you will see that it is no light 
 matter when I tell you that when the blood becomes 
 charged with the microbe of this disease (gonococci), 
 they may grow in the lining of the heart and the victim 
 dies. If they ascend to the kidneys, and both kidneys 
 become affected, there is no hope. If one kidney only 
 is affected it can be cut out and recovery is then possi- 
 ble. If carried to the brain, no patient so infected ever 
 recovers. If carried to the joints, — and this is a fre- 
 quent result, — the patient is crippled for months, and 
 often for life, and it were better a thousand times that 
 he die. In forty-eight hours, blindness for life may 
 result from an almost infinitesimal quantity of this 
 poison getting into the eye. 
 
 " The Nervous System may be affected slightly, 
 or it may make a man insane with such depression of 
 spirits that he will take his life. In the hospital I re- 
 cently had a case of this disease in which the testicles 
 actually rotted away. In this region all manner of pain 
 and degeneration may occur, resulting in blood poison- 
 ing and death ; and the disease, when not in its severest 
 forms, often leads to such conditions that the man can 
 never become a father. 
 
 " The other disease requires at least three years of 
 the most careful and scientific treatment, for its cure — 
 if ever it may be cured at all. It becomes so contagious 
 that it may be contracted through the use of drinking 
 cups, or cracked dishes in restaurants, or by coming in 
 contact with any article on which a particle of the virus 
 has been deposited. 
 
 "We see as a result of this disease, among other 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 233 
 
 things, the rotting of the bones, the ulcerating away of 
 the lips, the growth of brain tumors resulting in the 
 most horrible insanities and the dying of a slow torture- 
 some death. With all that I have said, I have not told 
 you a hundredth part of the possible hideous retribu- 
 tions of an impure life. 
 
 " We will leave these pictures now, and learn how to 
 keep free from all of these calamities. First, boys, 
 scorn the foul story and the indecent picture, the im- 
 pure book or questionable amusement, and the sensual 
 play or moving picture. A genuine manly man or boy 
 is disgusted with these things, and they find no lodg- 
 ment in the mind that is set against all that is impure. 
 If these deadly things have already touched your life, 
 just stop right where you are, and with all the bravery 
 of your manly nature strike out for victory. It is be- 
 cause I have been through the temptations of boyhood 
 and manhood, and, in my profession, have suffered 
 with the guilty and rejoiced with the pure-minded, and 
 because I have listened to the life stories of sins com- 
 mitted, and agonies suffered, until it has seemed that 
 all have been my very own, that I can claim a special 
 fitness to help you boys before me. 
 
 " Some of you are secretly fighting battles within and 
 without; battles that you may think are peculiar to 
 yourselves. Others, who are passing through the same 
 stress and storm of transition from boyhood to man- 
 hood, may be contemplating the advice of some com- 
 panion, some evil-minded elder, or even some respected 
 friend of the family, who has advised you to the per- 
 formance of sexual vice. 
 
 " I am here to help you over the hard places, and to 
 advise you in a way that shall be scientific and ap- 
 
234 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 proved by the practice of our world's ablest and most 
 successful men. Some of you may have been so fortu- 
 nate as to have parents who have taught you from in- 
 fancy about yourselves ; but most of you have been left 
 to your own imaginations, which, perhaps, have been 
 fired by foul and erroneous teaching. In that case you 
 have probably listened to unclean stories and, if not 
 led already into actual sin, you have contemplated it. 
 
 " Some of you have read the recorded sins of David 
 and others, but have not seen that God always pun- 
 ished sin, — giving the sinner a chance for repentance, 
 but compelling him to suffer the physical effects of 
 wrong-doing. These records are given to show up 
 man in his natural weakness and frailty, and not in any 
 way to excuse him. 
 
 " It is the plan of the Creator that every normal boy 
 and girl shall undergo a second physical birth. At the 
 time of your birth into the world, as you know, there 
 was physical struggle. That struggle was your 
 blessed mothers', while a struggle of heart and mind 
 agony was passed through by your fathers, and, in a 
 lesser degree, the struggle was participated in by all 
 concerned at the time. All of them bore up bravely, 
 because of the compensation that was soon to be. 
 
 " Of this, your first birth, my boys, you were uncon- 
 scious, and with it you had nothing to do. Your safe 
 arrival, however, was the first step toward life in your 
 world, and in this second physical birth, you are your- 
 selves chiefly concerned. Your knowledge, and your 
 attitude toward this new birth-struggle that is upon 
 you, will determine the character of the new life, — ^the 
 real man-life that will soon be fully born to you. 
 Within you is the Cod-given power to develop a per- 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 235 
 
 fection that will bring blessing to yourselves, and to all 
 who may be touched by your life. 
 
 " As I was at the bedside when many of you took 
 your first peep at the world, and breathed the first 
 breath of life, — so I am here now, with the same tender 
 solicitude, to help you into the knowledge of your be- 
 ing ; and, if any have already gone wrong, to bring you 
 by firm manly advice, to claim your unspotted man- 
 hood. 
 
 "This new physical birth to which you are now 
 called, means, primarily, but one thing; and that is, 
 that you are becoming capable of parenthood, — capable 
 of being creators. This power, properly exercised, is 
 one of man's greatest privileges, for from the creative 
 power grow all great achievements ; so likewise is the 
 reverse true, that from perversions of this creative 
 power arise the destruction not only of nations, but of 
 all that is desirable and worthy in life. Parenthood is 
 one of the sacred duties of mankind ; but perfection in 
 this, as in all other duties, is demanded of us, and there 
 is, therefore, much preparation needed to this end. 
 
 " This epoch, this beginning of the new physical life, 
 is called the Adolescent or Pubescent Period. It cov- 
 ers the years between twelve and twenty-four, and is 
 accompanied, in both boys and girls, with a develop- 
 ment of the sexual organs, a change of emotions, de- 
 sires and affections, an interest in the opposite sex that 
 was before unfelt, and, often, a strong desire for travel, 
 adventure, and excitement. It may be that this period 
 is marked by growing interest in machinery, or in the 
 things that interest father (if father really knows his 
 boy). Your voice changes, becoming very unreliable 
 and, perhaps, causing those about you to smile; you 
 
236 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 develop an interest in men's society, you unconsciously 
 imitate some man, good or bad, whom you are likely 
 almost to worship; and last, but not least, a normal 
 boy, and also a normal girl, is likely to look Godward 
 at this time, and settle his heart and mind on the re- 
 ligion or church of his choice. This is a very import- 
 ant matter, and if parents and teachers better under- 
 stood, many a boy would be saved much life-long sor- 
 row, if spoken to, judiciously, at this time ; for at this 
 time he has the power of selection of his new spiritual 
 birth, as well as of the physical. 
 
 " This creative power, then, if properly conserved, 
 will result in great mental or physical possibilities. 
 Thus, my boys, with a proper control of your sexual 
 functions, you may become powerful professional, lit- 
 erary, legal, or business men; exerting a creative orig- 
 inality that will accomplish things worth while. If 
 each of you will profit by the facts I mean to put before 
 you, but a few years hence we shall hear of more than 
 one great man who was brought up in this little town. 
 
 " Let me now call your attention to just one point in 
 anatomy. There is, within each one of you what is 
 known as the Seminal Vesicle — meaning simply the 
 vessel that holds the semen. This may be compared 
 to little sacs, in which the semen is stored until, when 
 they are over-filled by not being used, — ^for Nature 
 always produced in over-abundance — they contract and 
 force out the semen they contain. This usually occurs 
 during sleep, and is called a nocturnal emission. It is 
 a natural process, and does not denote the presence of 
 disease, as some would have you believe, unless it 
 occur frequently. 
 
 "Emissions are common to all boys, just as the 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 237 
 
 regular menstrual flow is common to all girls. Be- 
 cause of this occurrence there should be no sense of 
 anxiety or shame. On the contrary, we should feel a 
 sacred gratitude to the Father for His wise provision 
 and the trust He has imposed, — well knowing that in 
 due time kind Nature will regulate herself to an infre- 
 quent occurrence, and that it is of no importance, and 
 will not produce depression of spirit, or vitality, unless 
 it occur so frequently as to lead to poor health, and so 
 necessitate the advice of a conscientious physician. 
 And here let me say that scientific advice, boys, is 
 never, to in any way indulge your sexual functions, 
 outside of the bonds of the true and legitimate love of 
 one woman for one man. Any other course will lead 
 to the disappointment of your highest hope and noblest 
 desires. 
 
 " The sex life, in its exercise, like the man himself, is 
 ' triune,' and every healthy normal man has the power 
 of control over this part of his being. The threefold 
 sex function, then, is, first, MENTAL; secondly, EMO- 
 TIONAL; and thirdly, MECHANICO-PHYSICAL. 
 
 "I. MENTAL. Let us first turn to the mental. 
 The perfectly normal man is healthy in his body, his 
 mind, and his spirit. He has been rightly taught, — as 
 we are seeking to teach you boys to-day, — ^he therefore 
 has the right mental attitude toward his sex life. As I 
 have already said, he has the right idea of womanhood; 
 and he keeps ever in mind the thought that somewhere 
 in the great world, is being prepared for him the one 
 woman whose life is to be inseparably linked with his, 
 and that for her he is preparing and keeping himself, 
 that all his hope and future happiness be not cast on 
 
238 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 the relentless shores of Time, already strewn with 
 human wreckage. 
 
 " Boys, language cannot depict the utter sadness of 
 this wreckage ; the blasted hopes, the broken, bleeding 
 hearts, the lives from which has been robbed every 
 vestige of human happiness; the children whose eyes 
 can never behold the light of day or look on the face of 
 loved ones; those who are crippled, epileptic, weak- 
 minded, mentally deficient, morally perverted, insane, 
 and in every conceivable way unfitted for mastering 
 the stern realities of life, — a menace and expense not 
 only to the individual but to the nation. These facts 
 will give you a mental picture not nearly so terrible as 
 the reality, but one that, even so, should assist you in 
 maintaining the right mental attitude toward your sex- 
 life. 
 
 " I have mentioned certain diseases which are often 
 the outcome of vice. You will, of course, not be so 
 narrow as to think that every epileptic and every per- 
 son afHicted in the manner I have described is suffer- 
 ing from the effects of these sins, either in himself or 
 in others. I would make it clear to you that all these 
 physical ills may have arisen from other causes, — 
 accident for instance, is often responsible for epilepsy, 
 and also for other ailments. 
 
 "The mental attitude toward the sexual life, as a 
 safe-guard from sin, may be summed up as follows : 
 
 " First, and foremost, — ^The knowledge that there is 
 no 'physical necessity* for the exercise of the sexual 
 function. 
 
 " Secondly, — ^To conserve this power, is to develop 
 the highest possibilities for achievement. Promiscuous 
 or perverted sex-life, leads to an infection of the blood. 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 239 
 
 in nearly every case, which ruins health, and often 
 mentality also, and leads to horrible physical diseases 
 in middle life, if not before, that will extend to chil- 
 dren's children, — if not first wrecking and destroying 
 the life of her who may some day trust you to be her 
 husband. 
 
 " Thirdly, — Some day you will want a home of your 
 own ; and you have no right to take from a wife what 
 you can not give her in return. You must be as just 
 to your future wife as you are now to your companions 
 in the ball game, even though you may have no idea 
 whom you are to marry. You will expect her to be 
 pure and good. Then you must be pure and good 
 yourself, — now, as well as after marriage. 
 
 " These rules, boys, I am going to have printed ; and 
 I will supply each one of you with a copy. They will 
 be a proper mental stimulus, together with the knowl- 
 edge which you have regarding them, to keep your 
 mental attitude right. This is the most important step 
 toward the mastery of self, not only in the sex life, but 
 in all other things as well. With this decision, you 
 manfully settle the question forever. The matter is 
 disposed of, and will not bother you again. You have 
 chosen the right, and have determined never to be a 
 slave to passion. You will noy^ give your energy, your 
 thought, your creative power, to other and important 
 matters. 
 
 " However vile a man may be, he knows the boy or 
 man who has finally made up his mind on these ques- 
 tions. It is the weakling, and the weakling only, who 
 cannot escape the sneers and taunts of the sensual men 
 about him. The strong and true invariably win re- 
 spect and confidence even from the vicious. This stand 
 
240 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 will also invite to the mind according to the law of im- 
 penetrability, — ^which discloses that no two things can 
 occupy the same place at the same time, — ^high and 
 noble thoughts, clearly defined principles, and plans 
 which will clear the mind from evil suggestions that 
 may have been planted there. ^ 
 
 " II. EMOTIONAL. We come now to the second 
 main division, namely the emotional side of sex life. 
 On this I do not need to say very much, after what I 
 have said already. In the healthy, sane man or boy, 
 all the emotions, — ^this one among the rest, — are di- 
 rectly under the control of the intellect, and so are 
 kept from running riot. And yet the great need of 
 your being forewarned, and so prepared, in case of 
 necessity, to discipline yourselves, is apparent in the 
 lives of others every day. Hardly a day goes by in 
 which you may not read of horrible tragedies due to no 
 other cause than that sexual emotion has conquered 
 reason, and wrought havoc that can never be set right. 
 Even men and women have suddenly seemed to lose 
 their mental balance, and have fallen into sin and given 
 signs of what is really temporary insanity, solely be- 
 cause the power of sexual attraction has come upon 
 them unprepared. The lesson for us, here, is evident. 
 Each day, and all the time all our emotions must be 
 kept in check ; and when we feel the promptings of af- 
 fection, we must be careful to keep those promptings 
 well in hand. 
 
 "III. MECHANICO-PHYSICAL. The mechanico- 
 physical will follow the mental consent to the emo- 
 tion; and is, or should be, resultant upon the second 
 element of the triune sex function. 
 
 " We have been considering a normal man, but sad 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 241 
 
 as it is true, is the fact that not all of us are normal; 
 and, if physically so, few have been rightly taught. 
 We will, therefore, look at these two classes for a 
 while. 
 
 " Those not having the right physical start are of 
 two classes: some of them have inherited weaknesses 
 and tendencies to certain diseases, such as tuberculo- 
 sis; and others have conditions calling for slight sur- 
 gical treatment, which are born with them, or have 
 come into existence through errors of one kind or an- 
 other. In either case these conditions will result in 
 physicEd and sexual weakness. I refer, particularly, to 
 a tightened foreskin, to papillae, which are small 
 growths in the rectum, a prolapsed or inflamed portion 
 of the lower intestine known as the sigmoid flexure, 
 which is prone to telescope into itself or to become dis- 
 tended with waste intestinal matter called fasces, or to 
 have its circular muscles lose their tonicity and become 
 unbalanced. Each of these conditions is quite com- 
 mon, and will keep up a continual excitation of the 
 sexual sense, as also will pressure of irregularly tense 
 ligaments upon certain spinal nerves cause 'osteop- 
 athic lesions ' requiring the skill of a well-trained and 
 scientific osteopath to discover and treat them. Any 
 of these irregularities, — especially the first named, — 
 may so call the attention of the boy or man to the 
 physical that, whatever be his ideals, he falls prey 
 to too frequent involuntary losses, it may be at 
 every evacuation of the bowels or bladder,— ^nd he is 
 further likely to make matters worse by voluntary ac- 
 tion that will do him physical and moral injury. 
 
 " Such a case, boys, I have in mind, and will tell you 
 something about it. At puberty, his face bfegan to be 
 
242 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 blotchy, his appetite to be capricious, his bowels con- 
 stipated, emissions became very frequent, and sexual 
 excitement almost constant. He answered quack ad- 
 vertisements, as boys are apt to do, and spent much 
 money on them ; only to be disappointed, discouraged, 
 and fearful that his reason would fail (as he had been 
 told it would), because of the drain upon his system. 
 His father now insisted, as he observed his pale face 
 and loss of flesh, and especially as the boy had a slight 
 morning cough, — ^that he consult the doctor. Unfor- 
 tunately for him, as for some other boys, the doctor, 
 after questioning as to his sexual nature and symptoms, 
 made the astounding statement that there was but one 
 way to reach health, namely, to seek illicit sexual re- 
 lations. This was abhorrent to the boy, and he re- 
 fused. 
 
 " At this stage, through the earnest solicitation of a 
 friend, — a young man who had found wholesome pro- 
 fessional advice and treatment at the hands of a well* 
 known physician, — ^he also was persuaded to seek for 
 consultation. As a result, his mind was set at ease, at 
 once, concerning his involuntary emissions, as he was 
 assured that these losses were due to pressure and 
 nerve irritation that could be relieved, and cured; his 
 intestinal condition was corrected by bowel flushing; 
 his prolapsed intestine was kept cleaned and raised to 
 its normal position, bringing relief to the congested 
 sexual organs, and, in turn, to the entire system. With 
 electrical treatment and other measures, followed ac- 
 cording to instructions, the young man made steady 
 progress toward health ; and only last week he called to 
 express his gratitude for the excellent health he now 
 enjoys. He had, in six years, developed a fiae physique. 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 243 
 
 and achieved great success in business ; he had a wife 
 and a nice home of his own; and, as he said to the 
 doctor, ' Among other blessings you made possible to 
 me, is a fine robust boy, two years of age. I wish you 
 could see him.' 
 
 "To bear in mind these things, my boys, will not 
 make you ' prigs,' or ' pedants,' weaklings or oddities. 
 It will deprive you of no rational enjoyment; it will 
 rob you of none of the world's benefits; but, on the 
 contrary, it will lead you to a clear-headed, self-respect- 
 ing manhood, and a happy, joyous productive life. It 
 will give you an ambition that will so fill your life with 
 activity, that the morbid desire for unwarrantable and 
 pernicious activities, shall find no place in your minds. 
 
 " Byron, at twenty-five, had poets, who later became 
 famous, at his feet. He cannot now be classed with 
 them, for he wasted his creative power, and died at 
 thirty-four. Athletes, however low in the scale, recog- 
 nize the necessity of conservation of sexual energy 
 under the quiet directing and controlling force of mind 
 in order that their muscles may be strong. 
 
 "In a booklet published by the American Medical 
 Association, the author says : 
 
 " ' It is manly to keep away from all temptation, and 
 you are the only one who can make you strong enough 
 to do it. 
 
 " ' Have you ever inquired how a trainer prepares an 
 athlete for a sparring match, a rowing or foot race or 
 any other manly contest? Besides the regular exer- 
 cise and carefully selected food which the athlete must 
 take, he is forbidden to smoke, drink intoxicating 
 liquors, or approach women. The trainers want their 
 men to win. To win l^ey must be in perfect health, 
 
244 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and if they do any of the forbidden things their health 
 can not be perfect. 
 
 " ' So it is in life, and so it will be in your life. If 
 you want to be a strong man you must preserve your 
 health. And you can not be healthy if you do any of 
 the things you should not. 
 
 " ' But what if you have already begun to think and 
 do things that are dangerous? Your task will be 
 harder, but I can sum it up in one word — Stop ! ' 
 
 " Men of accomplishment everywhere recognize this 
 in a greater or less degree; and still we see the very 
 ones who give utterance to the fact, themselves slaves 
 to their uncontrolled passions. This slavery has been 
 a natural outgrowth of their early habits, and like a 
 drug or narcotic habit, it completely masters them. 
 These facts being placed before a boy, — ^he is no longer 
 excused; for he now will begin or continue any form 
 of pollution of his body, wilfully. If he would be pure 
 and strong, he will have his struggles, but out of strug- 
 gle is manhood developed. 
 
 " In conclusion let me add a few words about alcohol 
 and tobacco. When you go into college, you will find 
 that students are encouraged in the use of beer and 
 wines. I cannot take time now, to prove it to you, but 
 alcohol, in any form, makes sexual immorality easy 
 and probable. It paralyzes the higher moral senses, 
 and irritates the sexual centres. Alcohol and all forms 
 of sexual vice, go hand in hand. 
 
 " Those vampires who enslave pure girls in dens of 
 compulsory degradation and keep them in their iron 
 grip until death comes to their release, well know that 
 they can only accomplish their purpose through the 
 action of drink, 
 
THE DAWN OF MANHOOD 24S 
 
 " The manly thing, at this day, is to be an abstainer 
 from alcoholic drink. Besides, none can afford to take 
 chances on the ' drug habit ' that follows in so many 
 cases. It is not a matter of taking it, or letting it 
 alone. The drunkard was only a ' social glass fellow ' 
 to begin with, and did not intend to become its slave. 
 He is to be pitied, and regarded as any other insane 
 man ; but do not forget that you, who are forewarned, 
 would be far less deserving of the pity of strong, clean, 
 abstaining men and women, should you fall victims to 
 this dreadful curse. 
 
 " Tobacco, also, fastens itself upon the nervous sys- 
 tem, though in a less degree; and they, too, who be- 
 come its slaves, likewise deserve and need our pity. 
 No man can accomplish his highest purpose when be- 
 coming thus enslaved ; for, it is his divine privilege to 
 be his own master. Perhaps you may be saying to 
 yourself that you know good and strong men who 
 smoke. That may be true. I do not say that good 
 men do not use tobacco ; but this I do say — ^that there 
 are very few such men, who, had they only known, 
 would never have allowed themselves to form the 
 habit. For confirmation of this fact I do not ask you 
 to take my word, for, as you know, I do not know one 
 thing about the effects of smoking from my own per- 
 sonal experience. I ask you to approach a man who 
 smokes, and for whom you have good reason to feel 
 respect, and ask him his advice. Not one will advise 
 you to follow in his steps, and nearly every one will 
 warn you not to do so. 
 
 "What stronger proof could we have that the to« 
 bacco habit is a curse? Indulged, at first, perhaps, 
 with the mistaken idea that its quieting effect upon the 
 
246 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 nervous system will lead to better work, it soon be- 
 comes a tyrant, and very few indeed can use it without 
 incurring irreparable injury. 
 
 " So, boys, I beg of you, avoid all things that tend 
 to lessen self-control. Be men, strong in your God- 
 given powers, pure, clean, and wholesome in body and 
 in mind; and thus shall life be always bright and al- 
 ways tend to good and not to evil for yourselves and 
 for the world. A controlled body means an unham- 
 pered spirit that can see with a clear vision things 
 eternal." 
 
THE ENGAGEMENT 347 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 THE ENGAGEMENT 
 
 THE four years had slipped away rapidly, as 
 happy years are wont to slip away. The whole 
 Lyon family, including the faithful, grateful, 
 and now healthful governess Miss Archer, was waiting 
 to see the procession of seniors cross the campus and 
 enter the hall, for among them was Lewis, now a tall 
 strong handsome man. 
 
 There was another year ahead of Esther, for she had, 
 from the beginning, lessened her work in accordance 
 with the wish of her father that on no condition should 
 she be under mental strain on those days upon which 
 nature had the greater claim. 
 
 "What is one year's delay of cap and gown, my 
 child, in comparison with a fine physique that shall 
 make you a healthy woman, a good wife and mother, 
 and so a valuable member of the community? " This 
 her father had impressed upon her, and if, sometimes, 
 she longed to rush forward with her classmates, she 
 had but to look upon the undeveloped, ilat-chested, 
 narrow thighed, nervous girls around her, to realize the 
 wisdom of her father's teaching, and to content herself 
 with an additional year of college life. 
 
 "See, there is Esther! There in that bunch of 
 Sophs," said Miss Archer, with whom Esther had al- 
 ways been a favorite. "And there isn't another girl 
 in the bunch who has such a glow of health, or who 
 carries herself with such splendid vigor." 
 
248 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 "No," said Dr. Robert proudly. "There isn't. I 
 see ' N-e-u-r-o-t-i-c ' written upon the face of many 
 girls in the class. That's the ordinary public school 
 product. Yes, I think we must organize a school for 
 adolescent girls," Dr. Robert went on joyously. " You 
 shall be the principal and I, — ^the board of medical di- 
 rectors." 
 
 " And our school shall be " 
 
 " Admitted at twelve," interrupted Dr. Lyon. " All 
 unnecessary grammar school stuff dropped, and pre- 
 paratory studies for college early entered upon. A 
 gymnasium in which the girls shall exercise or run or 
 play after each recitation — and to the joUiest, liveliest, 
 purest music that can be found. A circulatory system 
 cannot be wound up once a week, like a clock, and 
 warranted to go for seventy-two hours, as some of our 
 educators seem to think. Exercise should be frequent, 
 if one expects to establish a self-sustaining circulation. 
 And physical measurements, yes, these are indispensa- 
 ble, and each girl shall be set to her own special work. 
 Frequent new measurements, too ; for this encourages 
 the girl as she sees her deficiencies decreasing. But 
 what next? Let me see. Society — O yes — social func- 
 tions, boys invited, every week. Girls should learn to 
 be at ease with boys, and they should learn each to 
 have a responsibility in entertaining. A wholesome 
 social training should be an essential part of every col- 
 lege life. 
 
 " The curriculum shall be so elastic that every girl 
 may afford time to rest from undue mental stimulation 
 when such rest is desirable, and that, too, without 
 needing to worry over loss of time. 
 
 "Careful medical supervision, in consultation with 
 
THE ENGAGEMENT 249 
 
 the family physician, so that any early tendencies to 
 abnormality may be corrected in the beginning ; for no 
 doctrine is more harmful than that which excuses neg- 
 lect of a young woman on the ground that ' she will 
 outgrow it in good time.* 
 
 "And one thing more — there shall be some one 
 teacher who has the tact and the delicacy to give full 
 sex instructions ; and there shall be a class in which the 
 young people shall be trained in the selection of life 
 mates, and in home building, so that they may have 
 normal ideas of life and its responsibilities. Unless 
 such ideas are instilled, education becomes a sort of 
 • go as you please ' in the very matters in which great- 
 est care and most patient guidance should be given; 
 and it will be our aim to educate thoroughly, and not 
 one-sidedly." 
 
 Just then the class song rang out across the campus, 
 and Dr. Lyon realized that he had theorized too long.' 
 " It was your fault, Miss Archer, you shouldn't have 
 started me on my pet theme," he said, and they turned 
 to the chapel, where Dr. Ruth, the happiest mother in 
 all the world, and Lewis, the proudest son, awaited 
 their coming. 
 
 Into the chapel marched the candidates for degrees, 
 and following them the Sophs. At Esther's side 
 walked a handsome honest-faced lad, Lewis's particular 
 chum, and one of whom the Lyons had heard much 
 during the four college years. 
 
 "Philip is the best fellow that ever lived. Pop," 
 Lewis had said; and he looked upon the growing 
 friendship between his chum and his sister with glee. 
 
 "He has the right ideas. Mother mine," he said 
 
250 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 earnestly one day to Dr. Ruth ; and she knew that she 
 could trust her son's judgment. 
 
 "You must take good care of Esther, next year, 
 Philip," said Dr. Ruth, when she said good-bye at the 
 railroad station before turning homeward with her 
 own precious children. 
 
 " It will be my greatest pleasure," said Philip, gal- 
 lantly ; and there was little doubt of his sincerity. Nor 
 did he fail to keep his promise; for when the next 
 Easter came around, and Esther and Philip were grad- 
 uating, both were carried off in triumph to the Lyon 
 farm, and, in due time, an engagement was announced. 
 
 " Just as I predicted," sniffed Aunt Mehetabel. " All 
 that time and money wasted on her education! They 
 might have known she'd study boys, instead of books ! " 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 251 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 
 
 RING! ring! ring! ring! ring! 
 "Hello!" 
 "Hello! is this Dr. Lyon?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Good morning, Doctor. This is Edwards, chair- 
 man of the School Board." 
 
 " Ah, good morning, Mr. Edwards." 
 
 "The Superintendent has been telling me. Doctor, 
 about your lecture." 
 
 "Yes?" 
 
 " A fine thing, I say. I'm glad you gave it, — mighty 
 glad." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Edwards." 
 
 "Now, Doctor, we aren't meaning to ride a good 
 horse to death ; but I've been wondering if you would 
 favor us once more, and come before the Board this 
 evening to explain to us this matter of Medical School 
 Supervision. I'm not a learned man, and I don't know 
 about these things; but if it is best for our town to 
 have it, why we must — that's all." 
 
 "It is certainly a grand thing — a necessary thing, 
 Mr. Edwards; of that there can be no doubt. And I 
 shall be glad to come and talk it over with you." 
 
 "All right. Thank you. This evening at eight—* 
 will that be all right? " 
 
 " All right. This evening at eight. Good-bye." 
 
 « Good-bye." 
 
252 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 It was, then, at eight o'clock that Dr, Robert went 
 before the School Board, the clergy of the town, and 
 four other doctors, together with many mothers and 
 fathers, to speak of the crying need in our Public 
 Schools for medical supervision. 
 
 After a brief introduction by the chairman, he began: 
 
 "With all due appreciation of the various modern 
 innovations and additions that have been made to the 
 once meagre school curriculum, the doctors and the 
 parents of each community might well combine and 
 demand that one more department be added — a depart- 
 ment of thorough and continuous medical supervision. 
 
 " To draw, to paint, to construct, to sing, to cook, to 
 sew — all these are good ; they make for usefulness, and. 
 better still, they make for broad sympathy and for 
 generous outlook upon life. 
 
 " But the one thing that underlies all usefulness and 
 all success in life is a firm, well-balanced nervous sys- 
 tem. With it, one is brave and courageous, able to 
 override obstacles and defy defeat. With it, life is a 
 joyful thing, and things become worth while. 
 
 " A medical supervisor should be one who gives his 
 whole time to a community — ranking with the other 
 special teachers. At present our medical supervisors 
 are physicians in practise, who give a certain small 
 portion of their time to school supervision. This is 
 far better than nothing ; but a supervisor whose whole 
 time could be given to the schools, and who could 
 thereby tabulate facts about the children and watch 
 developments, would be of infinitely greater value. 
 
 " This supervisor, like the primary teachers, should. 
 I think, be a woman, because of her tact with children 
 and close motherly sympathy with them. 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 253 
 
 " She should, if possible, have been herself a school 
 teacher, for then she would understand the relation of 
 her work to the work of the school. 
 
 " Thirdly, the medical supervisor should be one who 
 is capable of direct and vigorous platform work. This 
 is essential to the most important part of the medical 
 supervisor's duty, as she should form and maintain 
 parents' clubs in which the training of children is to be 
 discussed. Each large building should have its own 
 club, made up of the parents of the children of that 
 particular school. 
 
 " The medical supervisor should be as closely in 
 touch with modern pedagogy and modern child study 
 as she is with pathology and therapeutics. It is her 
 duty quite as much to acquaint the parent with every 
 stage of the child's mental growth as with his phys- 
 ical development. Without such knowledge no parent 
 is able wisely and fully to meet the child's needs. The 
 nursery maid type of mother no longer can be counted 
 as completely equipped. The twentieth century mother 
 must meet the demands of her whole child, and no one 
 but a good medical supervisor, is fitted to assist her to 
 this perfect, all-round understanding of her duty. A 
 supervisor should instruct both parents and teachers; 
 and seeing that any woman of average intelligence can 
 graduate as a nurse, any mother of average intelligence 
 can be taught, for her own and for her child's good, 
 those things pertaining to health and disease that a 
 nurse is able to learn. 
 
 " Every mother and every teacher should know 
 enough of pathology and therapeutics to intelligently 
 watch a child and know what disease is brewing, and, 
 when the disease is passed, what its sequelae may be. 
 
254 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 She should be able to tell when nerves and eyes are 
 normal, and when irritable and abnormal; when a 
 child's languor or inattention or stupidity is due to 
 mental deficiency, and when due to physical conditions 
 which affect the child's mentality. 
 
 " No one movement could perhaps prevent so much 
 human misery as a movement for universal medical 
 supervision of helpless children. Under such super- 
 vision the children who now grow up sickly and dis- 
 eased would have fair opportunity for physical develop- 
 ment. Their limitations may be early discovered, and 
 the proper light be thrown upon these limitations, so 
 that they may be rescued from the misery that might 
 come later in life to them. 
 
 " There is also another moral aspect to the matter of 
 medical supervision. So long as the parents are so crim- 
 inally neglectful in matters pertaining to the period of 
 adolescence in their boys and girls, and since young 
 people are thrown out into society from which the old 
 Puritan simplicity and honor and morality are fading, 
 there is serious work for the schools to do in saving the 
 children through intelligent instruction. 
 
 " Now and then a brave voice rings out, but we pay 
 little heed. Dr. Stanley Hall's book on Adolescence 
 ought to arouse the interest and concern of every 
 intelligent mother; but if she still fail to understand 
 and appreciate, then the school authorities should come 
 to the rescue. There should be, over every high school 
 community, one good medical man, and one good med- 
 ical woman, to whom boys and girls could go with the 
 questions, and by whom they can be informed concern- 
 ing the grave needs which parents so wilfully or ig- 
 norantly overlook. 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 255 
 
 "We are, one and all, very loth to consider these 
 problems, — ^the deepest and most important in human 
 life. We prepare our young people for trades and for 
 professions; but for home making, — ^the part of life 
 which, above all, makes a heaven or hell of the personal 
 life, — ^we prepare our young people not at all. 
 
 " Every young man should have it impressed upon 
 him by some reputable physician who will state plain 
 scientific facts without sensational attempt to terrify, 
 that a life of youthful debauchery means defeat in 
 middle life and physical wreckage to wife and children. 
 Every young woman should have placed before her 
 pictures of the dignity and the beauty of true home- 
 making. She should be shown what her own possible 
 wifehood and motherhood might be in a home where 
 high ideals and kindly intelligence reign — ^where 
 motherhood is a sacred thing, and where duties to 
 children are a religion. 
 
 " We are told by psychologists that religion and sex 
 are the two deepest, most fundamental instincts in life. 
 The church takes care of the one; the school, until 
 there are more mothers who are wise in the deep things 
 of life, should take care of the other. 
 
 " Finally, then, all medical supervision must be pro- 
 foundly sympathetic. The supervisor should be able 
 and willing to teach, to exhort, to direct; more than 
 that, she must be consecrated to the cause of the little 
 children. She must understand the child, and appre- 
 ciate his feelings. She must recognize that every child 
 is facing the great facts of life ; and she must have for 
 the little one that sympathy for human weakness which 
 Christ himself exemplified when he stretched forth his 
 band and drew the children to him, yearning, as only 
 
256 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 a great soul can yearn, to save, to guide and to protect 
 them. 
 
 " It may be that his ' Suffer little children to come 
 unto me * means more than we are wont to attribute to 
 the words. It may be that, as one who feels because 
 he himself has lived deeply, he spoke the words more 
 as a prayer — a human yearning to save these little chil- 
 dren from the sufferings which, through ignorance and 
 neglect, were already revesding themselves to his il- 
 lumined vision ; for every child is a pathetic little crea- 
 ture, bearing, as it does through heredity, the burden 
 of generations gone before; cursed or blessed, as the 
 case may be, before its own birth, by the lives of its 
 ancestors; helpless, guileless, ignorant, inexperienced, 
 and moulded by its environment. 
 
 " What greater work of charity, of philanthropy, 
 then, can one do than to work for these children, with 
 the view of protecting them from accident, developing 
 their life force, sustaining their physical vigor? With- 
 out this there is little joy in life, no satisfactory activ- 
 ity, no harmony, limited usefulness, no happy fulfill- 
 ment of purpose. The physically limited human being 
 leads a life of limitation, of inhibition, of disappoint- 
 ment, of thwarted ambitions and aspirations. 
 
 " That we have, each one of us, a soxd and a spirit 
 some may question; but of one thing we are sure, — 
 that we have a body ; and that this body is the bridge 
 between the unknown soul world and the known sense 
 world; and however great, however divine, the soul 
 and spirit may be, they cannot speak to the conscious 
 human being, cannot send convoys to earth with mes- 
 sages of joy, through a body that is over-wrought or 
 over-burdened. 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 257 
 
 " Let us then do what we can for the physical wel- 
 fare of the little child; for in that way, quite as much 
 as in any other way, we may fit him for a life of sat- 
 isfactory fulfillment, and so make for him the condi- 
 tions which the Christ foresaw when he said, ' Suffer 
 the little children to come unto me, and forbid them 
 not! ' or again when He said, ' But whoso shall offend 
 one of these little ones which believe in me, it were 
 better for him that a millstone were hung about his 
 neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the 
 sea.' 
 
 "A distinguished authority on these matters has, 
 said, ' The chief aim of education should be to prolong 
 adolescence'; and by that he means, to prolong that 
 period of innocence and faith which, as we all know, 
 fades away as the years go by. It is then that the 
 doctor says life's forces are waning; the psychologist 
 says, adolescence is passing; the individual says, I am 
 tired of the struggle, — and he truthfully thinks he is. 
 
 " This is true, and if we would preserve health to 
 middle life, we must look to the health of the children. 
 As an illustration let me say that in a certain school 
 containing some two hundred children whom it was 
 my privilege to examine, twenty-nine were found with 
 marked far-sightedness. Far-sightedness was a char- 
 acteristic of the primitive eye, and was most useful 
 when, as a primitive people, we followed the herd or 
 pursued our prey across the plains. A far-sighted eye 
 in modern times, in a period of near-sighted occupa- 
 tions, is, however, most disastrous. Such an eye is 
 under constant strain and tension in its attempt to 
 bring its natural focus down to fit the artificial condi- 
 tion under which it must work. As the result of years 
 
258 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 of such strain and tension, it is little wonder that dis- 
 turbances of the sympathetic nervous system are 
 brought about. 
 
 " For some time — years, if the child be strong, — ^this 
 strain may go on; but there comes a time when, like 
 the over-loaded bridge, the foundations give way and 
 disaster follows. 
 
 " One of these children was whipped at home, and 
 prodded on at school, for what was counted obstinate 
 carelessness in reading and in number work. Another 
 was nervous and thin, and never slept soundly, — a 
 most common result of the congested condition at the 
 base of the brain produced by eye strain and often also 
 by preputial adhesions in both sexes. Another had 
 almost never a good appetite, and nausea was of fre- 
 quent occurrence. This child was forever being ' built 
 up,' but, as the doctors had often told the parents, its 
 abnormal lack of appetite worked always against it. 
 This is a very typical case. 
 
 " In this school there were also several cases of 
 adenoid pressure in the pharynx back of the nose ; two 
 of them quite advanced, the others in incipiency, and 
 capable of easy correction. Of the two advanced cases, 
 one was a girl of thirteen. Her mother testified that 
 the child snored in her sleep, and that they tried to 
 break up the habit by tying up the chin. Of late artic- 
 ulation had become poor, and the sensitive child was 
 beginning to beg to leave school, so behind was she in 
 her class work, and so conscious of her peculiarity. 
 This child had the ' adenoid expression,' as it is called, 
 to a marked degree, — ^the drawn eyes, the open mouth, 
 the protruding lips. On examination, deafness was 
 revealed, due to the pressure of the adenoids upon the 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 259 
 
 eustachian tubes; and the blood was found to be far 
 below a well oxygenized standard, due, of course, to 
 inefficient respiration. The other child, in very similar 
 condition, died a little later of pneumonia, the capacity 
 of the system to resist the disease being doubtless less- 
 ened by the impeded respiration. Of the incipient 
 cases, three parents were induced to take their children 
 to a surgeon and have the adenoids removed. If the 
 operations were done skilfully and successfully, no one 
 can estimate the suffering from which the children 
 were saved, to say nothing of the fact that these chil- 
 dren were in a fair way to become useless members of 
 the community. 
 
 "Another line of assistance to children that might 
 come through medical supervision of our schools, 
 would be that of the careful watching of children when 
 they come back to school after illness. To most par- 
 ents, either through indolence or ignorance, a child is 
 supposed to be cured when the acute symptoms are 
 passed, and little or no attention is paid to after effects. 
 I once saw a child who had returned to school after a 
 rheumatic fever. The child was free from rheumatism, 
 to be sure, but the palpitation and breathlessness that 
 were all too evident, showed plainly the probable valv- 
 ular sequelae of the fever. The parents were informed 
 of the child's condition, and it was taken to a physician 
 more careful in the treatment of children than the fam- 
 ily physician had shown himself to be. 
 
 " Knowledge of such conditions should, of course, 
 be taught to the teachers by the medical supervisor, so 
 that they, watching the children, and knowing the na- 
 ture of the disease through which the child had passed 
 and the probable conditions which follow, might call 
 
260 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 the attention of the visiting supervisor to these cases, 
 and name them for examination. 
 
 " Scarlet fever, and even measles, have been known 
 to leave their trace upon the child. Should a teacher 
 find a bright child, on his return to school after suffer- 
 ing from one of these diseases, manifesting signs of in- 
 attention or blunted interests, it would be well to see if 
 the child's vision or hearing have not become affected, 
 as is often the case. Nothing blunts interest like in- 
 adequacy of sense perceptions, and the consequent 
 blunting of response to stimulation. We often blame 
 a deaf person for inattention, and feel that he is need- 
 lessly careless of the comfort of others; but we must 
 recognize that there is a physiological reason for this 
 inattention. In these cases the auditory nerve has 
 learned not to listen because it has learned that in all 
 probability it will not hear. So it may be with the 
 child whose inattention becomes marked, following a 
 certain class of diseases. 
 
 " Quite recently I have come across several cases of 
 chronic illness, late in life, resulting from neglected ac- 
 cidents or illnesses of childhood. To these I call your 
 attention for a few moments, to further illustrate the 
 importance of the supervision for which I plead. 
 
 " Case 1. This person was forty-one years of age; 
 and had suffered from an eye strain, that yielded to no 
 treatment, until the coccyx was found to be broken. 
 It was learned that the manipulation of the broken 
 bone increased, immediately, the irritability of the eyes. 
 The patient recalled that at the age of sixteen, she had 
 had a severe fall on the ice, and that, for months, sitting 
 for any length of time, had been painful. The coccyx 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 261 
 
 was removed, and the patient made marked improve- 
 ment in the eyes, and the cure was complete. 
 
 " Case 2. Age 38. The patient was melancholy, 
 tearful, and with constant pressing pain upon the top 
 of the head. Eyes were also irritable. On examina- 
 tion of the lower bowel, two burrowing ulcers were 
 found ; one upon the sigmoid ring, the other just below 
 the first. The patient reported a severe dysentery at 
 the age of eleven, at which time she recalled a two-year 
 period of headache similar to that which now afflicted 
 her. The ulcers were cauterized, the eyes became, in 
 two days, less sensitive to strong light, and the head- 
 ache disappeared completely. 
 
 " Case 3. Age 36. Man of business. A neuras- 
 thenic. He was found to have marked lumbar curva- 
 ture of the spine, together with the chronic bodily 
 weariness which often accompanies such curvatures. 
 Upon investigation of his history, it was found that, at 
 the age of nine, he had been put to work in a country 
 grocery, where he handled more or less heavy barrels 
 and boxes. At one time he remembered distinctly that 
 when he threw a box onto the wagon he was taken 
 with sudden pain in his back. Seat of pain was bound 
 in Balm of Gilead, and the lameness wore off in a year 
 or so. The seat of this childhood injury was now 
 found to be the seat of a present anaesthesia under the 
 Faradic current, and hjrpersesthesia from pressure. 
 
 "Case 4. A farmer, aged 64. Crippled from stiff 
 shoulder, and arm gradually withering. On examina- 
 tion, a certain articulation was found out of place, 
 and so long had it been in this condition, judging from 
 the asymetrical development, that reduction was 
 almost impossible. The patient had never, in his 
 
262 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 memory, had quite free use of this arm. The patient's 
 sister recalled a severe wrench which this arm had re- 
 ceived in his boyhood through a fall from the haymow. 
 She remembered a period of lameness, from which the 
 boy finally recovered more or less, and the incident was 
 forgotten. 
 
 " Case 5. Age 27. A woman with marked curva- 
 ture and accompanying neurasthenia. Her back had 
 ached, at intervals, from childhood. On careful exam- 
 ination, it was found that one leg was fully an inch 
 shorter than the other, throwing the spine into a me- 
 chanical curvature when standing or walking. The 
 mother recalled that, as a child, the patient had a se- 
 vere fall, followed by limping and sciatic pains for 
 some few weeks. The left os innominatum was found 
 dislocated, — ^pushed forward. This was reduced under 
 an anaesthetic, and marked improvement followed. 
 
 " Such, then, are a few of the hundreds of neglected 
 injuries, in children, which report themselves in later 
 life, disproving the cruel and careless theory that chil- 
 dren "outgrow" ailments. The above cases are sig- 
 nificant, moreover, in that they prove that often it is 
 not well to be content with merely examining the eyes 
 of children and prescribing glasses. The eye strain 
 should, of course, be corrected ; but the possible remote 
 cause of the eye strain should also be investigated. 
 
 " Much more might be quoted, but I am sure that 
 enough has been said to convince any intelligent hearer 
 of the need for medical supervision in our schools. 
 Even the best of parents do not understand pathology ; 
 and the family doctor is far too busy to follow up in- 
 dividual cases. 
 
 "There are already a few directors in our schools 
 
MEDICAL SUPERVISION IN THE SCHOOLS 26» 
 
 who believe that such supervision is necessary, and the 
 time will come when a community will no more think 
 of dispensing with a medical supervisor, than with a 
 superintendent. 
 
 " Last, but not least, the medical supervisors should 
 be men and women of broad enough views of life to 
 recognize that much suffering and physical decay arise 
 not only from perversion of the sex nature, but also 
 from nerve irritations that are themselves the causes of 
 such perversions, and that of themselves will produce 
 the same symptoms that arise from vicious habits. 
 Parents are loth to believe a detrimental report con- 
 cerning the morals of their children, but they will be 
 ready to permit a thorough physical examination which 
 may disclose the need, in either boy or girl, for advice 
 as to cleanliness or for a small surgical operation that 
 wiU save the child otherwise doomed to physical or 
 moral degeneracy. 
 
 " There has been little instruction furnished, private 
 or public, either to the under-graduate or to the rising 
 generation of the laity, upon the proper condition and 
 treatment of the sexual system. The subject, by uni- 
 versal consent, has been almost wholly unmentioned 
 and unconsidered. 
 
 "As untilled soil is pre-empted by weeds, and un- 
 civilized countries are occupied by savage races and 
 beasts of prey, so this untamed part of human nature 
 calls loudly for medical missionary work. The per- 
 nicious sexual habits of early life, and the consequent 
 weaknesses and sins of maturer years, form an un- 
 written history of our kind that fully explains a large 
 percentage of its miseries. 
 
 " In view of this almost universal and prodigal ex.- 
 
264 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 penditure of the creative force, now that we are awak- 
 ening to the fact that the welfare of society is entirely 
 dependent upon the vigor of its men and women, is it 
 not time for the medical profession to take this matter 
 in hand and see if some preventive measures cannot be 
 employed to remove this predisposing cause of decay? 
 
 " With freedom from temptation to wasnward prac- 
 tices, may not the chastisements of time be lighter, the 
 fabric of human society be raised upon a more sub- 
 stantial basis, and man approach more nearly the 
 image of his Maker? 
 
 " As prevention is better than cure, all measures that 
 tend, not only to restore, but to maintain the equilib- 
 rium of bodily functions and activities merit the most 
 careful and thorough consideration of the medical pro- 
 fession, and of our educators generally. 
 
WHEN THE BIRDLINGS FLY AWAY 265 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 WHEN THE BIRDLINGS FLY AWAY 
 
 " Dear hearts, you were waiting a year ago 
 
 For the glory to be revealed; 
 You were wondering deeply, with bated breath. 
 
 What treasure the days concealed. 
 Oh, would it be this, or would it be that? 
 
 Would it be girl or boy? 
 Would it look like father or mother most? 
 
 And what should you do for joy? 
 And then one day, when the time was full, 
 
 And the Spring was coming fast. 
 The tender grace of a life outbloomed. 
 
 And you saw your baby at last. 
 Was it or not what you had dreamed? 
 
 It was, and yet it was not; 
 For oh, it was better a thousand times 
 
 Than ever you wished or thought." 
 
 (John White Chadwick.) 
 
 THERE comes to every parent, at middle age, a 
 period of loneliness. At this time the children 
 are grown up, and are beginning to find their 
 own interests. They love Mother ; but she is no longer 
 necessary to them in the little things that once filled 
 their days. Esther and Lewis were very proud of their 
 mother, and loved her reverently, but their own lives 
 were now more absorbing; and it was right it should 
 be so. Little Edward too, was rapidly growing out of 
 childhood into the awakening adolescent boy, and was 
 no longer a clinging child. 
 
 And Dr. Ruth — ^yes, this busy physician, was lone- 
 some. Robert was just as devoted a lover as ever, and 
 Ruth grew prouder and prouder of him every day. 
 But the children were grown up ; and she realized that 
 in a few more years Edward too would be in college. 
 
266 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 and the twins would have left the home nest for homes 
 of their own. 
 
 "Robert," she said, "what would I do when the 
 children are gone, if you, too, were growing away? " 
 
 "/ growing away? What is the matter with my 
 little wife? " and Dr. Robert pretended to be surprised. 
 
 "I wonder if all mothers feel like this when their 
 babies grow up? Oh Rob, I want my babies again! 
 I want those dear sweet days when Lewis and Esther 
 were little helpless babes. Do you remember how we 
 used to sit in the nursery, and hold the little things in 
 our laps and dream dreams for their future?" 
 
 Robert gathered his little wife in his big strong arms, 
 and held her close. How she rested in that loved em- 
 brace, and how his strength compassed her about! 
 Soon she drew a deep sigh which meant, rest, rest; for 
 to a woman this is rest indeed, and peace. 
 
 " Darling," said Ruth after a time, " Mrs. Martin was 
 here this afternoon, and she is so angry because she is 
 to be a mother again. She is forty-four, and Willie is 
 ten years old. She seems to feel that she has been 
 misused and imposed upon. And, someway, her anger 
 and defiance set up a great cry in my soul. I couldn't 
 understand the bitterness in her heart against that little 
 coming baby! 
 
 " I, too, am forty-four ; but I am not glad the babies 
 are out of the way, as Mrs. Martin would be. It makes 
 me so lonely to see the twins drifting away. They 
 were our first babies, Rob; and how wonderful it all 
 was to us ! Some way, of late, it all comes back to me, 
 over and over, the wonder and the joy of those early 
 days!" 
 
 " I have seldom heard women express anything but 
 
WHEN THE BIRDLINGS FLY AWAY 267 
 
 anger at the coining of a baby in middle life," said 
 Robert slowly, " and of course, it is not for a man to 
 judge, but it has always seemed to me that these late 
 babies might be a great comfort and might receive 
 great benefit. They ought to keep one young; and 
 they ought to postpone that lonely period after the 
 first children drift away and the mother sits with 
 empty arms, and with, perhaps, also an empty heart." 
 
 " Yes Rob, with all the affection I bear for you, and 
 the children, something in my heart longs again for a 
 wee baby, a little helpless dependent baby, to hold tight 
 and to brood over because it is helpless and dependent ;" 
 and the strong lips quivered, and the tears came into 
 her eyes. " Very soon the time will come when the 
 possibility of motherhood will have gone from me ; and 
 I don't like the idea of losing the thing that one feels 
 to be the dearest. 
 
 " Tell me, Robert dear, might we not have just one 
 more sweet little baby? It would not wrong the child, 
 do you think, at our age? We should give it excellent 
 prenatal influences owing to our maturity and experi- 
 ence; and again, with our years of experience and 
 study, with mature love and a better knowledge of 
 human nature, and the widening of sympathies and 
 thought that our surgical practice and lectures have 
 given, might we not produce a better child than even 
 these three. I'd rather like to see. It would be quite 
 a study, and such a joyous expectation!" 
 
 " No dear, I think there would be no wrong to the 
 child. Were either of us broken in health, there 
 would; but we are not. Few women at thirty are as 
 well as you are to-day." 
 
 " I am so glad you think it would do the dear little 
 
268 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 baby no harm," said Ruth happily — " and so glad you 
 do not think that I am selfish." 
 
 Dr. Robert looked down into the face that appealed 
 to him so pathetically, but he said nothing. What 
 could he say? What words are adequate in presence 
 of the deep longing that comes into the heart of a true 
 woman at this time in her life? 
 
 Someone has said that nature is cruel to women. 
 She builds up her schemes of reproduction step by step, 
 from the soulless, unconscious amoeba to the conse- 
 crated, loving heart of the woman. She weaves love, 
 love, love into the fibre of her nature, and compasses 
 her round about with the sublimest of sentiments. She 
 evolves great love between men and women, — a love 
 so deep, so self-sacrificing, that the world knows no 
 greater; and she adds to this a love of offspring that 
 counts no cost, no pain, no sacrifice, too great. All 
 these she superinduces upon the fundamental instinct 
 for simple reproduction; but when suffering takes the 
 place of joy, when death claims the loved ones, when 
 physical vigor grows less, while the wife and mother 
 heart remains the same, then Nature ruthlessly and re- 
 lentlessly turns her back from her desire. " What care 
 I for sentiment? " she seems to say. " What care I for 
 the individual? I work only for the species! " 
 
 Said Robert, " Listen to a plan I have for running 
 away for a vacation, now that the twins are off to col- 
 lege. Indeed, I have been thinking it is high time we 
 went off for a change. You are tired, and I suspect 
 you have been thinking too much. Now I have a plan. 
 In "The British Weekly" I read that the Duke of 
 Norfolk has put a promenade, a mile in length, along 
 the water front at Littlehampton, and that here and 
 
WHEN THE BIRDLINGS FLY AWAY 269 
 
 there are little rest houses where one may sit and look 
 at the sea." 
 
 " Dear Littlehampton, I love every foot of that wee 
 town," said Dr. Ruth dreamily; for her memory ran 
 back to one sweet time, now ten years since, when she 
 and Robert had taken a slow steamer across the ocean, 
 and had spent a quiet month together in that little 
 English seaport town. 
 
 It was a tiny town, off the main railroad, and seldom 
 visited by strangers ; but it was very picturesque, with 
 its little hedge-row streets and its quaint little lattice- 
 windowed houses. 
 
 Robert had taken one of these little houses; and 
 there, like romantic children, these two married lovers 
 had spent a happy month. 
 
 " Do you remember the night of the storm? " asked 
 Robert, " and how we struggled down to the shore to 
 see the breakers?" 
 
 " And the next day — it was Sunday — and we walked 
 along the shore over to Rustington, and went into the 
 quaint little chapel. That was the first old church I 
 had seen, you know, and how I loved the weather- 
 beaten doors, and the ivy, and the quaint old chancel ! 
 And do you remember the rector's text — dear old man 
 — he seemed a part of the church and of the service? " 
 
 " Yes, it was ' Faith, hope, love, and the greatest of 
 these is love.' " 
 
 " And — ^you won't think I am silly to remember? — 
 but you put your arms around me, there in the shadow, 
 and drew me close. A woman remembers those things, 
 dearest. And it made my heart go out to the whole 
 world in love and desire to help humanity." 
 
 Robert drew her close to him again, as he had done 
 
270 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 in the little Rustington chapel. " Shall we go there 
 again?" he asked, when they had sat in silence for 
 awhile. 
 
 "O Rob, it would be so beautiful! Will it do to 
 leave now? " 
 
 "I am sure we can. I'm tired of work, and I am 
 sure you need a change." 
 
 A month later the doctors and the whole family were 
 on the New York pier. The last signals were given, 
 and the friends of the passengers hurried off the boat. 
 Then the great steamer moved away. 
 
 How brave and handsome Robert looked as he 
 waved his good-bye ; and how young, quiet and sweet 
 Dr. Ruth looked as she stood beside him. She was 
 still as blithe as a girl, and her clothes were as beauti- 
 fully simple and as becoming as Esther's. " Old 
 people can't afford to grow careless," was one of her 
 axioms. There was just a sprinkle of gray in the soft 
 hair, and a few lines round the eyes; but these only 
 seemed to soften the happy face. Why is it that no 
 one, in poetry or in prose, sings the song of the mel- 
 low, soulful beauty of middle age? Color, and the 
 brilliant dash of youth, are beautiful to look upon, and 
 youth is full of promise ; but what a tender pathos, and 
 what a gentle spirit shines forth in the faces of those 
 middle-aged women — and those older women too — 
 whose hearts have been filled with the sacred burdens 
 and trials, and joys of wifehood and motherhood, such 
 as Ruth had known! Their feelings have deepened 
 and their sympathies have widened with life's deep ex- 
 periences, and to such as these comes a look which tells 
 of an understanding, a sympathy, such as Christ him- 
 self must have had. And to those who are weary. 
 
WHEN THE BIRDLINGS FLY AWAY 271 
 
 those who are suffering, those upon whom the burden 
 had rolled too heavily — ^upon such the loving face of 
 the older woman rests like a benediction, and its mel- 
 low beauty speaks of a "peace that passeth under- 
 standing." 
 
 It was June when they returned; and never, Ruth 
 thought, had any month been so rich in golden lights, 
 so full of soft and soothing sounds. This month they 
 spent upon the farm. 
 
 Dr. Ruth had certainly grown ten years younger — 
 everybody said so — and the happy light in her eyes 
 was only exceeded, if at all, by the happy light in 
 Esther's eager, youthful eyes. 
 
 To Dr. Ruth the whole world was pressing forward 
 to the day when her baby should come — the dear late 
 baby who was to fill her heart and her empty arms now 
 that the twins were gone away, and who was to be the 
 comfort of her later years. 
 
 Dr. Ruth and Esther, during this vacation time, sat 
 upon the wide piazza and sewed upon the tiny little 
 clothes for the coming stranger. Now and then the 
 former told some sweet story of her own early mar- 
 ried life, but especially did she love to tell of the 
 happy time when she was waiting for the coming of 
 her first babies. 
 
 From childhood Esther had been brought up simply 
 and honestly in all these things, and had talked freely 
 with her mother about them. She had learned to re- 
 vere the sweet maternity that brooded ever in her 
 mother's heart ; but never had it seemed so real to her, 
 never had it come to her with such tenderness as now, 
 when she sat by her mother's side on these glorious 
 summer days. It seemed now to have a deeper and 
 
272 FOUR EPOCHS OF LIFE 
 
 more personal meaning; and as she worked, day by 
 day, upon the tiny clothes, every stitch of which was 
 made in love, there grew up in her own heart a deep 
 sense of what the other heart must feel; and she 
 dreamed of the motherhood that might some day be 
 her own. 
 
 One morning the little stranger came, and when 
 Esther returned from college and saw it, she pressed 
 it to her heart, as she realized that she had grown to 
 love this baby with an almost jealous love, as if it 
 were her very own. 
 
 One day Philip saw her as she stood with the baby 
 in her arms, looking down with divine tenderness into 
 its little face. She did not notice his approach ; and as 
 he stood in the doorway and looked upon her, a new 
 feeling of awe and reverence came into his heart; and 
 there came into his mind tender thoughts regarding all 
 young women that had never come to him before, 
 thoughts which came as a benediction to him, and hu- 
 manized and glorified the knowledge which hitherto 
 had been to him but knowledge. 
 
 And so it was that the dear late baby brought its 
 blessing to them all. 
 
BOOKLETS AND REPRINTS 
 
 By ELIZABETH HAMILTON-MUNCIE, M. D. 
 
 Physical and Psychical Causes of Sexual immorality 10 cents 
 
 Man — A triune Creator 10 cents 
 
 THE SEX PROBLEM AND THE GIRL 
 Prepared for the International Sunday School Association 
 SUITABLE FOR CLASS WORK 
 For Superintendents 
 For Parents 
 For Teachers 
 
 For The Girl in Her 'Teens 50 cents 
 
 What Every Mother's Son Should Know 25 cents 
 
 By EDWARD H. MUNCIE, M. D. 
 
 What the Doctor Told His Son 25 cents 
 
 Honey Darling Christmas — A Story 25 cents 
 
 (A chapter from a forth-coming book, Satan Defeated) 
 
 Books Recommended by the Author of Four Epochs of Life, 
 FOR Home Reading 
 
 THE MOTHER ARTIST 
 
 By Jane Dearborn Mills 
 (Palmer Co.) 
 
 Shows how a mother may bring 
 to her own special work a breadth 
 of view, and a conception of its 
 relation to the world-life. 
 
 Price $1.00 
 Postage 10 cents extra 
 
 BLOSSOM BABIES 
 
 By M. Louise Chadwick, M. 
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 D. 
 
 Beautifully written Nature Stor- 
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 adopted for bed-time stories. 
 
 Price 75 cents 
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 A STUDY OF CHILD NATURE 
 
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 MISUNDERSTOOD CHILDREN 
 
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 SOME SILENT TEACHERS 
 
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 By ELIZABETH HARRISON 
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 2944 Michigan Blvd., Chicago, III. 
 
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