144 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



delayed until a much later period, or should be. Cer- 

 tain insects perform the sexual act as soon as they 

 acquire their perfect form; but they perish as soon as 

 the act is completed. 



It is astonishing how ignorant and indifferent the 

 majority of people are upon this subject. A friend 

 related to us an incident which fairly illustrates the 

 terrible apathy which prevails among parents. While 

 teaching a country school, he learned that a large num- 

 ber of children, boys and girls, of ages varying from 

 eight to twelve and fourteen years, were in the habit 

 of collecting together in barns and other secluded 

 places, and in a state of nudity imitating the ''Black 

 Crook," wifh all possible additional nastiness. Horri- 

 fied at such a monstrous evil, he hastened to inform the 

 parents of the corruption in their midst. Imagine his 

 astonishment when he was met with an indifferent 

 laugh, and the response, "Pooh! it's only natural; per- 

 fectly harmless; just like little pigs!"— as though pigs 

 were models for human beings ! 



It is not pleasant to consider what must have been 

 the moral status of parents who could hold such views ; 

 and it is no wonder that they should produce such 

 children. Doubtless, they learned too late that those 

 "natural" manifestations were the outgrowth of in- 

 cipient vices, planted and fostered by themselves, which 

 in later years destroyed shame, and gave loose rein 

 to lust. 



Often the manifestation of sexual precocity is less 

 gross, but almost equally fraught with danger, never- 

 theless. Dr. Acton, a distinguished English surgeon, 

 whom we shall frequently quote, makes the following 

 excellent remarks upon this subject: 



"Slight signs are sufficient to indicate when a boy 



