444 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



ery, ice-cream, and other dietetic abominations, cannot 

 avoid becoming sallow and hollow-eyed. The cheeks, 

 though plump and rosy, will certainly lose their fresh- 

 ness, and become hollow and thin. Chalk and rouge 

 will not hide the defect; for everybody will discover 

 the fraud, and will of course know the reason why it 

 is practiced. 



A Beauty-Destroying Vice.— But by far the worst 

 enemy of beauty and health of body, mind, and soul, 

 we have not yet mentioned. It is a sin concerning 

 which we would gladly keep silence ; but we cannot see 

 so many of our most beautiful and promising girls and 

 young ladies annually being ruined, often for this 

 world and the next alike, without uttering the word of 

 warning needed. 



As before remarked, the function of maternity, 

 which is the object of the sexual system in woman, 

 when rightly exercised, is the most sacred and elevated 

 office which a woman can perform for the world. The 

 woman who is a true mother, has an opportunity of 

 doing for the race more than all other human agencies 

 combined. The mother's influence is the controlling 

 influence in the world. The mother molds the character 

 of her children. She can make of their plastic minds 

 almost what she will if she is herself prepared for the 

 work. On the other hand, misuse or abuse of the 

 sexual organism is visited in girls and women, as in 

 boys and men, with the most fearful penalties. Noth- 

 ing will sooner deprive a girl or young lady of the 

 maidenly grace and freshness with which nature blesses 

 woman in her early years, than secret vice. 



We have the greatest difficulty in making ourself 

 believe that it is possible for beings, designed by nature 

 to be pure and innocent, in all respects free from im- 



