Plain Facts for Old and Young | Page 5

given to the young. It may be adopted as a safe rule, however, that a
certain amount of knowledge should be imparted as soon as there is
manifested a curiosity in this direction. If there is reason to believe that
the mind of the child is exercised in this direction, even though he may
have made no particular inquiries, information should not be withheld.
How to Impart Proper Knowledge.--No little skill may be displayed in
introducing these subjects to the mind of the young person in such a
way as to avoid arousing his passions and creating sexual excitement.
Perhaps the general plan followed in the first portion of this work will
be found a very pleasant and successful method if studied thoroughly
and well executed.
All information should not be given at once. First obtain the child's
confidence, and assure him by candor and unreserve that you will give
him all needed information; then, as he encounters difficulties, he will

resort for explanation where he knows he will receive satisfaction.
When the little one questions, answer truthfully and carefully.
The following paragraph by Dr. Wilkinson is suggestive:--
"When we are little boys and girls, our first inquiries about our whence
are answered by the authoritative dogma of the 'silver spade;' we were
dug up with that implement. By degrees the fact comes forth. The
public, however, remains for ages in the silver-spade condition of mind
with regard to the science of the fact; and the doctors foster it by telling
us that the whole subject is a medical property.... There is nothing
wrong in the knowing; and, though the passions might be stimulated in
the first moments by such information, yet in the second instance they
will be calmed by it; and, ceasing to be inflamed by the additional goad
of curiosity and imagination, they will cool down under the
hydropathic influences of science. Well-stated knowledge did never yet
contribute to human inflammation; and we much question whether the
whole theory of the silver spade be not a mistake; and whether children
should not be told the truth from the first; that before desire and
imagination are born, the young mind may receive, in its cool
innocency, a knowledge of the future objects of powers and faculties
which are to be subject afterward to such strong excitements."
The experience of hundreds in the circulation of this work has proven
beyond all chance for question the truth of the foregoing remarks, and
often in a most striking manner. Scores of persons have written us, "I
would give all I possess in this world could I have had a copy of 'Plain
Facts' placed in my hands when I was a lad," or, "Words cannot express
the gratitude I would now feel had some kind friend imparted to me the
invaluable information which this book contains; it would have saved
me a life of wretchedness."
We have had the satisfaction of knowing in numerous instances that the
virtue and happiness of whole families have been secured by the timely
warnings of danger which parents have obtained from this work. We
are glad to be able to feel that it is now thoroughly demonstrated that
intelligent persons who have given this subject thought universally
approve of the objects of the work and the manner of presenting the

subject adopted in it. Those who at first question the propriety of
discussing the subject so freely and thoroughly as is here done, lose
their prejudice entirely upon giving the work a careful perusal. In
numerous instances it has occurred that those who were most decided
in their denunciations have become the most zealous and efficient
agents in its circulation after becoming more fully acquainted with it.

SEX IN LIVING FORMS.
Life, in its great diversity of forms, has ever been a subject of the
deepest interest to rational beings. Poets have sung of its joys and
sorrows, its brilliant phantasies and harsh realities. Philosophers have
spent their lives in vain attempts to solve its mysteries; and some have
held and thought that life was nothing more than a stupendous farce, a
delusion of the senses. Moralists have sought to impress mankind with
the truth that "life is real," and teeming with grave responsibilities.
Physiologists have busied themselves in observing the phenomena of
life, and learning, therefrom, its laws. The subject is certainly an
interesting one, and none could be more worthy of the most careful
attention.
Living Beings.--Man possesses life in common with other beings
almost infinite in number and variety. The hugest beast that roams the
forest or plows the main is no more a living creature than the smallest
insect or microscopic animalculum. The "big tree" of California and the
tiny blade of grass which waves at its foot are alike imbued with