How widespread, even some years ago, had become the conviction
that the sexual facts of life should be taught to girls as well
as boys, was shown when the opinions of a very miscellaneous
assortment of more or less prominent persons were sought on the
question ("The Tree of Knowledge," _New Review_, June, 1894). A
small minority of two only (Rabbi Adler and Mrs. Lynn Lynton)
were against such knowledge, while among the majority in favor of
it were Mme. Adam, Thomas Hardy, Sir Walter Besant, Björnson,
Hall Caine, Sarah Grand, Nordau, Lady Henry Somerset, Baroness
von Suttner, and Miss Willard. The leaders of the woman's
movement are, of course, in favor of such knowledge. Thus a
meeting of the Bund für Mutterschutz at Berlin, in 1905, almost
unanimously passed a resolution declaring that the early sexual
enlightenment of children in the facts of the sexual life is
urgently necessary (_Mutterschutz_, 1905, Heft 2, p. 91). It may
be added that medical opinion has long approved of this
enlightenment. Thus in England it was editorially stated in the
_British Medical Journal_ some years ago (June 9, 1894): "Most
medical men of an age to beget confidence in such affairs will be
able to recall instances in which an ignorance, which would have
been ludicrous if it had not been so sad, has been displayed on
matters regarding which every woman entering on married life
ought to have been accurately informed. There can, we think, be
little doubt that much unhappiness and a great deal of illness
would be prevented if young people of both sexes possessed a
little accurate knowledge regarding the sexual relations, and
were well impressed with the profound importance of selecting
healthy mates. Knowledge need not necessarily be nasty, but even
if it were, it certainly is not comparable in that respect with