They might extend a hand to a repentant Magdalene.

A Phryne they must not even be aware of.

In other words, this evil as a subject of investigation and intelligent discussion among women was absolutely prohibited.

It has ever been their Great Taboo.
Nevertheless, when eight million women, in practically every civilized country in the world, organized themselves into an International Council of Women, and began their remarkable survey of the social order in which they live, one of their first acts was to break the Great Taboo.
[Illustration: MISS SADIE AMERICAN] At early congresses of the International Council Miss Sadie American, Mrs.Kate Waller Barrett, Mrs.Elizabeth Grannis, among American delegates, Miss Elizabeth Janes of England, Miss Elizabeth Gad of Denmark, Dr.Agnes Bluhm of Germany, and others interested in the moral welfare of girls, urged upon the Council action against the "White Slave" traffic.

No extensive argument was required to convince the members of the Council that the "White Slave" traffic and the whole subject of the moral degradation of women was a social phenomenon too long neglected by women.
These women declared with refreshing candor that it was about time that the social evil was dealt with intelligently, and if it was to be dealt with intelligently women must do the work.