"Thirty-six girls in this high school passed into womanhood with no knowledge whatever, from a proper source, of all that makes them women.

Thirty-nine were probably not much wiser, for they stated that they had received some instruction, but had not talked freely on the matter.

From the fact that the curious girl did not talk freely on what naturally interested her, it is possible she was put off with a few words as to personal care, and a reprimand for her curiosity.

Less than half of the girls felt free to talk with their mothers of this most important matter!" (Helen Kennedy, "Effects of High School Work upon Girls During Adolescence," _Pedagogical Seminary_, June, 1896.) The same state of things probably also prevails in other countries.

Thus, as regards France, Edmond de Goncourt in _Cherie_ (pp.