The physical growth of youth, the new powers, the various symptoms which mark the transition from childhood into young manhood and womanhood, are often alarming to the individual. Yet this important period of life is entered upon, strange to say, as a general rule, without parental guidance. Parents shrink from their duty. They have failed to become their children’s confidential friends. In every other respect the physical and mental wants of their children are attended to. Suitable food is provided, and the various functions of digestion and assimilation carefully watched; the healthy condition of the skin, of the muscles, of all the various functions of the body provided for, and intellectual education carried on, but the highest physical and mental function committed to the human being, whose guidance requires the wisest foresight, the most delicate supervision, is left to the chances of accident or the counsels of a stranger. Measureless evil results from the neglect of parents to fortify their children at this age. Although direct and impressive instruction and guidance in relation to sex is not only required by the young, but is indispensable to their physical and moral welfare, yet the utmost caution is necessary in giving such guidance, in order that the natural susceptibilities of the nature be not wounded. It is a point on which youth of both sexes are keenly sensitive, and any want of tact in addressing the individual, or any forcible introduction of the subject where the previous relations of parent and child have not produced the trust and affectionate mutual respect which would render communication on all serious subjects of life a rational sequence in their relations, may do harm instead of good. Where the conscience of the parent has only been awakened late in life to this high duty to the child, the attempt to approach the subject with the young adult is often deeply resented by both boy and girl. In such cases the necessary counsel may be better given by a stranger--by the physician, who will speak with acknowledged authority, or by some book of impressive character, when such a one (much needed) shall have been prepared. That this is a very imperfect fulfilment of parental duty is true, but it is often all that the parent can attempt where the high and important character of sex has not been understood at the outset of family life, and thus not guided the past education of the children.