The subject of licentiousness is justly attracting the attention of legislators of the present day to an extent which has never been witnessed before. This is a sign of dawning promise, for the worst condition of a nation is that where gross evils remain uncared for. This great evil has crept on uncared for, or referred to with hushed breath, until it bids fair to ruin our most valued institutions. Legislation has broken the spell, and will continue its work until it has aroused the conscience of the nation. The execution of wise measures can only be secured by the support of an enlightened, conscientious community. No legislation can be efficient which does not represent the best average sentiment of the country. In regard to this great question, no wise legislation is possible for any evil of licentiousness until the subject has been thoroughly considered by those who are most keenly interested in it--viz., the fathers and mothers of the nation. No specialists, of whatever class, can suggest wise measures, as specialists, in a matter which so intimately concerns the family. Only a large view of what is needed for the purity and dignity of the family, for the good of its children, for its influence in society, can secure wise laws. Anything which tends to encourage the lowest passions of human nature, either by the acceptance of base customs, by the legalization of vice, or by fostering in any other way the animal tendencies of men, must produce hereditary as well as social effects on daughters as well as sons. Customs and institutions which injure the character of women, which weaken their virtue and crush out the germs of higher life, must be the source of deadliest evil to any nation. It behoves the legislators of the present generation to be careful in their social and legal sanction of vice amongst males, lest they be blindly undermining the whole social fabric, amongst women as well as men, in a way which they would least wish to do, if they knew what they were doing. * * * * *