3. _Secret sex habits._--It is probable that country boys are more prone to secret perversions of their sex life than are city boys. The enforced solitude of the former and the increased opportunities for such secret evil may be accountable for the difference. In any event, there is necessity of constant watchfulness, and that especially until the son has reached comparative maturity of the physical body. The danger is at its height at the beginning of the adolescent period, fourteen to sixteen years of age. But the preparation for meeting the possible sex perversion should be begun very early and consist in frank talks and admonitions. The small boy's questions about the origin of life must be answered frankly but only to the extent of imparting to him enough information to satisfy his present curiosity. Thus to satisfy his childish curiosity will prove a means of counteracting the evil influences of the bad companionships referred to above. Then, the youth needs to be shown some instances of the ruinous effects of sex perversion in boys and men, together with the inculcation of the idea that any such evil practice will cut off the possibility of his realizing the high standards of moral character set for him. It is well also to remember that prevention of the boy's misuse of his sex life is comparatively easy and that cure is extremely difficult. 4. _The so-called bad habits._--When we speak of the "bad habits" among boys and men we are inclined to think of swearing, smoking, and the use of intoxicants. Without thought of defending the practice of profanity, we may say that it is often acquired in an innocent fashion and that it ordinarily implies no conscious or intentional evil. That is, it is usually not so bad in its actual analysis as it sounds to the listener. Moreover, it is a habit which many boys take up and afterwards discontinue when once they have set up for themselves high standards of manliness.