[96] In this connection the reader is referred to a statement made in the _Report of the Royal Commission of Venereal Diseases_ (p. 17), with regard to “the high prevalence of syphilis among unmarried mothers.” An examination made by Dr. Mott as to the presence of syphilis in poor unmarried and working-class married women found that among the former 27.6 per cent. of the mothers were infected, while for the married the percentage was as low as 6.6. The Report states: “The tests in the above cases were carefully carried out, and the results, although based on too few cases to justify sweeping generalisations, must be regarded as extremely significant.” See also the next chapter, “The Dangers of Sexual Diseases.” [97] _Feminism in Germany and Scandinavia_, by Katharine Anthony. This interesting little book gives a full account of the splendid Norwegian bill, as well as considerable information on other matters connected with the unmarried mother. [98] By the _Affiliation Order Act of 1914_, two important changes in the law were gained— (1) The compulsory interval of six days (a period which gave the man opportunity to escape) between the summons and the appearance in court of the putative father was abolished. (2) The amount of the affiliation order was made payable through an official of the court (formerly it was left to the woman to collect the money), who has power, with the consent of the woman, to take action in case of non-payment. [99] _The Truth about Woman_, pp. 359-374. [100] In proof of this, see the letters from the Mothers of the Co-operative Guild quoted on pp. 40-44. [101] The Education Committee of the London County Council, for instance, have just agreed that in spite of the Report on Venereal Diseases and with its recommendation to schools to give sexual instruction, they would in no case advise teachers to give class instruction on such matters, but, at the same time, they advise teachers to give such instruction privately to “individual” pupils. [102] “Three Contributions to the Sexual Theory,” _The Infantile Sexuality_, p. 38. Eng. trans., New York, 1910. [103] See p. 100. Also p. 222. For further information on this subject, the reader is referred to the works of Mr. Walter Heape, especially _Sex Antagonism_ and _Preparation for Marriage_. [104] See pp. 185 and 298. [105] See pp. 100-102. [106] This is the opinion of Stanley Hall, whose wise work on _Adolescence_ should be read by all mothers. In this connection he beautifully writes: “In this way the girl will be anchored in time to what is really the essential thing, viz. reproduction and the carrying beneath her heart and then bearing children, which are the hope of the world.” [107] I find it estimated that by the end of 1917, of the persons aged from fifteen to forty-four in the United Kingdom, the females will exceed the males by nearly two millions. BIBLIOGRAPHY