Alcoholism produces nerve degeneration--Tight lacing may have the same result--Nerve degeneracy may lead to alcoholism--Idiocy and inebriety increasing--Effects of wine--Evils of patent medicines--Inebriety of parents entails injury on offspring--Folly of marrying a man to reform him--Hereditary effects of morphine, chloral, etc.--Dangers of the tobacco habit--Inherited effects of tobacco. 223 CHAPTER XXIX. EFFECTS OF IMMORALITY ON THE RACE. The law of God not a double law--The inherited effects of immorality--Millions die annually from its effects-- Transmitted to child or wife--Contamination through a kiss. 235 CHAPTER XXX. THE GOSPEL OF HEREDITY. Inheritance of good so universal that we fail to think of it--Mercy shown to thousands of generations--Heredity not fatality--Effects of education transmitted--Experiments of Professor Gates on dogs--A divine inheritance. 241 CHAPTER XXXI. REQUISITES OF A HUSBAND. What is the young man's inheritance?--What are his ideas?--What is his estimate of woman?--What are his defects?--Are there adequate reasons why some should not marry?--May not married people be happy without children--A girl should know something of the personal habits of her future husband--Should consider her own personal habits--How freely may young people talk together? 247 CHAPTER XXXII. ENGAGEMENTS. Becoming engaged for fun--May not engaged young people throw aside restrictions?--Long engagements--The benefits of an engagement--Evils of a long engagement--Engagement a time of preparation--Sexual attraction not limited to local expression--Duty of the engaged young woman to her own family--Jealousy the quintessence of selfishness--Trust a suggestion to be true--Common sense needed in marriage--Hold your lover to the highest ideals. 255 CHAPTER XXXIII. THE WEDDING. Folly of preparing an elaborate trousseau--The way of one sensible girl--The wedding gifts--Bridal tours--The realities of wedded life. 267 PREFACE. During a number of years it has been my privilege to be the confidante and counsellor of a large number of young women of various stations in life and in all parts of the United States. These girls have talked freely with me concerning their plans, aspirations, fears and personal problems. It has been a great revelation to me to note with what unanimity they ask certain questions concerning conduct--queries which perhaps might astonish the mothers of those same girls, as they, doubtless, take it for granted that their daughters intuitively understand these fundamental laws of propriety.