[Pg i]THE SEX SIDEOF LIFE
An Explanation for Young People
Copyright, 1919,By Mary Ware Dennett
SIXTH PRINTING
Extra copies of this booklet may be had atthe following rates from the author
MRS. MARY WARE DENNETT
81 Singer Street
Astoria. Long Island, New York
| Single copies | $0.25 | each | |
| Orders of five | .20 | " | |
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[Pg 1]The Sex Side of Life First Appeared in the MedicalReview of Reviews for February, 1918. The followingis quoted from the editor's foreword.
We have come across so much rubbish on this subject thatwe drifted into the conclusion that an honest sex essay foryoung folks would not be produced by this generation.
Recently there came to this desk a manuscript bearingthe title The Sex Side of Life and the sub-title An Explanationfor Young People, written by Mary Ware Dennett.No editor ever confesses that he reads an articlewith prejudice, but we will admit that we expected thisMS would be “returned with thanks.” It was reasonable tosuppose that a laywoman would not succeed where physicianshad failed. Even after we had read the introductionwe were not convinced, for we have met several bookswhose texts do not fulfill the promises made by the preface.But after reading a few pages of the essay itself, we realizedwe were listening to the music of a different drummer.Instead of the familiar notes of fear and pretense, we weresurprised to hear the clarion call of truth.
Mary Ware Dennett's Sex Side of Life is “on thelevel.” In the pages of the Medical Review of Reviews,her essay will reach only the profession, but we sincerelyhope that this splendid contribution will be reprinted inpamphlet form and distributed by thousands to the generalpublic. We are tolerably familiar with Anglo-Americanwritings on sexology, but we know nothing that equalsMrs. Dennett's brochure. Physicians and social workersare frequently asked: “What shall I say to my growingchild?” Mary Ware Dennett, in her rational sex primer,at last furnishes a satisfactory answer.
THE SEX SIDE OF LIFE
INTRODUCTION FOR ELDERS
In reading several dozen books on sex matters for theyoung with a view to selecting the best for my own children,I found none that I was willing to put into their hands,without first guarding them against what I considered verymisleading and harmful impressions, which they wouldotherwise be sure to acquire in reading them. That is theexcuse for this article.
It is far more specific than most sex information writtenfor young people. I believe we owe it to children to bespecific if we talk about the subject at all.
From a careful observation of youthful curiosity and avery vivid recollection of my own childhood, I have triedto explain frankl