It is absurd to maintain that the methods followed by the prostitutes, and by those who patronize them, are in any sense natural, because the fundamental design of the sexual act—procreation—is of course not in view; but, if pregnancy does occur, the offspring is either killed by abortion, a deed not known among animals, or abandoned to an infamous career. Among sparrows, gorillas or human beings, marriage is essentially consummated by the act of copulation, which naturally is an immensely important relationship, implying that the male shall remain near the mother, fight off all enemies from the home, and provide food until both the mother and offspring are able to dispense with his services.
Sparrows and gorillas need no religious or civil performances to bind their marriages; and If men were as natural as they are, the procreative act would mean much more than the gratification of a transient physical appetite. If we are to take our examples from a scientific study of natural history, i.e., from the plant and animal kingdoms, we shall find no argument in support of prostitution or of any substitute akin to it; while, on the contrary, we shall see that animals and plants elaborate male and female fertilizing elements which are brought into conjunction solely for the purpose of reproduction of species. To mankind alone is conceded the privilege a concession which we grant as legitimate of a temperate gratification of the sexual appetite in the marriage relationship, merely for the sake of pleasure.
Many of the governments of Europe have sought to lessen the ravages of syphilis and gonorrhoea by licensing houses of prostitution and enforcing a rigid medical inspection of the women. The absurdities of this system of medical inspection will be more fully discussed in another part of the book.1
It is common for men to pass through a stage of frolicsome wildness in which they think it necessary to sow some "wild oats." That "boys will be boys" is just as physiological as that colts should be colts, lambs should be lambs, puppies should be puppies, or that kittens should be kittens. There is an unrestrainable potentiality in the rich young blood which compels the healthy young of all mammals to be buoyant, sportful, nimble, full of pranks, tricks, gambols, escapades and wildness.
Something is wrong when a boy or young man does not feel "ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises," when he has too much of the old man in him and takes himself too seriously; and happy is the mature man who still retains some of this youthful, sunshiny principle in his nature. This play element is most effective in keeping the mind and body refreshed and wholesome, and it should never be eliminated from one's life.
But though it is necessary for the mind and body to relax in sport, it is not necessary to make an abuse of this sport; the "wild oats" should be sown in light soil, where they cannot take deep root and rise up into a luxuriant crop, and no consideration should allow one to so far forget himself as to sow tares in his neighbor's garden.
All kinds of manly sport and healthful amusement should be entered into heart and soul,
but
"Let's teach ourselves that honorable stop,
Not to outsport discretion."
Othello, Act ii., Sc. 3.
"Make not thy sport abuses: for the fly That feeds on dung is coloured thereby."
HERBERT, "Temple."