UNCHASTITY 285 



child habitually seeks seclusion without a sufficient 

 cause, there are good grounds for suspecting him of 

 sinful habits. The barn, the garret, the water-closet, 

 and sometimes secluded places in the woods are favor- 

 ite resorts of masturbators. They should be carefully 

 followed and watched, unobserved. 



12. Bashf Illness is not infrequently dependent upon 

 this cause. It would be far from right to say that every 

 person who is excessively modest or timid is a mastur- 

 bator; but there is a certain timorousness which seems 

 to arise from a sense of shame or fear of discovery that 

 many victims of this vice exhibit, and which may be 

 distinguished from natural modesty by a little experi- 

 ence. One very common mode of manifestation of this 

 timidity is the inability to look a superior, or any per- 

 son who is esteemed pure, in the eye. If spoken to, 

 instead of looking directly at the iierson to whom he 

 addresses an answer, the masturbator looks to one side 

 or lets his eyes fall upon the ground, seemingly con- 

 scious that the eye is a wonderful tell-tale of the secrets 

 of the mind. 



13. Unnatural boldness, in marked contrast with the 

 preceding sign, is manifested by a certain class of vic- 

 tims. It can be as easily distinguished, however, as 

 unnatural timidity. The individual seems to have not 

 the slightest appreciation of propriety. He commits 

 openly the most uncouth acts, if he does not manifest 

 the most indecent unchastity of manner. When spoken 

 to, he stares rudely at the person addressing him, often 

 with a very unpleasant lear upon his countenance. In 

 some few cases there seems to be a curious combination 

 of conditions. "W^iile mentally fearful, timid, and hesi- 

 tating, the individual finds himself, upon addressing a 

 person, staring at him in the most ungainly manner. 



