A CHAPTER FOR MARRIED PEOPLE 547 



occupy separate beds. Such a practice undoubtedly 

 serves to keep the sexual instincts in abeyance. Sepa- 

 rate apartments, or at least the separation of the beds 

 by a curtain, is also to be recommended. Sleeping in 

 single beds is reputed to be a European custom of long 

 standing among the higher classes. 



This subject cannot be concluded better than by the 

 following quotations from an excellent and able work, 

 entitled, ''The Ten Laws of Health:" * 



''The obvious design of the sexual desire is the 

 reproduction of the species. . . . The gratification of 

 this passion, or indeed of any other, beyond its legiti- 

 mate end, is an undoubted violation of natural law, 

 as may be determined by the light of nature, and by 

 the resulting moral and physical evils." 



' ' Those creatures not gifted with erring reason, but 

 with unerring instinct, and that have not the liberty of 

 choice between good and evil, cohabit only at stated 

 periods, when pleasure and reproduction are alike pos- 

 sible. It is so ordered among them that the means and 

 the end are never separated ; and as it was the All-wise 

 Being who endowed them with this instinct, without 

 the responsibility resulting from the power to act 

 otherwise, it follows that it is his law, and must, there- 

 fore, be the true copy for all beings to follow having 

 the same functions to perform, and for the same end. 

 The mere fact that men and women have the power and 

 liberty of conforming or not conforming to this copy 

 does not set them free from obedience to a right course, 

 nor from the consequences of disobedience." 



"The end of sexual pleasure being to reproduce 

 the species, it follows, from the considerations just 

 advanced, that when the sexual function is diverted 

 from its end (reproduction), or if the means be used 



* Black. 



