SEX AND SOCIAL RELATIONS 233 



mately do something to make the love of accomplish- 

 ment supersede in a measure the love of mere life- 

 less things, to make dynamic ideals displace static 

 ones. The desire for large and capable families, 

 able to make a mark on the events of the day, 

 able to promote the welfare of society, must inevi- 

 tably form a part of this better appreciation of the 

 dynamic ideals of civilization. 



The sexual instinct is a topic of almost inexhaus- 

 tible variety and interest, and its discussion might be 

 almost indefinitely extended. But for the purpose 

 of this essay enough has been said to show how this 

 instinct, protean in its manifestations and frequently 

 veiled by other feelings and emotions, must enter, 

 prominently at times, into the life of nearly every 

 natural and normal human being. While it is clearly 

 in the interest of culture that this instinct should 

 disport itself healthfully within limits not quite 

 clearly definable and varying with temperament 

 and many a circumstance, it is incontrovertible that 

 trifling with the impulses of sex is perilous beyond the 

 understanding of the vulgar imagination. Inter- 

 woven as are these impulses with all the vital tissues 

 of thought, feeling, and motive, their thoughtless 

 exploitation is capable of bringing disorder and 

 degeneration in a hundred ways. That such mis- 

 takes are often pardoned by nature is certain ; but 

 it is equally sure that she exacts large and even fatal 

 penalties from many an imprudent devotee at Venus's 

 shrine. Here, indeed, is one of the important ways 



