CHAPTER V. 



THE CAUSE. 



" Loose Thoughts like subterranean Fires, 

 Burn inward, smothering, with unchaste Desires ; 

 But getting vent, to Rage and Fury turn, 

 Burst in volcanos, and like Etna burn, 

 The Heat increases as the Flames aspire, 

 And turns the solid Hills to liquid Fire. 

 So sensual Flames, when raging in the Soul, 

 First vitiate all the Parts, then fire the Whole ; 

 Burn up the Bright, the Beauteous, the Sublime, 

 And turn our lawful Pleasures into Crime." 



Daniel Defoe. 



I HAVE endeavoured in the preceding chapters to 

 point out the connection between physical de- 

 cline, and profligacy and licentiousness ; also 

 that it may be traced, in a milder form, to pro- 

 pagation from the undeveloped species. 



I am well aware that there is nothing new in 

 all this. Unfortunately, many efforts are being 

 made to divert the public attention away from 

 the real facts of the case. 



Many expert writers are now employed on the 

 subject of the physical deterioration of the 

 masses. No doubt they are doing a great amount 

 of good socially, but their many volumes on the 

 improper feeding of children, insanitary slum 

 dwellings, insanitary workshops, the vitiated and 

 smoke- laden atmosphere of large towns, etc., do 

 not grapple the all-important problem. 



The man who deals with the question effectu- 



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