28 SEX-LORE 



Competition, which at first is based on mere 

 physical prowess, also becomes more refined in its 

 methods. At first there may be running and jump- 

 ing tests, but after a time these take the form of 

 tournaments, to which the chivalrous element is 

 eventually added. And these in turn are superseded 

 by less obtrusive, but just as effective, competition 

 in the intellectual and moral fields. 



Another fundamental difference arises which dis- 

 tinguishes the courtship of Man from that of animals. 

 While in the brute creation courtship is based on 

 purely physical desire very little affection entering 

 into the sex relationship, except in some birds and 

 higher animals the spiritual element of love grad- 

 ually increases as man progresses in civilization, 

 until now we do not consider any sex relationship 

 truly human which does not contain a large element 

 of spirituality, in addition to the physical passion. 



1. PUBERTY. 



Spirituality shows itself quite low down in the 

 human race. Thus, while in the brute creation, as 

 soon as sexual desire is felt, the animal simply goes 

 for the object of his wishes without any conscious 

 thought, in human relationships there is always a 

 conscious element. This shapes itself among primi- 

 tive races into a supernatural cult, which forms the 

 first beginnings of religion. All vital functions of 

 life, such as birth, marriage, death, etc., inspire the 

 savage with awe and assume a sacred aspect. Their 

 occurrence is always marked by special religious 

 ceremonies. 



The advent of puberty is one of these important 



