“Pubertal changes commenced, I presume, about the age of 131/2 years.  I place it at this period from the following circumstances, which are fixed very strongly in my memory:  I had, as a child, a soprano voice that was praised considerably by older friends, and about which I was inordinately conceited, I enjoyed greatly taking part in operettas, cantatas, etc.  The dramatic instinct, if so it may be called, has always been marked with me, and amateur dramatics are still my chief diversion.  When I was about the age mentioned above my voice changed quite rapidly, greatly to my distress of mind, as I was obliged to give up taking a part for which I had been cast in a school entertainment.  The memory of that disappointment is still poignant.  Other changes, such as the appearance of the pubertal hair, must have made no impression on my mind, as I cannot recollect anything in connection therewith.  No involuntary emissions occurred.  Indeed, during periods of continence in later life, when the sexual tension has been very strong, I have had very few such emissions.

“As a lad of 11 or 12, I had heard frequent allusions to masturbation by other boys who were older, but always in a way that indicated contempt.  Yet there is no doubt now in my mind that the practice was very general.  I think that I was probably about 15 when I decided to try the act.  I think that there was little sex impulse in this decision.  The animating purpose was rather curiosity.  I succeeded in producing the complete orgasm and found it pleasurable, though there was a considerable shock of surprise at the ejaculation of semen.  As nearly as I can estimate in my memory of an event as far back as this was, this was the beginning of definite sexual sensibility in me.  I cannot but believe, however, that it would have been aroused sooner or later in some other way.  Thereafter I would imagine myself embracing some of the girl friends to whom I have referred above, and, when excited, would masturbate.  The act was in every instance a psychic intercourse.  For some time I did not know that the practice was considered harmful.  I indulged whenever I felt the inclination.  This at times was rather frequent; again only at considerable intervals.  I did know that it was looked upon as being unmanly, and never admitted, except to perhaps two or three boy friends, that I ever indulged.  With these boys I practised mutual masturbation a few times.  There was no homosexual feeling connected with these acts in any of us.  It was only that the normal method of gratifying our desires was not available.  I know the subsequent history of each of these boys, and there has been nothing to indicate any perverted instinct in any of them.  About the age of 16 I heard a talk on sexual matters by a traveling evangelist, who portrayed the effects of masturbation in fearful colors.  I now realize that he was an ignorant though well-intentioned man; but the general effect