p. 244). In Germany, where there is in some
respects more patient endurance of interference
with the liberty of the individual than in France,
England, or America, various elaborate systems for
organizing prostitution and dealing with venereal
disease continue to be maintained, but they cannot
be completely carried out, and it is generally
admitted that in any case they could not accomplish
the objects sought. Thus in Saxony no brothels
are officially tolerated, though as a matter of
fact they nevertheless exist. Here, as in
many other parts of Germany, most minute and extensive
regulations are framed for the use of prostitutes.
Thus at Leipzig they must not sit on the benches in
public promenades, nor go to picture galleries,
or theatres, or concerts, or restaurants, nor
look out of their windows, nor stare about them
in the street, nor smile, nor wink, etc., etc.
In fact, a German prostitute who possesses the
heroic self-control to carry out conscientiously
all the self-denying ordinances officially decreed
for her guidance would seem to be entitled to
a Government pension for life.
Two methods of dealing with prostitution prevail in Germany. In some cities public houses of prostitution are tolerated (though not licensed); in other cities prostitution is “free,” though “secret.” Hamburg is the most important city where houses of prostitution are tolerated and segregated. But, it is stated, “everywhere, by far the larger proportion of the prostitutes belong to the so-called ‘secret’ class.” In Hamburg, alone, are suspected men, when accused of infecting women, officially examined; men of every social class must obey a summons of this kind, which is issued secretly, and if diseased, they are bound to go under treatment, if necessary under compulsory treatment in the city hospital, until no longer dangerous to the community.
In Germany it is only when a woman has been repeatedly observed to act suspiciously in the streets that she is quietly warned; if the warning is disregarded she is invited to give her name and address to the police, and interviewed. It is not until these methods fail that she is officially inscribed as a prostitute. The inscribed women, in some cities at all events, contribute to a sick benefit fund which pays their expenses when in hospital. The hesitation of the police to inscribe a woman on the official list is legitimate and inevitable, for no other course would be tolerated; yet the majority of prostitutes begin their careers very young, and as they tend to become infected very early after their careers begin, it is obvious that this delay contributes to render the system of regulation ineffective. In Berlin, where there are no officially recognized brothels, there are some six thousand inscribed prostitutes, but it is estimated that there are over sixty thousand prostitutes who are not inscribed. (The foregoing facts are taken from a series of papers describing personal