CHAPTER VII.

Prostitution.

I. The Orgy:—­The Religious Origin of the Orgy—­The Feast of
Fools—­Recognition of the Orgy by the Greeks and Romans—­The Orgy Among
Savages—­The Drama—­The Object Subserved by the Orgy.

II. The Origin and Development of Prostitution:—­The Definition of
Prostitution—­Prostitution Among Savages—­The Conditions Under Which
Professional Prostitution Arises—­Sacred Prostitution—­The Rite of
Mylitta—­The Practice of Prostitution to Obtain a Marriage Portion—­The
Rise of Secular Prostitution in Greece—­Prostitution in the East—­India,
China, Japan, etc.—­Prostitution in Rome—­The Influence of Christianity on
Prostitution—­The Effort to Combat Prostitution—­The Mediaeval Brothel—­The
Appearance of the Courtesan—­Tullia D’Aragona—­Veronica Franco—­Ninon de
Lenclos—­Later Attempts to Eradicate Prostitution—­The Regulation of
Prostitution—­Its Futility Becoming Recognized.

III. The Causes of Prostitution:—­Prostitution as a Part of the Marriage
System—­The Complex Causation of Prostitution—­The Motives Assigned by
Prostitutes—­(1) Economic Factor of Prostitution—­Poverty Seldom the Chief
Motive for Prostitution—­But Economic Pressure Exerts a Real
Influence—­The Large Proportion of Prostitutes Recruited from Domestic
Service—­Significance of This Fact—­(2) The Biological Factor of
Prostitution—­The So-called Born-Prostitute—­Alleged Identity with the
Born-Criminal—­The Sexual Instinct in Prostitutes—­The Physical and
Psychic Characters of Prostitutes—­(3) Moral Necessity as a Factor in the
Existence of Prostitution—­The Moral Advocates of Prostitution—­The Moral
Attitude of Christianity Towards Prostitution—­The Attitude of
Protestantism—­Recent Advocates of the Moral Necessity of
Prostitution—­(4) Civilizational Value as a Factor of Prostitution—­The
Influence of Urban Life—­The Craving for Excitement—­Why Servant-girls so
Often Turn to Prostitution—­The Small Part Played by Seduction—­Prostitutes
Come Largely from the Country—­The Appeal of Civilization Attracts Women
to Prostitution—­The Corresponding Attraction Felt by Men—­The Prostitute
as Artist and Leader of Fashion—­The Charm of Vulgarity.

IV. The Present Social Attitude Towards Prostitution:—­The Decay of the
Brothel—­The Tendency to the Humanization of Prostitution—­The Monetary
Aspects of Prostitution—­The Geisha—­The Hetaira—­The Moral Revolt Against
Prostitution—­Squalid Vice Based on Luxurious Virtue—­The Ordinary
Attitude Towards Prostitutes—­Its Cruelty Absurd—­The Need of Reforming
Prostitution—­The Need of Reforming Marriage—­These Two Needs Closely
Correlated—­The Dynamic Relationships Involved.

CHAPTER VIII.

The conquest of the venereal diseases.