CHAPTER XXIX
THE SEXUAL LIFE IN ITS PUBLIC RELATIONSHIPS (SEXUAL QUACKERY, ADVERTISEMENTS, AND SCANDALS)
“One of the principal reasons which makes the eradication of quackery for ever impossible is to be found in the fact which finds incisive expression in the proverb ‘Die Dummen werden nicht alle.’” [“Stupidity is a hardy perennial.”]—Wilhelm Ebstein.
CONTENTS OF CHAPTER XXIX
Greater publicity of the sexual life in the age of commerce — Three forms of this publicity — Sexual quackery — The relations of quackery to the sexual life — Recent examples — The trade in sexual nostrums and other articles of immoral use — Public puffing of sexual nostrums — Quack advertisements.
Newspaper advertisements for sexual purposes — Matrimonial advertisements — Their history — The two oldest matrimonial advertisements — Mercenary marriages and marriages for position — Nominal marriages — Immoral advertisements — Loan advertisements — Acquaintance advertisements — Friendship advertisements — Employment advertisements — Heterosexual and homosexual advertisements — Advertisements regarding correspondence — Advertisements of rooms for sexual purposes — Advertisements regarding instruction — Rendezvous and postillon d’amour advertisements — Poste restante correspondence — Private inquiries — Advertisements for the purpose of sexual perversions — Street handbills — Brothel guides.
Public scandals of a sexual character — Murders and suicides from love — Seductions, duels, procuress trials — Orgies and the life of swindlers.