ce. Indeed, one
invert necessarily regards another as being of the same undesired
female sex as himself, and for this reason it will be found that,
while friendships between inverts frequently exist (and these are
characteristically feminine, unstable, and liable to betrayal),
love-attachments are less common, and when they occur must
naturally be based upon considerable self-deception. Venal
gratifications are always, of course, as possible as they are
unsatisfactory, and here perhaps some of the peculiarities of
taste accompanying inversion may admit of elucidation. In
considering the peculiar predilection shown by inverts for youths
of inferior social position, for the wearers of uniforms, and for
extreme physical development and virility not necessarily
accompanied by intellectuality, regard must be had to the
probable conduct of women placed in a position of complete
irresponsibility combined with absolute freedom of action and
every opportunity for promiscuity. It seems to me that the
importance of recognizing the underlying female element in
inversion cannot be too strongly insisted upon."

"The majority" [of inverts], writes "Z," "differ in no detail of
their outward appearance, their _physique_, or their dress from
normal men. They are athletic, masculine in habit, frank in
manner, passing through society year after year without arousing
a suspicion of their inner temperament; were it not so, society
would long ago have had its eyes opened to the amount of
perverted sexuality it harbors." These lines were written, not in
opposition to the more subtle distinctions pointed out above, but
in refutation of the vulgar error which confuses the typical
invert with the painted and petticoated creatures who appear in
police-courts from time to time, and whose portraits are
presented by Lombroso, Legludic, etc. On another occasion the
same writer remarked, while expressing general agreement with the
idea of a pseudosexual attraction: "The _liaison_ is by no means
always sought and begun by the person who is abnormally
constituted. I mean that I can cite cases of decided males who
have made up to inverts, and have found their happiness in the
reciprocated passion. One pronounced male of this sort, again,
once said to me, 'men are so much more affectionate than women.'
[P