l
brutality, but the punishment should take a milder form. The sexual
act and everything connected with it should be absolutely free, but a
man has no right to provoke or annoy his neighbor by indecent sexual
invitations if the latter does not wish to respond to them.

It is, however, extremely difficult to fix the limits of what is
licit, for prudery may also go too far and regard the most innocent
allusions as provocations. It is absolutely necessary to leave a
margin for normal sexual invitations. All that is required is that
they should not overstep the limits of recognized propriety, so long
as there is not mutual agreement between the two parties. (Vide
_Flirtation_, Chapter IV.)

=Lewdness. Pornography.=--The question naturally presents itself of
knowing how far it is permitted to proceed publicly with a mutual
agreement without causing offense or injury to other parties. On the
whole, our customs are free enough in this respect, and a greater
liberty in public flirtation would be inconvenient. For instance, lewd
exhibitions, coitus, etc., could not be allowed in public places.
Children especially should be protected against such excitations of
the sexual appetite, and it is necessary to fix a legal distinction
between what is offensive and what is not offensive to public
propriety or modesty.

Simple police regulations are sufficient for this purpose, but they
are very necessary to protect women and children, and occasionally
young men, against importunities or sexual obsessions, against sexual
solicitation, or even against assault or other offenses, such as
incitement to masturbation, obscene words and gestures, etc.

It is, no doubt, very difficult to define the limits. Our modern
customs have left a large margin for pornography, which they treat
like a spoiled child. The most dangerous form, however, is not that
which flaunts itself in shop windows, by advertisements and placards,
in public kiosks and dancing rooms; but the refined and aesthetic
pornography which appears in the form of elegant engravings, erotic
novels and dramas, under the cloak of art and even under that of
morality.

Unfortunately, the public is a very bad judge of these things. Certain
books have openly and fearlessly described the sexual vices of our
time--for example, Zola's novels and the dramas of Brieux--and these
have been stigmatized as pornographic. As a matter of fact their
authors in no way merit such a reproach. Such wor