hey do not easily follow
abstractions. They want their dogmas and religious sentiments embodied
in a man, just as they do their romantic fancies. Of course you
Protestants, with your married clergy, see less of the effects of this
than celibates do, but even with you there is a great deal in it.
Why, the very institution of celibacy itself was forced upon the early
Christian Church by the scandal of rich Roman ladies loading bishops
and handsome priests with fabulous gifts until the passion for currying
favor with women of wealth, and marrying them or wheedling their
fortunes from them, debauched the whole priesthood. You should read your
Jerome."

"I will--certainly," said the listener, resolving to remember the name
and refer it to the old bookseller.

"Well, whatever laws one sect or another makes, the woman's attitude
toward the priest survives. She desires to see him surrounded by
flower-pots and candles, to have him smelling of musk. She would like
to curl his hair, and weave garlands in it. Although she is not learned
enough to have ever heard of such things, she intuitively feels in his
presence a sort of backwash of the old pagan sensuality and lascivious
mysticism which enveloped the priesthood in Greek and Roman days. Ugh!
It makes one sick!"

Dr. Ledsmar rose, as he spoke, and dismissed the topic with a dry little
laugh. "Come, let me show you round a bit," he said. "My shoulder is
easier walking than sitting."

"Have you never written a book yourself?" asked Theron, getting to his
feet.

"I have a thing on serpent-worship," the scientist replied--"written
years ago."

"I can't tell you how I should enjoy reading it," urged the other.

The doctor laughed again. "You'll have to learn German, then, I 'm
afraid. It is still in circulation in Germany, I believe, on its merits
as a serious book. I haven't a copy of the edition in English. THAT was
all exhausted by collectors who bought it for its supposed obscenity,
like Burton's 'Arabian Nights.' Come this way, and I will show you my
laboratory."

They moved out of the room, and through a passage, Ledsmar talking as
he led the way. "I took up that subject, when I was at college, by a
curious chance. I kept a young monkey in my rooms, which had been born
in captivity. I brought home from a beer hall--it was in Germany--some
pretzels one night, and tossed one toward the monkey. He jumped toward
it, then screamed and ran back shuddering with fright. I co