_, (p. 208), the majority of the men who
visit prostitutes are married. The estimate is probably
excessive. Neisser states that only twenty-five per cent. of
cases of gonorrhoea occur in married men. This indication is
probably misleading in the opposite direction, as the married
would be less reckless than the young and unmarried. As regards
the motives which lead married men to prostitutes, Hedwig Hard
narrates from her own experiences an incident which is
instructive and no doubt typical. In the town in which she lived
quietly as a prostitute a man of the best social class was
introduced by a friend, and visited her habitually. She had often
seen and admired his wife, who was one of the beauties of the
place, and had two charming children; husband and wife seemed
devoted to each other, and every one envied their happiness. He
was a man of intellect and culture who encouraged Hedwig's love
of books; she became greatly attached to him, and one day
ventured to ask him how he could leave his lovely and charming
wife to come to one who was not worthy to tie her shoe-lace.
"Yes, my child," he answered, "but all her beauty and culture
brings nothing to my heart. She is cold, cold as ice, proper,
and, above all, phlegmatic. Pampered and spoilt, she lives only
for herself; we are two good comrades, and nothing more. If, for
instance, I come back from the club in the evening and go to her
bed, perhaps a little excited, she becomes nervous and she thinks
it improper to wake her. If I kiss her she defends herself, and
tells me that I smell horribly of cigars and wine. And if perhaps
I attempt more, she jumps out of bed, bristles up as though I
were assaulting her, and threatens to throw herself out of the
window if I touch her. So, for the sake of peace, I leave her
alone and come to you." There can be no doubt whatever that this
is the experience of many married men who would be well content
to find the sweetheart as well as the friend in their wives. But
the wives, from a variety of causes, have proved incapable of
becoming the sexual mates of their husbands. And the husbands,
without being carried away by any impulse of strong passion or
any desire for infidelity, seek abroad what they cannot find at
home.

This is not the only reason why married men visit prostitutes.
Even