Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/179

 "I doubt if many homosexual "victims" have come more directly than I have by their instincts in that direction, or have more plainly felt them from early boyhood. My father was of German-English blood. I once overheard him conversing with a friend on the general subject of homosexuality, in a confidential interview. He was of a plainness of speech in the talk that has made me certain that not only he, but my grandfather also, were homosexual, to a considerable degree, notwithstanding their pleasant married lives … But this conviction did not come to my ears till long after my own tendency was clear."

"I often wonder if more precocious "examples" of homosexualism occur. I was really precocious in many matters. For one detail, nobody ever "taught" me to read, nor could say how I had, even learned my letters. I could and did read any ordinary English book easily and correctly for most part, when I was less than six years old. When I was eight, I was as far advanced in general information as most boys of fifteen. I was fully prepared for college at seventeen, having also then a vast amount of general knowledge not common to boys of such age. But my sexual feelings, which were exclusively homosexual from the first moment that I remember anything in the way of admiration were remarkably developed, when I was in first youth. I hid them from the first. I remember how when I was about six years old, I used to feel drawn with an intense interest to handsome men in our family-circle, or to handsome lads; to one especially, who was much at our house with my older brother. At the same time, I did not like to be "petted" by women, nor at all welcomed their society, however pretty and friendly. I also took strong pleasure in looking at pictures in which men were the subject. I was a very nervous, high-strong youngster; used to fall into violent tempers, etc".