Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/244

 In the "Jahrbuch für Sexuelle Zwischenstufen" for the year 1900, is a reference to the prevalence of homosexual relations between Oriental athletes, ring-performers, and the like; the text being the famous Arabic troupe known as the "Uled Sidi" one; communicated by Herr M. Gudenfeldt. An eminent "bare-back rider," an Englishman by birth, well-known as one of the international artists in the Circus X—, (a man to be esteemed for refinement and serious character) stated to the present writer, some four or five years ago, that in his judgment "one male circus-athlete ring-rider, gymnast, etc., in ten was homosexual"; whether as a complete Uranian or vacillating between uranianism and dionianism. Some highly passional "homosexual affairs" have had, as protagonists, the aristocratic lovers of riders in the ring, or of statuesque trapeze-artists.



From the camp to the Court is a short step, though a sovereign is not always a leader of battles. Earlier paragraphs of this chapter concern princes not alone theoretically but really Soldier-Uranians; fighters and chieftains, by career and temperament. Turning from such, let us glance at royal, noble, and otherwise eminent personages, (occasionally military withal) for the list of homosexuals in high-life. They are not always aristocratic Uranians to honour the philarrenic intersex and "cause". Often they are princes typically decadent in morals as in intellect; weak, cruel or puppet-like kings; tyrannous or unprincipled statesmen; disgraces to high, or to any other, society. But it is to be said in apology for some such exalted homosexuals that they were men who by birth, by social or political or other responsabilises, stood in false relations to life. We can believe that many such careers would be more edifying reading had such Uranians been born in private station, or could they have turned their backs on courts,