Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/339

 "Prinz von Homburg" of Kleist, (1777-1811) who was himself homosexual; the "Hadrian" of Paul Heyse; and several others, occurs the drama "Jasminblüthe" by Ludwig Dilsner, in which is presented the struggle between two theorists in homosexualism. One man believes the emotion a perfectly natural, in fact, a bisexual manifestation, such as is the double sexuality of the jasmin-blossom; the other (both men are physicians) holds it as a perversion. The young son of the austerer scientist is an inborn homosexual. He becomes involved in a disgraceful blackmailing affair, concocted by another homosexual. His confession is made to his father; the latter is about to banish the youth from home and country, as an expiation. But the more humane and liberal-minded colleague intervenes, in an argument to spare the boy such an exile. The old dispute thus has "come home" terribly to one theorist! Why not try the boasted experiment, test the father's ideas of homosexuality—try the "cure" by a normal marriage? The son consents to the alternative. He becomes engaged—only to take his own life, rather than give himself sexually to any woman.

Another intersexual study via a psychic drama, is "In Eigener Sache", by August Adolf Friedrich. We meet a brilliant homosexual and parliamentarian, Doctor Auer, who loves a boy, a minor of fifteen years, of extreme beauty. Auer wishes to escape from the sentiment, yet without losing sight of the youth. He betroths himself to the boy's sister, who resembles the brother, and who loves the Doctor. Among unsuccessful suitors of the young lady, is a journalist and publicist, who learns of the intimacy between Auer and the boy. In revenge he denounces the unfortunate doctor legally, as a criminal under the famous "Paragraph 175" of the German Code against homosexuals. The doctor succeeds in defending himself. He is acquitted. His fiancée has never believed him criminal; she remains true to her love for him. In the