Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/450

 rather exclusive and aristocratic, it passes as a literary-club, an athletic society, sometimes as a dramatic-society, a chess-club, and so on. No outsider easily suspects what really goes on. Every precaution is taken against allowing unsympathetic visitors to invade it, and to fend-off spies; all manner of devices are used if by some mistake such a wolf in sheep's clothing has managed entrance, or if the law is alert. The precautions are just like those in political secret-societies, when suspicions are to be warded-off, guests regarded with lynx-eyed suspicion, and subterfuges kept well-oiled before danger comes. These, homosexual clubs are of all grades of aristocracy or democracy. They are not always locales for homosexualism between their members; though many such clubs are that. But they give the opportunity for social acquaintances, for personal soundings, for practical similisexualism elsewhere, for international correspondence, oral information between internationals, and the like. Now and then dire scandals come from them, and with more or less social horrifies they suddenly disintegrate. In spite of all pains in concealments, the homosexuality of the members and the procedingsproceedings [sic] in such fraternities have a bad trick of leaking-out. Official and personal jealousies, lax management, incautious admissions to the penetralia, bring gossip. So come quarrels, explosions, and flights, right and left. But new societies of the sort take the places of the old ones, disclosures are forgotten. All goes well with those peaceable organizations—till their turn comes. The suppression of private homosexual clubs, in big capitals, is like the cutting-off the heads of an Hydra—but without searing the severed arteries.

The boy-prostitute of tender years does not monopolize the homosexual marts of at least Western and Northern Europe. Many Uranians prefer a decidedly mature youth, and will rather embrace and be caressed sexually by a vigorous man from