Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/556

 "So I am to understand that I am curable?"

"Curable? Why, surely! Exactly as I have written in my work; or as Doctor So-and-So, and the great psychiatric Professor Such-a-One, proved long ago. Your case, my dear sir, is the easier because you suffer in a sentimental and sexual way from what we call the obsession of a set, distinct Type, you see; instead of a general—h'm—how shall I style it?—morbidity of your sex-inclinations. It is largely mere imagination I You say you have never really 'realized' this haunting masculine Type which has given you such trouble? My dear sir, don't think any more about such nonsense! You never will 'realize' it in any way to be—h'm—disturbed. Probably had you married and settled down pleasantly, years ago, you would laugh heartily now at the whole story of such an illusion of your nature. Too much thought of it all, my dear friend! Too much introspection, idealism, sedentary life, dear sir! Yes, yes—you must marry—God bless you!"

"I paid my distinguished specialist his fee and came away, with a far lighter heart than I had had in many a year."

But for Uranians betrothed, as for heterosexuals, withdrawals are not always easy or uneventful. So comes the tragic sort of history—with the abrupt runaway, the "missing" bridegroom—not to be; the suicide, the maniac, the murderer. Here is a short series of instances:

[Stuhlweissenburg, Sept 23, 1900.] "The wedding of two young people of our city, both much respected, the tailor's assistant F— with a young woman named Theresia T— was in progress, as far as the start of. the bridal-procession of relatives and friends from the house of the bride's parents, when the bridegroom suddenly drew a revolver and shot himself through the heart. A dreadful scene of panic naturally followed. The motive of the suicide is wholly inexplicable, so far as any other previous romance, or pecuniary troubles, ill-health or what else, could be inferred. The young people were affectionate friends, though the dead bridegroom is spoken of as not being enthusiastic to marry—at all."

[Vienna.] "We mentioned yesterday the startling suicide of the teacher in the Burggasse public-school, Herr Leopold S—. The unfortunate young man committed the act only a few hours before he