he
practice continued.

"I went to school at the age of 10. There I came in contact
almost without warning, with the ordinary lewdness and grossness
of school conversation, and took to it readily. I soon became
conversant with the theory of sexual relations; but never got the
opportunity of sexual intercourse, and probably should have felt
some moral restraint even had such opportunity presented itself,
for coitus, however interesting it might be to talk about, was a
bigger thing to practice than masturbation. I masturbated fairly
frequently, occasionally producing two orgasms in quick
succession. I seldom masturbated with the hand; my method was to
lie face downward. There was probably little or no homosexuality
at my first school. I never heard of it till later, and it was
always repugnant to me, though surrounded with a certain morbid
interest. Masturbation was discountenanced openly at the school,
but was, I believe, extensively practiced, both at that school
and at the two others I afterward attended. The boys often talked
about the hygiene of it; and the general theory was that it was
somehow physically detrimental; but I heard no arguments advanced
sufficiently cogent to make me see the necessity for a real moral
effort against the habit, though, as I neared puberty, I was
indulging more moderately and with greater misgivings.

"The fact of becoming acquainted with the theory of sexual
intercourse tended to diminish the algolagnia, and to impel my
sexual instinct into an ordinary channel. On one occasion
circumstances brought me into close contact with a woman for
about three or four weeks, I being a mere boy and she very much
my senior. I felt sexually attracted by this woman, and allowed
myself a degree of familiarity with her which I have since
recognized as undue and have deeply regretted. It did not,
however, go to the length of seduction, and I trust may have
passed away without leaving any permanent harm. It should,
indeed, be remarked here that I never knew a woman sexually till
my marriage; and with the one exception mentioned I do not recall
any instance of conduct on my part toward a woman which could be
described as giving her an impulse downhill.

"On the psychic side my sexual emotions awoke in early childhood;
and though my love affairs as a boy