cited by the sufferings of others). (Vide
Chap. VIII.)

"The relationship so often established between religion, lust and
cruelty can be reduced almost to the following formula: at the acme of
their development, the religious and sexual passions show a
concordance in quality and in quantity of excitation, and may
consequently replace each other, under certain circumstances. Under
special pathological influences, both may be transformed into
cruelty."--(Krafft-Ebing.)

We shall return to this subject in Chapters VIII and XII.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] This tendency of man has been analyzed with a very refined
psychology by _Labiche_, in one of his most celebrated comedies: "_Le
voyage de M. Perichon._"

CHAPTER VI

ETHNOLOGY AND HISTORY OF SEXUAL LIFE IN MAN AND IN MARRIAGE

In the study of the sexual question it is absolutely necessary to
guard against subjectiveness and all preconceived theory, and to avoid
sentimentalism as well as eroticism. These two dangers play a
considerable part in the study of human sexual life. Presented in a
conscientious and scientific way the history of marriage furnishes us
the most trustworthy material for the study of the sexual relations of
man in social life. It is from this material that we can learn the
relative importance of the different psychological and
psycho-pathological factors in social evolution. But, to furnish valid
material, history must not only be based on trustworthy and veracious
sources; it must also give a comparative study of the sexual relations
which exist in most, if not all, of the peoples actually existing. The
present savage tribes no doubt resemble more closely the primitive
peoples than our hybrid agglomeration of the civilized world.
Moreover, the modern study of ethnology gives us more certain
information than the uncertain, incomplete and often fabulous
statements of ancient documents. I am speaking here of primitive
history, and not of the Greek and Roman civilizations. Unfortunately
the correctness of ethnological observations, and especially their
interpretation, still leave much to be desired.

Edward Westermark, professor at Helsingfors, in his "History of Human
Marriage," has given us a monumental work, which is remarkable, not
only for the richness and exactness of its material, but also for the
clearness and good sense of its criticism. I shall give a _resume_ of
Westermark's results, as the subject is beyond the domain of my
special s