[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] is with even greater
diffidence than Mr. McCarthy himself expresses, that I voice a protest against his exposition of ideas upon the much debated question of sex ; indeed I would hardly have ventured to do so, had I not found within your own columns the refutation of his statements in quotations from the work of Havelock Ellis.
Nobody should wish to protest against his indictment of perverted literature and art, but when he suggests that we throw: overboard the whole question of " sex," then one is inclined to think that his use of the word is a misnomer ; what he really means is " prurience." How can this necessary function of nature, be nauseous if approadhed in a sane and healthy manner ? What will happen to the human race if, acting upon his advice, we jettison sex ?
It has been-made only too tragically obvious how little good is gained by ignoring this side of life, or at least refusing to make a knowledge of its rightful control and guidance an essential part of youth's education. The.error of this attitude could hardly be- better expressed than in Havelock Ellis' own words when -he asks, ". suppose .that eating and drinking were • never-- -spoken. of openly, save.., in veiled or
poetic language, etc." I think that the best service we can do to future generations is to see to it that the knowledge which has been given to us by such a man be more widely disseininated, that• those' who are to come may not pay the price of ignorance in suffering and broken lives.
There is no excuse for misrepresentation of the facts of this important issue -in life with -such wisdom to hand if we will
Previous page
