The Star in the West

130 THE STAR IN THE WEST The nymphomaniac , the Lesbian , the man afflicted with pathic neurosis , satyriasis or priapism is no worse than any other maniac . True , the pornophobic Mrs. Grundy cries shame as she squints askew through the half - closed fingers of her hand , but we refuse to see why this pudibonderie of the old “ Unco gude ” should make the discussion of “ nympho maniacs ” a tabooed subject, whilst she trumpets from the top of her holy bordel (St. Paul's ) deafening blasts of chaste ( !) “ bibliomania .” Often these unfortunates are of noble and generous character , who , striving against their fearful adversity , have not the strength of will to cast off and slay the dragon of their despair . The horror of this mental struggle is well depicted in “ Jephthah ” when Jared says : Those eyes upon me, torturing my soul And threatening revenge ? Those fingers gross , Purple , and horrible , to blister me With infamous tearing at my throat . O Hell ! Vomit thy monsters forth in myriads To putrefy this fair green earth with blood , But make not me the devilish minister Of such a deed as this !! Such was the almost frenzied exclamation of Jared , when he tried to shake off the awful power that was urging him to become participator in the murder of an innocent girl ; and such is also often the terrible struggle that is waged in the mind of the sexual invert . Impelled by energies sometimes in -bred , sometimes self-made, and sometimes but mere matters of locality and education , how often does he struggle-and in vain ! Jephthah , vol . i, p. 84.