The Star in the West

THE VIRGIN 65 the many a heinous offence , reflecting a light that they cannot find in their gloomy atmosphere . Laws are the concrete opinions of the many , morals the abstract sensations of the few . Outside ourselves ethics do not exist, for they are the great faculty of sentient existence . The law of the survival of the fittest is not moral , it is essential ; but , manifested through reason it becomes ethical . As regards the aspirations of the sexes , nature cares little whether John loves Ann or Mary . Man , however , cares much . John is not married , Ann is ; Nature implants a similar affinity in both , and they verge towards their own mag netic centre . Nature says " unite ! ” Man , however, thinks otherwise and so builds up a stout abatis out of the dead bones of unreasoning ages , fencing Ann in ; and even if John does surmount this formidable obstacle , a moral fougasse awaits for his impetuous footstep , which will morally blow him to smithereens . Again , John is unmarried , and Mary is in a similar state of bliss , their affinities repel and do not attract : Nature says “ keep apart ! ” ; man says “ I would rather see you unite with Mary than I would with Ann , affinities be damned ! ” They unite , and axiom atize the postulate of Hell . Nature now says “ part ! ” man says “ Oh ! no you don't .” Around them are then speedily constructed such labyrinthine entangle ments , that few find their way out , and still fewer attempt so difficult a task-hence Churches and Brothels . If John , however, does not marry Mary , Ann squalls , but as the jailer can always let himself out of the prison , so can man , if he does not drop his keys through some matrimonial grating . Ann then locks up Mary in that Bastille of despair which is called Piccadilly ( this is no paradox ) -hence prudes F