CHAPTER VII.

PROSTITUTION. I. _The Orgy:_--The Religious Origin of the Orgy--The Feast of Fools--Recognition of the Orgy by the Greeks and Romans--The Orgy Among Savages--The Drama--The Object Subserved by the Orgy. II. _The Origin and Development of Prostitution:_--The Definition of Prostitution--Prostitution Among Savages--The Conditions Under Which Professional Prostitution Arises--Sacred Prostitution--The Rite of Mylitta--The Practice of Prostitution to Obtain a Marriage Portion--The Rise of Secular Prostitution in Greece--Prostitution in the East--India, China, Japan, etc.--Prostitution in Rome--The Influence of Christianity on Prostitution--The Effort to Combat Prostitution--The Mediæval Brothel--The Appearance of the Courtesan--Tullia D'Aragona--Veronica Franco--Ninon de Lenclos--Later Attempts to Eradicate Prostitution--The Regulation of Prostitution--Its Futility Becoming Recognized. III. _The Causes of Prostitution:_--Prostitution as a Part of the Marriage System--The Complex Causation of Prostitution--The Motives Assigned by Prostitutes--(1) Economic Factor of Prostitution--Poverty Seldom the Chief Motive for Prostitution--But Economic Pressure Exerts a Real Influence--The Large Proportion of Prostitutes Recruited from Domestic Service--Significance of This Fact--(2) The Biological Factor of Prostitution--The So-called Born-Prostitute--Alleged Identity with the Born-Criminal--The Sexual Instinct in Prostitutes--The Physical and Psychic Characters of Prostitutes--(3) Moral Necessity as a Factor in the Existence of Prostitution--The Moral Advocates of Prostitution--The Moral Attitude of Christianity Towards Prostitution--The Attitude of Protestantism--Recent Advocates of the Moral Necessity of Prostitution--(4) Civilizational Value as a Factor of Prostitution--The Influence of Urban Life--The Craving for Excitement--Why Servant-girls so Often Turn to Prostitution--The Small Part Played by Seduction--Prostitutes Come Largely from the Country--The Appeal of Civilization Attracts Women to Prostitution--The Corresponding Attraction Felt by Men--The Prostitute as Artist and Leader of Fashion--The Charm of Vulgarity. IV. _The Present Social Attitude Towards Prostitution:_--The Decay of the Brothel--The Tendency to the Humanization of Prostitution--The Monetary Aspects of Prostitution--The Geisha--The Hetaira--The Moral Revolt Against Prostitution--Squalid Vice Based on Luxurious Virtue--The Ordinary Attitude Towards Prostitutes--Its Cruelty Absurd--The Need of Reforming Prostitution--The Need of Reforming Marriage--These Two Needs Closely Correlated--The Dynamic Relationships Involved.