tangents

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by del mcintire

Simon Raven, author of The Feathers of Death, writing in Encounter for November, 1960, on the male prostitute in London under the title "Boys Will Be Boys," places his boys in 5 categories. From these he explains simply how, in what manner, where, and when they carry on their business. He shows remarkable restraint in not concerning himself with the moral implications usually discussed, nor in even treating the subject as a problem. He merely starts with the familiar truth that London like other large cities has its demand for male prostitutes and goes on from there in the simplest and most concrete terms.

In his first category come young men of the armed services-members of whatever units happen to be stationed or on leave in London, including Her Majesty's Guard. The second category consists of boys. who have full-time and respectable jobs of a more or less "refined" nature (hairdressers, low-grade couturiers or interior decorators) but who are not above improving their incomes by an occasional evening "on the game." His third category finds a type of boy of poor intelligence and low town background who has neither the ability to get a job nor the application to stay with it if he should, and drifts around doing a series of dull, heavy, ill-

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paid tasks when and as they can be found. In his fourth category is the boy who is prepared to turn his hand to anything at all so long as it is not an honest job (however pleasant)the classical type who has somehow gotten it into his head that the only money worth making is to be made from shady enterprises: petty theft, dope-passing, bookmaking, hired violence, etc. The fifth and last category is that, of course, of the fulltime professional male prostitute, who lives solely by his sexual trade and talents.

All of Mr. Raven's categories are familiar, and we can easily recognize their members. It is interesting to learn which group of the 5 fares best according to the author. But, we find ourselves asking, what about the clients of these young men?

COPS, COURTS AND LEGISLATURES

Repeal of the exclusionary rule of evidence would pave the way for a "roughshod invasion" of individual liberties, Judge Louis H. Burke, presiding jurist of Los Angeles Superior Court, declared last month.

Advocates of stiffer narcotics penalties and an end to the exclusionary rule established in the Cahan decision are bound to exert "tremendous public pressure" upon the