most of the youths still predominantly homosexual in the twenties become normally heterosexual. Of those now becoming permanent homosexuals, many would not do so did not the pressures of law and of public opinion drive them into the only society where they can find acceptance, sympathy and apparent security.

On the other hand, many men come to discover strong homosexual feelings only late in life. But whatever the situation-and this, again, must be stressed there are very large numbers of happily married men who could still regard themselves as "homosexual" and very many more who have occasional homosexual impulses and feelings. In neither situation is the marriage likely to be much prejudiced unless there has been a failure of complete candour between husband and wife; on this as on so many other subjects, a failure of connubial communication may lead to disaster. A wife who knows her husband has homosexual tendencies knows where she is; and it is quite remarkable how a problem of this kind can be carried. A wife who is ignorant is helpless to cope; she is likely to become suspicious and fearful, and disaster is always just round the corner. A husband in such a marriage is an easy prey to blackmailers; and when disaster comes it is not easily dealt with since all involved assume the damage irreparable. The wife feels deceived and humiliated; the husband, that the only thing left is to abandon attempts at heterosexual interest, and if necessary wife and family as well. Many girls know nothing about homosexuality on marriage; and for these it may be difficult to make useful and necessary explanations.

In later years the picture becomes more set as people become (on the whole) more set in their habits. Most males with some degree of homosexual inclination have nevertheless achieved a successful marriage but a substantial minority now think of themselves as definitely homosexual. These attempt long-term homosexual "marriages", some with success; they settle down, for years or for ever, with some compatible spirit, and given the right qualities of temperament and character achieve quite impressive relationships.

But then of course there are the others: these are thought of by the public as "homosexuals", because these alone are likely to attract public and police attention. These are the men who for a number of reasons, not excluding natural promiscuity, do not settle down with one another, but endure a lifetime of fragmented relationships and are always on the search for a partner. These may form the "queer” society; these will frequent "gay" bars, street corners, beaches and public lavatories. They tend to have an especially strong sense of persecution and, with it, they avoid being too responsible. By and large, they are not happy; although some, by demanding little of the emotions, are not dissatisfied.

This last group may well include the men who are effeminate. But it cannot be too strongly urged that not all effeminate men are homosexual, and few homosexual men can be really described as effeminate. But there are some who quite obviously can; and they come particularly to the notice of the public when they are in this last promiscuous category. That is why the conventional image of the homosexual is that of an effeminate, promiscuous man, especially likely to be interested in boys. Men of that kind are likely, one day,

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to get publicity; the rest are unnoticed and pass-to acquaintances, friends and even relations-as heterosexual. Small wonder that most people are surprised at the extent of homosexuality; they do not know which of the people known to them are homosexual.

This necessarily dispassionate account may still fail to convey any particular problem. The reader is told that this happens and that happens; there seems nothing for him to do about it. But no account of homosexuality would be complete without reminding the normal reader that his sexual emotion is welcomed by society and encouraged by commerce and features in films. What would it be like if every time he fell in love-especially at school, say-he found he could not share or announce his love, and that if his affection were detected he would probably be written off as depraved by his fellows and expelled by his superiors? He learns guilt, secrecy and shame, which may follow him all the days of his life. And the odd thing is that the greater his love, the greater the fear and shame. A boy may masturbate while at school with other boys for whom he feels nothing:| his similarly uninhibited and perhaps contemporaneous heterosexual career will however distract attention from this (it will be said with truth, “Oh, that didn't mean anything to him") and an inglorious unfeeling career of conventional seductions will attract nothing but mild admiration. But another will fall passionately in love, and stay in love for years, with another boy; his lack of girl friends will be noticed, and his affection deplored, or more likely, disbelieved. He will probably (when his interests are noticed) find that many of his comrades (and if at school all the common room) credit him with nothing but a desire to commit sodomy on the beloved. This may well not even have entered his mind and his mortification and disgust at this may well know no bounds.

Later in life it may be much the same; the promiscuous but discreet cannot expect acceptance, but if skilful they may avoid persecution. The chaste lover can expect no gratitude from society, which will only suppose, since he is chaste, that he is not homosexual., And, of course, two lovers, if both are male, can hardly expect to be urged together by the welcome pressure from society that a heterosexual engagement attracts. If they manage to set up house and stay together, they will not be favoured by praise in the local press on the silver anniversary of their union. This will seem absurd to most: but it is surprising how much the unrelenting and eternal hatred of society may eat into the soul; and man is a social animal.

What is the present position concerning male homosexuality in Britain? Is it for example on the increase? "It is widely believed that the prevalence of homosexuality in this country has greatly increased during the past fifty years and that homesexual behaviour is much more frequent than used to be the case. It is certainly true that the whole subject of homosexuality is much more freely discussed today than it was formerly; but this is not in itself evidence that homosexuality is today more prevalent, or homosexual behaviour more widespread, than it was when mention of it was less common. (Wolfenden Report, page 19.) But although it is discussed more freely it is seldom that a public figure feels he can afford to disclose that he is in fact homosexually inclined. Consequently people do not realise