Original text - English - Cynicism of Norman Douglas

Cynicism of Norman Douglas


Oriental polygamy, carried on under Western conditions of life, would be a terrible drain on a man’s income, and a great responsibility as well. Absurd, nevertheless, to suggest that our adult males are living monogamous lives; if one or two are doing so, it means that they lack either the moral grit or the physical outfit, or both. They are polygamists; but their polygamy is practiced on inexpensive lines and with a minimum of personal responsibility. Our European rule runs to the effect that a man’s mistresses are to be kept by their husbands.
This is an advance on Eastern methods.