Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/141

ual congress—is the fulfilment of a natural law, and in the human relations signifies one of the most beautiful and sacred phenomena of life. It is the most complete and intimate relation possible between two human beings, and should only take place under the impulse of love and mutual desire. It is not limited to local stimulation and ejaculation, but invokes complete reciprocity between the entire organisms of the two individuals, and is no less psychic and mental than physical. There should not only be love implied, but love expressed in kisses, caresses and intimate embraces. Erection and ejaculation depend partly upon reflexes from the genital organs and partly upon action of the central parts of the brain—hence the influence upon the love act of demonstrations stimulating the imagination and arousing the mental and spiritual entities of the being. The exquisite pleasures and enjoyment arising from the consummation of the love episode, following all its stages of intimate preparation and eager anticipation, cannot quite be compared to any other experience. It is that which gives marriage its wonderful potentialities, and if they are so seldom realized, it is due in no small measure to the ignorance and lack of understanding of its devotees.

The woman about to be married will naturally help in the solution of her problems if she, together with her future husband, will study and consider this question. A common effort so made to gain as full an understanding as possible of the nature and beauties of the sex relations in marriage will be amply repaid.

As has been mentioned, but which cannot be over-emphasized, preceding every act of coitus, there should be a period of courting, in which haste should figure not at all—a preliminary in which the husband takes the initiative