XX PASSING CRAZES

EVERY Age has its special Crazes as the History of the Past plainly shows, as the Age of “bloody burnt offerings,” ghosts, witches, gladiatorial combats, bull fights, chivalry, crusades, flagellation, religion, penance, politics, profit grabbing, divine right of kings, chattel slavery, serfdom, wage-system, majority rule, woman suffrage, prohibition, and numerous others. They all come and go with advancing Civilization.

The four big crazes of the present age which still keep the world in such a chaotic condition are: (1) the Mystical (religious) craze; (2) the Dollar craze; (3) the Compulsory Force craze; and (4) the Sex craze. But these four Crazes, like all the rest of them, can all be harmoniously adjusted, if we go at it in the right manner.

Superstitious Mysticism of every sort with all its horrid fears of a future life of some kind can very easily be entirely rooted out by a sane study of Nature which produces unified naturalism; a belief in the Uniformity of Nature and the Universality of natural Law which millions of the thoughtful men and women have already attained.

90Abundant opportunity for remunerative Self-employment for all as equal partners, and the full right of every man, woman and child to draw his or her own pay checks, and pay his or her own personal bills, like the Modern Paradisers do, will entirely eliminate the Dollar craze.

The full recognition of complete Self-ownership on the truly democratic basis that the Rights and Wishes of the non-invasive Individual are paramount to the general dictates of Society will do away with the many grave evils of outside ownership or compulsory Force.

Making women Free and Independent economically and every other way will undoubtedly gradually bring about healthful Sex sentiments and habits, both in and out of wedlock. Much is being said, written and preached about sexual indulgence without that meaningless official marriage ceremony, but practically nothing is ever said about all the grave sexual excesses that are undermining health, fading beauty and are bringing into the world millions of weak and unwelcomed babies, after the official or religious ceremony has been performed. Should not a word of warning on this important point be given to the rising generation, especially to the unsophisticated newlyweds? Do not many couples love far too much?

91Throughout this book as well as in all my other writings, I have pointed out that women and children have so far not been justly treated by the man. In fact, I contend that this book is the first and only literary production that accords to women and children a fair deal in life.

All other literature always has been and still is written on the false assumption that the man is the important independent superior, the indispensable supporter, protector and director; and woman the dependent subordinate. That is an unwarranted reflection on the ability and character of the women which every intelligent woman and man should resent.

But that does not mean that the woman has always been right and the man always wrong. There are thousands of so-called society women including royalty and aristocracy that think of little else than fine clothes, speedy automobiles, expensive meal tickets, extravagant jewelry, frivolous fiction, an idle life and maids to serve them. As a rule, they know but little about the important affairs of practical life, and are thus a menace rather than a blessing to Humanity.

They should learn to take care of themselves; to work and become useful members of 92Society, for as long as they are idlers, they are undesirable social parasites living on the labor of others. Future society will not tolerate that.

But these society idlers, men, women and children, are not individually to “blame” for their dull, useless life. They just happen to grow up in a perverted environment. The man that grows up among cannon will be a militarist, the companion of gamblers will likely develop into a gambler. Change the environment and they all become useful and honorable members of refined society. They need a little more brain and a little more regard for the just rights of others. They lack real democracy.