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ps； exaggerated fear and prudery； the latter mainly as simulation of innocence。 It is a well…known fact that every experienced judge may confirm that old maids （we mean here； always； childless； unmarried women of considerable age not maids in the anatomical sense） as witnesses； always bring something new。 If you have heard ten mutually…corroborating statements and the eleventh is made by an old maid； it will be different。 The latter； according to her nature； has observed differently； introduces a collection of doubts and suggestions； introduces nasty implications into harmless things； and if possible； connects her own self with the matter。 This is as significant as explicable。 The poor creature has not gotten much good out of life； has never had a male protector； was frequently enough defenseless against scorn and teasing； the amenities of social life and friendship were rarely her portion。 It is； therefore； almost inevitable that she should see evil everywhere。 If she has observed some quarrel from her window she will testify that the thing was provoked in order to disturb her； if a coachman has run over a child； she suggests that he had been driving at her in order to frighten her； the thief who broke into her neighbor's house really wanted to break into hers because she is without protection and therefore open to all attacks； so that it is conceivable that he should want to hurt her。 As a rule there will be other witnesses； or the old maid will be so energetic in her testimonies that her ‘‘perceptions'' will not do much damage； but it is always wise to be cautious。
Of course； there are exceptions； and it is well…known that exceptions occur by way of extreme contrast。 If an old maid does not possess the unpleasant characteristics of her breed； she is extraordinarily kind and lovable； in such a way generally； that her all too mild and rather blind conceptions of an event make her a dangerous witness。 It is also true that old maids frequently are better educated and more civilized than other women； as De Quincey shows。 They are so because； without the care of husband and children； they have time for all kinds of excellences； especially when they are inclined thereto。 It is notable that the founders of women's charitable societies are generally old maids or childless widows； who have not had the joys and tasks of motherhood。 We must take care； therefore； in judging the kindness of a woman； against being blinded by her philanthropic activity。 That may be kindness； but as a rule it may have its source in the lack of occupation； and in striving for some form of motherhood。 In judging old maids we deceive ourselves still more easily because； as Darwin keenly noted； they always have some masculine quality in their external appearance as well as in their activity and feeling。 Now that kind of woman is generally strange to us。 We start wrong when we judge her by customary standards and miss the point when； in the cases of such old maids； we presuppose only feminine qualities and overlook the very virile additions。 We may add to these qualities the intrinsic productivity of old maids。 Benneke； in his ‘‘Pragmatische Psychologie；'' compares the activity of a very busy housewife with that of an unmarried virgin； and thinks the worth of the former to be higher； while the latter accomplishes more by way of ‘‘erotic fancies； intrigues； inheritances； winnings in the lottery； and hypochondriac complaints。'' This is very instructive from the criminological point of view。 For the criminalist can not be too cautious when he has an old maid to examine。 Therefore； when a case occurs containing characteristic intrigues； fanciful inheritances； and winnings in the lottery； it will be well to seek out the old maid behind these things。 She may considerably help the explanation。
Both professional and popular judgment agree that the largest majority of women have great fear of becoming old maids。 We are told how this fear expresses itself in foreign countries。 In Spain e。 g。； it is said that a Spanish woman who has passed her first bloom takes the first available candidate for her hand in order to avoid old…maidenhood； and in Russia every mature girl who is able to do so； goes abroad for a couple of years in order to return as ‘‘widow。'' Everybody knows the event； nobody asks for particulars about it。 Some such process is universal； and many an unfortunate marriage and allied crime may be explained by it。 Girls who at seventeen or eighteen were very particular and had a right to be； are modest at twenty； and at twenty…six marry at any price； in order not to remain old maids。 That this is not love…marriage and is often contrary to intelligence； is clear； and when neither heart nor head rule； the devil laughs； and it is out of such marriages that adultery； the flight of the wife； cruelty； robbery from the spouse； and worse things； arise。 Therefore it will be worth while to study the history of the marriage in question。 Was it a marriage in the name of God； i。 e。； the marriage of an old maid？ Then double caution must be used in the study of the case。
There is some advantage in knowing the popular conception of _*when_ a girl becomes an old maid； for old…maidenhood is a matter of a point of view； it depends on the opinion of other people。 Belles… lettres deals considerably with this question； for it can itself determine the popular attitude to the unmarried state。 So Brandes discovers that the heroines of classical novelists； of Racine； Shakespeare； Moliere； Voltaire； Ariosto； Byron； Lesage； Scott； are almost always sixteen years of age。 In modern times； women in novels have their great love…adventure in the thirties。 How this advance in years took place we need not bother to find out； but that it has occurred； we must keep in mind。
Before concluding the chapter on sexual conditions； we must say a word about hysteria； which so very frequently has deceived the judge。 Hysteria was named by the ancients； as is known； from ； the womb；and properlyfor most of the causes of evil are there hidden。 The hysterics are legally significant in various ways。 Their fixed ideas often cause elaborate unreasonable explanations； they want to attract attention； they are always concerned with themselves； are always wildly enthusiastic about somebody else； often they persecute others with unwarranted hatred and they are the source of the coarsest denunciations； particularly with regard to sexual crimes。 Incidentally； most of them are smart and have a diseased acuity of the senses。 Hearing and smell in particular； are sometimes remarkably alert； although not always reliable； for hysterics frequently discover more than is there。 On the other hand； they often are useful because of their delicate senses； and it is never necessary to show the correctness of their perception out of hand。 Bianchi rightly calls attention to the fact； that hysterics like to write anonymous letters。 Writers of these are generally women； and mainly hysterical women； if a man writes them； he is indubitably feminine in nature。
Most difficulties with hysterics occur when they suffer some damage；＇1＇ for they not only add a number of dishonest phenomena； but also act