But first it is essential to bear in mind that the dent Anthony Comstock made in American life was considerably due to the fact that he was given special power both by Congress and by the New York State Legislature to act as a government agent in securing arrests. This power, coupled with the almost unparalleled energy of the man, made his career exceptional. Had it not been for these two factors, it might perhaps seem clear that his psychology was not so very different from that of many less well known folk of his day and our own,—the perfectly respectable, and to all outward appearance normal people, who see sex as something innately nasty and dangerous: the only difference being that while Comstock, armed with his governmental power, translated his feeling into prodigious activity in the way of suppressing people, the others, lacking his official power and his energy, have remained rather inert. They have not therefore become conspicuous characters. The Comstock psychology, in modified and milder form, appears to be not at all a rarity. The way in which Comstock got his special power to enforce the Federal law is described by his biographer, Rev. C. G. Trumbull in his book, “Anthony Comstock, Fighter,” as follows: “Immediately after the patience-taking passage of the bill in Congress ..., Senators Buckingham, Windom, Ramsey, and Representative Merriam united in asking Post Master General Jewell to appoint Comstock a special agent of the Post Office Department to enforce the laws. The Post Office Bill was still pending; the Post Office Committee offered this proposition as an amendment, and it was passed with the bill.” The Post Master General agreed to make the appointment, if an appropriation were voted for the salary and per diem expenses. Comstock went before the Committee on Appropriations and opposed the salary, on the ground that the position would thus be kept out of politics. He was appointed and held the office for thirty-three years. The Y. M. C. A. paid him $100 a month “to compensate him for the time lost from his business.” He was still ostensibly a grocery clerk. When Cortelyou was Post Master General, he insisted that Comstock should take a salary and be a government employee on a regular basis. At this time also his title of “Special Agent” was changed to “Inspector.” This occurred in about 1910. The duties of the office, as given by the Postal Laws, include the following: the “investigation of all matters connected with the postal service,” “alleged violations of law” and “when necessary to aid in the prosecution of criminal offenses.” Postal employees are “subordinate to post office inspectors when acting within the scope of their duty and employment.” “Inspectors are empowered to open pouches and sacks to examine the mail therein.” When authorized by the Post Master General, they are empowered to “make searches for mailable matter transported in violation of law,” to “seize all letters and bags, packets or parcels,