Several of the blonds, in fact exceeded the bounds of good taste in the arrogant display of their soft shoulders and backs, with a curious fluttering divided skirt which too boldly revealed the length of their shapely legs. I noted with a growing repulsion, that not only were these young debutants manifestly painted and powdered, but that generally they had adopted ridiculously high heels to increase their stature which I estimated at no more than five feet six. “I am waiting for your comments, Bogardus,” said Acquilla gently. “Your face is flushed and you are positively scowling. What angers you now?” My face must have betrayed my extreme dejection! In truth, my courage all but failed me then and there. What possible hope was there that I alone against all the forces of a determined and relentless matriarchy, could regenerate such a degenerate and decadent sex? But I did not wish Acquilla to suspect my true thoughts. “As if you did not know very well,” I answered. “What other feeling except scorn and repulsion could I have, in seeing my fellow men reduced to this artificial slavery and parading like prospective concubines in the humiliation of a slave mart!” “What do you specially object to?” “I object to everything, their unmanly mincings and veiled provocations. Good God! To think that my sex has descended to the arts of decadent courtesans, to paint and perfume, to insidious advertising of their physical charms, to giggling and smirking. If you did not affirm it, I should refuse to believe these theatrical voluptuous figures were men.” “Yet, if they were women, nothing would astonish you?” I caught myself, frowned, blurted out: “Well, no. Of course not.” “You see, Bogardus, you make the mistake that men made for centuries, in believing that woman’s nature was different from man’s. All that you have observed in this curious display is only acquired characteristics and the acquired characteristics of the sex whose primary function is to attract the stronger. Once it was woman, now it is man.” “I am forced to believe it,” I said gloomily. “And to be fair, if it were possible to revive the process, wouldn’t I be just as indignant, if you were taking me to one of your assembly balls?” “I should like to drive them out with whips and scorpions,” I said, evading an answer. “On the contrary, they are really quite charming--for a week or so. Nor is it fair to believe that what annoys you now is the result of our suppression. The young fops of decadent Greece and Rome, I imagine, would have excited your puritanical scorn just as much. It may be painful to you, Bogardus--but it is better to face the truth. Is it from such that you would attempt a movement for social equality?” Carried away with my resentment, I did an impulsive and rash thing. “Which would you prefer, Acquilla?” I said looking her boldly in the eyes. “One of these decadent Roman demigods you have created or a man like myself?”