Miss Silverman already knew of me through Summershire, the wealthy socialist editor and owner of _Summershire's Magazine_, and Penton Baxter. It thrilled me when she called me by my first name.... Her first lecture was on Sex. The hall was jammed to the doors by a curiosity-moved crowd. She began by assuming that she was not talking to idiots and cretins, but to men and women of mature minds--so she could speak as she thought in a forthright manner. She inveighed against the double standard. When someone in the auditorium asked what she meant by the single standard she replied, she meant sexual expression and experience for man and woman on an equal footing ... the normal living of life without which no human being could be really decent--and that regardless of marriage and the conventions! "The situation as it is, is odious ... all men, with but few exceptions, have sexual life before marriage, but they insist that their wives come to them in that state of absurd ignorance of their own bodily functions and consequent lack of exercise of them, which they denominate 'purity.' ... "I doubt if there is a solitary man in this audience--a married man--who has not had premarital intercourse with women." All the while I kept my eye on Professor Wilton, who sat near me, in the row ahead ... he was flushing furiously in angry, puritanic dissent ... and I knew him well enough to foresee a forthcoming outburst of protest. "Yes, I think I can safely say that there is not one married man here who can honestly claim that he came to his wife with that same physical 'purity' which he required of her." Wilton leaped to his feet in a fury ... the good, simple soul. He was so indignant that the few white hairs on his head worked up sizzling with his emotion.... "_Here's one!_" he shouted, forgetting in his earnest anger the assembled audience, most of whom knew him. There followed such an uproar of merriment as I have never seen the like before nor since. The students, of course, howled with indescribable joy ... Emma Silverman choked with laughter. Jack Leitman rolled over the side table on which he had set the books to sell as the crowd passed out-- After the deafening cries, cat-calls and uproars, Emma grew serious. "I don't know who you are," she cried to Professor Wilton, "but I'll take chances in telling you that you're a liar!" Again Wilton was on his feet in angry protest. "Shame on you, woman! have you no shame!" he shouted. This sally brought the house down utterly. The boys hooted and cat-called and stamped again.... Emma Silverman laughed till the tears streamed down her face.... * * * * * During the four days she remained in Laurel her lectures were crowded. * * * * * Walking up the hill one day, I overtook Professor Wilton, under whom I had studied botany, and whom I liked, knowing he was sincere and had spoken the incredible though absolute truth.