Still another measure has been taken to preclude possible theft or loss of the books. The bottom shelves of the "Inferno" stacks are now completely bare. According to Haynes, "John Shea (superintendent of the stacks in Widener) and myself often used to find the aisles of the 'Inferno' strewn with books." There is a small space between the bottom of the stacks and the floor, and it seems that students studying on the fifth level directly below the Cage were inclined to reach up through this crevice, attempting to snare some erotic literature.

Divisions of Erotica

Haynes breaks down the collection of erotica into several classifications. In the fiction division, three levels exist. On the first is the Lawrence novel, Miller's endeavors rank in the second class, while on the third level are the so-called "drug-store novels."

A glance at the titles of these novels seems to indicate that authors who fit in the last category are almost completely preoccupied with sin, virginity, and mariage. Easily a dozen books, for example, bear titles including the word "sin." Some of these are "Born to Sin." "Sin is Man's Twin," and "The Constant Sinner." Sundry types of virgins are considered, including "13 Carat Virgin," "Professional Virgin," and "Broadway Virgin." The stacks are studded with gaudily colored volumes which sport such appealing names as "Roue the 4th." "No Bed of Her Own," "Naked Glory," "Bare Living," and "Bedroom Eyes."

Perhaps one of the modern classics of autobiographical pornography, Frank Harris' "My Life and Loves," is on the "Inferno" shelves. The four volume affair is little more than a detailed chronicle of the author's sexual experiences, from the first grade on Benvenuto Cellini's "Autobiography." on the other hand, has a place in the "Inferno principally because of the fine edition.

In the non-fiction group, Haynes pointed out several categories. Probably the largest group in the Widener assemblage is formed by the psychological studies in sex-treatments of narcissism, bisexuality, homesexuality, frigidity, and other variations.

Art of Flagellation

But probably the most fascinating section in this class deals with works on sadism and masochism in love, most particularly, the art of flagellation. One finds among the volumes discussing this subject "The Strap Returns: New Notes on Flagellation," "Presented in Leather," "A History of the Rod: Flagellation and Flagellants," and "Tender Bottom."

A second category in the non-fiction group is what one may call sociological studies. These attempt a broad, objective survey of some particular field. One example of such work is "Traders in Women: A Comprehensive Survey--of White Slavery," a sensational expose of white slavery practices from Bombay to Brooklyn.

Another example, "The Hindu Art of Love," describes in its central section 243 "modes of congress." After listing many of the modes, the author adds, somewhat superfluously, "There are further provinces of congress which demonstrate beyond cavil the immoral absorption of the Hindu with sensual behavior." Other studies included in this group range from Herbert Asbury's works on the underworlds of America's big cities, to "A Collection of Amorous Tales from the East."

Books on nudism like "On Going Naked" and "Adventures in Nakedness," and scholarly studies in erotica, like Eric Partridge's "Shakespeare's Bawdy" make up the remaining two categories of the second group described by Haynes.

Widener officials are, of course, sensitive to the rigid Massachusetts laws concerning obscene books, and are rather reluctant to discuss the whole matter. Circulation of the "Inferno" volumes is limited to those concerned with serious study such as research for a thesis.

According to Keyes D. Metcalf, Librarian of Harvard College, "Although the College has not actively sought to acquire a collection of erotica, such a collection has just grown. Part of it, some especially rare books, is kept in Houghton Library. But the books that we have now in Widener are kept in the Cage in order to limit circulation to serious scholars, and to prevent the loss of these books which undoubtedly would follow if they were left on the open shilves."