Beelzebubs-Tales-to-His-Grandson-by-G-I-Gurdjieff

lygamy" prevail—that is to say, where "several wives" or "several husbands"are permitted by the established moral code—a certain "psycho-organic"particularity is acquired in people in their relations as husbands and wives.'This psycho-organic particularity also exists in the people of our Persia,because, as you know, as followers of Islam, we have the custom ofpolygamy, that is to say, each man is permitted by law to have as many asseven wive." 'And this psycho-organic particularity in our Persian people, by the way,is that in none of the lawful wives is there any feeling of the husband'sinfidelity in regard to his other lawful wives." 'This feeling never appears in any of the wives except when the husbandis unfaithful with a strange woma.'And it is only now, respected Doctor, living here in Europe and seeingall that goes on between husbands and wives, that I fully appreciate ourcustom of polygamy, so wisely established and so beneficial for both men andwomen." 'Although every man among us is permitted several wives and not justone, as is the case here in Europe where the Christian religion predominates,yet the honesty and conscientiousness of our men toward their wives arebeyond all comparison with those of men here toward their single wife andtheir family in general.'Just look around you and see what is going on here." 'If you glance around the rooms of this Grand Café, besides the ordinaryprofessional prostitutes and "gigolos" who are constant fixtures, you willalways see hundreds of men and women sitting at the little tables, chattinggaily." 'At first sight you would say that these men and women are marriedcouples who are visiting Paris or attending to some family business.'But as a matter of fact it is practically certain that in the whole of this GrandCafé not one of these couples chat-