The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-01
SYMPATHETIC IMITATION.


Singular Effect of Mindful pom Mind-SpIrit-
ualIsm, EpidemIcs of Suicide, Murder
and Other CrImes-The influence OF
Words.
At reception recently given at the
Long Island College Hospital, DR.,
Samuel G. Armor, Dean of the college
faculty, delivered an address on 1.-The
Interaction of Mind and Body" which
spanked with gems of thought
The singular quality of the human
mind, said the lecturer, of being ''af-
fected by the affections of another is
one of the great facts of human history
which at different periods of the world s
history has had a strange and powerful
influence in shaping human destiny; and
yet as scientific fact, historically con
sidered, it has received but little invest
CATION. Men are bound together not
more by the mutual dependencies dis
covered by reason than by the intuitive
sense of the emotions that move and the
unreasoning impulses that direct and
guide each other in action. And all
these emotional impulses are born
of sympathy, and involve an impulse to
initiate in feelings and in action those
whom we love and admire This prin-
ciple of sympathetic imitation, like
other elements of human character. ex-
lists in different degrees in different per-
sons. Some are born leaders of men
others are born for the rank and. file.
The principle of imitation differs also al
different periods of life, and in the differ
ent races of men. Children learn in.
sensibly to model their habits on the APP
pearance and manners of those with
whom they are Familiarity eonversant.
As we advance to maturity the pro.
pensity to imitation grows weaker. Our
improving faculties gradually divert our
attention from the models around us to
ideal standards, more conformable to
our tastes. The inferior races of men
are in this respect much like children.
They learn largely by imitation-their
ideal standard being feeble in comparison
with their initiative faculties.
That the mesmerized subject often
passes into the state of anesthesia, as well
as other peculiar mental states, | have
had abundant testimony. And that the SO
called OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of them at
least-believe they have communications
with the dead. can readily believe.
Nay more, that to their minds they actu-
ally see and converse and walk with the
dead is not improbable. 1t is in harmony
with what is known of certain psyche
logical phenomena-the concentration
theory of trance. Strong concentrated
mental impressions, acting upon what
psychologists call the emotion of expec-
tation, not unfrequently become convert
ed into sensational realities. The eve,
for instance, sees what the mind strongly
conceives the ear hears voice that still
fingers as memory in the brain; the in
tenesly superstitious see in the dim twi-
light the ghost wrapped in its winding
sheets. Learned school men call this
perversion of mind and sense objective
SUFFICIENTLY. Common people call it a
delusion. The most eXtravagant perform
ances of the subjects of hypnotism, as
it is now called, is no external, super
natural spiritual manifestation it is
merely an exaggeration of what we wit
ness in everyday life, an extreme mani
festation of the control of one person
over another, which we so constantly
witness. During the Middle Ages, when
the superstitious and fanatical element
largely predominated, numerous nervous
affections spread as epidemics in waves
OF sympathy. sometimes spreading over
whole communities like the fury of a
storm. In Germany at one time it took
the form of the dancing mania, which
was probably nothing more than an ex-
aggcrated form of st. Vitus' dance. 1t
was characterized by comical and ludic-
rious grimaces, and sometimes by vio-
lent contortions, leapings and fantastic
OSCILLATIONS Hundreds focked to see
the strange delusion, and soon, we
are told, all Germany was dancing
and gesticulating with the unhappy
sufferers. ABOUT the middle of the
Tenth Century strange panic seized
upon mems minds that the end of the
world was close at hand. This strange,
religious impulse has run through the
centuries, and powerfully affects many
minds to-day. In later times, murders,
often prevailed as local epidemic. The
epidemic character of suicide has long
been recognized. A singular instance
is given in French history. At the Hotel
for Invalids in Paris, among the old
soldiers who had been long accustomed
to actin concert with their commanders,
one of the inmates was found dead one
day by hanging, and within short time
twelve others hanged themselves on the
samepost. The post was removed and
the hanging ceased. Similar instances
might be multiplied to an indefinite ex-
tent
Earnestness of purpose is a powerful
element of magnetic sympathy. This
is one of the secrets of the worlds great
orators. Men move in masses under a
common impulse. This is what makes
man mighty in battle" In its absence
they will run away from the enemy,
when, with it they will run after them.