Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-02-08
HATERS OF WOMEN.
A Physician Relates His Expert
ence with Misogynists.
Hatred OF the Fair Sex Pronounced Dis
ease Akin to Insanity Several Cases
Illustrating the Truth OF This
Plausible Theory,

"Women-hatersi Plenty Of themr'
A reporter for the New York World had
met well-known physician in popular
cafe and interrupted aconversation that the
doctor was holding with q friend over q
cigar and bottle Of claret. He spoke
easily and with confidence that he knew his
subject.
To hate woman, especially one of the
dainty, loving kind, upon whose glauces
men hang enthralled, or for whose kindly
glances men would sacrifice their souls,
seemed incredible. Perish the thought
And yet the VISITORS mind brought into re-
membrance cases in which men had sworn
they hated women, only to be captured and
put in bondage by pair Of bright eyes.
The physician struck fresh match and
watched the smoke from his cigar roll lazily
upward as he related few strange Incl
dents that had come under his observation
professionally.
Zone case that l recall, said the doctor,
"was that of German, member of all the
musical societies, who late in life acquired
and betrayed an intense hatred of all
women. He had been happily married, aud
no one suspected him of this new feeling
that beg n to creep over him aud destroy
the love he had for his wife and the respect
for his mother.
"He struggled against it and fought it,
but it was no use, and the disease, if such
it may be called, began to show itself to his
family and friends, and an instant
estrangement from his wife was the re-
suit. He ran away from his home and was
finally returned hopelessly insane.
'Now," concluded the doctor, "there was
man who was woman-hater, only he did
not know it, because he was insane" The
rohHy ho1 a l. n;a
The conversation turned then on a case
that had been mentioned by Oliver Wendell
Holmes in his book. A very young boy had
been left in charge of nurse, and she had
suddenly gone insane. In her maniacal
frenzy she tried to strangle her innocent
charge, and only deslsted when she thought
she had succeeded in her object. Then she
killed herself with a razor, which left her a
most shocking sight. The boy revived, and
the first thing his eyes fell upon was the
corpse.
From that day throughout his childhood
and up to the hour of his death the sight of
woman was enough to throw him into
convulsions. His nurses were men, and
his family decided it best to seclude him.
No woman ever entered his apartments,
but all the work Of taking care of him de-
volved upon men. He died IN those rooms.
physician, meditatively. "But / think
know Of one nearly as remarkable" and he
went on to relate the following:
SIN the spring of 'S1 was called in by a
prominent banker to attend his son, who
had suddenly become afflicted with a strange
state of mind, which proved to be a hatred
of women. This his family could not under
stand, as he had always been a leader in
social events and fond of ladies' society.
Il found the young fellows constitution
very much run down, and made him admit
that he was a victim of the opium habit.
He also confessed 10 me an adventure that
had happened to HIM, but which will not
repeat, as it is too long, in which he had
been scared nearly out or MS wits by a
woman.
'It was easy enough for me to see that
unless the impression caught and retained
by his mind in its enfeebled state could be
removed, he would remain woman-hater
all his life"
"Was it ever removed, doctor9" asked
one of the listeners.
''Never," !" was the answer, and the party
relapsed into silence for moment.
A diversion was caused by the walters re-
moval of an empty bottle and the substitu-
ton of fresh one, and the conversation
was resumed
"Tell US another, DOCTOR" insinuated the
newspaper man.
81 could tell you several more, but would
have to do so briefly, as patient is waiting
for me-" he responded. II recollect gen.
tleman who stood very high in all affairs
connected with education in New York.
He, too, was woman-hater. AS his opin-
ion on school affairs was considered valu-
able, many teachers, especially ladies, used
to run to him for advice, butt as he was
deeply engaged in study, their calls were
source of annoyance to him and irritated
him into the state of mind that have men
toned.
"He was bachelor, but he finally dis
charged all his women servants, substitut-
ing men. And orders were given that no
woman was to be allowed to set foot within
his doors. He has often told me thatwomen
had pre- yented his reaching the highest
rounds of cence and that he could never
regain the time lost.
II know another case where a man in
trusted his entire fortune to a woman, and
she made away with it and made woman
hater out OF him. He could never address
one.
"But," concluded the doctor, impressive
ly, II think that designing mothers are re-
sponsibe tor many of the woman-haters, as
they frequently prevent their daughters
from marrying the men of their choice, and
when girl deserts the man she loves and
marries another it is very apt to do mental
injury to the first"
The Spider as a Traveller.