Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-04
HATERS OF WOMEN.
A Physician Relates His Expert
ence with Misogynists
Hatred OF the Fair Sex Pronounced a DIS
ease Akin to Insanity-Several Cases
Illustrating the Truth OF This
Plausible Theory.
"Women-hatersi Plenty Of themr'

W hOIltu-udDtTbI i lbliNy VI lApiAAt
A reporter for the New York World bad
met a well-known physician in a popular
cafe and interrupted aconversation that the
doctor was holding with a friend over a
cigar and bottle Of claret He spoke
easily and with confidence that he knew his
subject.
To hate a woman, especially one OF the
dainty, loving kind, upon whose Rlances
men hang enthralled, or for whose kindly
glances men would sacrifice their souls,
seemed incredible. Perish the thought
And get 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 a fresh match and
watched the smoke from his cigar roll lazily
upward as be related a few strange Incl
dents that had come under his observation
professionally.
zone case that ] recall" said the doctor,
twas that Of a German, a 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 began 70 creep over him and destroy
the love he had for his wife and the respect
for his mother.
"He struggled against it and fought it,
but ii was no use, and the disease, il such
il may be called, began 10 show itself TO his
family and friends, and an instant
enlargement 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
a man who was woman hater, only he did
not know it, because he was insane" The
physicians had diagnosed his case Alright.
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 a nurse, and she had
suddenly gone insane. In her maniacal
frenzy she tried TO strangle her innocent
charge, and only desIsted when she thought
she had succeeded in her object. Then she
killed herself with 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
commissions. 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
eyes, that is very strange" said the
physician, meditatiyely. "But / think |
know Of one nearly as remarkable" and he
went on to relate the following:
"In the spring Of 81 L was called in by a
prominent banker TO attend his son, who
had suddenly become afflicted with strange
state Of mind, which proved to be a hatred
Of women. This his family could not under
stand, as he had always been q 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 victim Of the opium habit.
He also confessed to me an adventure that
had happened TO him, but which | will not
repeat, as IL is too long, in which he had
been scared nearly out or ms wits by a
woman.
ut 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 a woman -hater
all his life.n
"Was it ever removed, doctorl" asked
one OF the listeners
Never was the answer, and the party
relapsed into silence for a moment.
A diversion was caused by the walters re-
moval of an empty bottle and the substitu-
uon Of a fresh one, and the conversation
WAS resumed.
"rcll US another, DOCTOR" insinuated the
newspaper man.
81 could tell you several more, but would
have 10 do so briefly, as a patient is waiting
for me- no responded. II recollect gen
tlemau who stood very high in all affairs
connected with education in New York
He, too, was a woman-hater. As his opin-
ion on school affairs was considered valu-
able, many teachers, especially ladies, used
TO run TO hun for advice, but, as he was
deeply engaged in study, their calls were a
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
ms doors, He has often told me that women
had prevented his reaching the highest
rounds OF = sclcnce and that he could never
regain tho time lost.
II know another case where man in
trusted his entire fortune 10 a woman, and
she made away with il and made a woman
hatcr out Of him. He could never address
one.
But concluded the doctor, impressive
lN Il think that designing mothers are re-
sponsi0le Tor many OF the woman u-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 70 the FIRST"