The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-24
MAUPASSANTS MADNES&,
Indications OF Its Progress Traced IN the
Novelist's Later Writings.

Inaisatiess OF Its Progress Traced IN the
Novelist's Later Writinss.
Dr.. Paul GARNER. an eminent specialist in
nervous diseases and legal expert in in
sanity cases in the courts OF Paris. has made
curious analytical study Of the mental aliena-
ton Of the novelist Guy de Maupassant. which
eliminated recently in a violent outbreak Of
suicidal mania. 10 FGooro's question as to
whether the unfortunate authors later writ
ings presented to the practised eye the pre-
monitory marks OF disordered mind. Dr.
GARNER had no hesitation in replying: Alas.
yes" The principal stories in this melancholy
category. that Is to say which have come from
Maupassant's pen during the past two years.
are "Notre C9ur." La Main Coupee."
"LAuberGe." and lie Horla." 1t is from the
last named that the specialist draws his
most striking illustrations. the "Horla"
being that evil spirit. that phantasm
Of terror. whose haunting presence the
tormented author transfers. with marvellous
power OF language. to the pages OF his grew
some tale. Regarding that production DR.
GARNER says: Not that think it would be
impossible for a sane mind to evoke and put
e., scene similar phenomena Of hallucination:
but only on condition that these had deyel-
oped themselves outside the authors being
that he had studied them in some other per-
son. or that this latter had dictated them to
him. Such does not seem to be the case with
Maupassant l believe. on the contrary, that
he has found his model in himself. There is
in this tale Of the 'Horla an incom parably
intense description OF the hallucinatory de-
lirlum induced by intoxication. No clinical
specialist could have detailed more accurately
the anguish the terror the illusions OF this
The following passage is cited specially:
As the shades OF evening draw on. singu-
me as il the night covered terribls mSnac 9s
resistiblsm to s'llsep. dread q my Very
lock the door and push the bolts. / am afraid
woi what lopsp the wardrobe closets, peer
BILE being. a spirit. Is under my roof, within
my chamber-yes: and comes at dead of night
to drink the ,e water from my earafe Some one is
Ths victim Of this dpesd hauc sras finally
fees from his haunted dwelling. thinking to
to s dssroy Il
fre to the house. Then doubt reawakens. and
not dead ThenSi shall have to xiii myseifIS
sinister story. which he has Just lived QUIZ to
"Horls'' Of his diseased imagination: '''p' '''
Dr. Garnier declares its authors appro s SHG
sSad 1 fat
strtking contrast presented by this ouhG work
to to tho works which had preceded It from the
same pen-so sane. 40 robust, SO Astounding In
life w IL calm . observation and thought.
From and
ment," DR.. GARNER says, such disaster Is the
fata! price OF unnatural production BY the aid
Of stimuiants. the INEVITABLE result Of a con-
tinuous lashing OF the brain to fury BY a
fsysrsS n'Embttio1 well
was slave to hashish. besides having for
some years past abused ether as a ramaJv ~.
more or less imaginary Ills" 'N' A''
4, 1t Is curious to, note in the writings OF an.
ants Whefbs1r the ase Of toxic s
ish. or ether for their Imaginative lours de
ness, and often OF startling Observation-Disclosures
which perhaps constitute their chief success
ShH cnarm Here indeed. is that vivid sensl-
the poignancy, Of page torn from life ITSELF
But 4 IL not the outcome Of a normal cersbrni
condition. Little by little the sensibiitva
ats ITSELF From momentary 1t becomes per
m1anent, and the sensorial vibration is that OF
II would be an interesting psychological in.
qutry. the specialist suggests. whether the
author; depicting mailman. makes him rea.
son. talH; and act u Ike u veritable madman. or
whether he Is not simply embodylnc lis own
words: II not the pretended fiction a transcrin.
hon OF his own soul and, In ossayina the nor
gwen his own moral photography The case
Of Edgar Poe. to go no further. would Certainly
Nevertheless. he concludes, It ia unsafa RI
generaltze; and, while difficult. It may not be !
wholly I'm possible for a literary work ri nuro
= mat ls 70 Sny. slne-imagnation TO present
true ana exact picture OF mental alienation.