New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-06
SOROSIS TALKS ON NERVES.
INTERESTING PAPERS ABOUT A GROWING |
APPLETON OF AMERICANS.
SOME OF THE POINTS MADE BY DRs. DE HART
KEATINGE AND BOND. MISS BRADFORD
AND MRS. LOZlER.

AND MRS. LozIER.
What are the causes OF the nervousness Of the
present generation" Any one who was present at
the largely attended meeting held by Sorosis yes
terday afternoon and heard this question apIy as
clissed as II was by a number OF well-known worn-
en-. had reasonable excuse for not being wen
informed the subject upon her departure from
the temple OF knowledge" which the white-and-
gold ballroom at Shcrry's has been called since
the beginning OF these em-monthly meetings
Previous to the discussion an enjoyable programme
was given. including violin solo by MISS Dora
Valesca Becker. Rotations by Miss Emma Dun
ming Banks and Nine. Aimee Reynaud Mazerque'
songs by Miss Hudah Goodman. and poem writ
ten FOR Sorosis by Julia Harris May ana recited
by Miss Amelia b. Myers.
The question for discussion was presented by
Miss May Florence Park chairman OF the Com
mittee on Science. \ comparison was drawn be-
tween the people OF former age and the people
OF to-day and 1t was declared that the present
lin de steele civilization demands too much from
the delicate white threads and gray matter ana
they In turn respond too quickly The speaker
added that living In land where one constantly
hears step lively plcasc." was having DISASTROUS
effect upon the nervous forces. In closing she
read the question for debate and said: q" play the
fools part to-day and ask the question; the wise
women who follow me will answer 1t.
Mrs William Tod Iielmuth. who presided intro
duced as the first speaker DIR. NJ. f. DE Hart. who'
as being one Of the causes. The causes oil any ana
all disease were declared to be fundamental. ana II
was said to be necessary first to learn what FORCES
thcy exert Everything Is the fruit OF a donple
action" the speaker continued, "and out Of this
reciprocal action everything must necessarily
spring" \ special point was made IN resar" I'D
climate soil and diet. ii being said that their inhu-
once was fully as strong on the mind the
body. The various nations and their peculiar GUS
toms, which had any bearing ON the question OF
debate. referred to. "Our soil and climate
she declared stimulate man to industry, and
even give birth to restless and exaggerated de-
sire for action which makes work necessity 1t
thus not only provides employment but acts as
safety valve for over-abundant nervous force
Emerson says: our task Is our life prescrVer.
Our higher wisdom consists in adapting ourselves
to our environments and TO take into account our
climate and system until We can combine health
and happiness. Women are more liable to be the
victims OF nervous diseases, as they are more
imaginative. more emotional. and the vast number
OF their ailments show that they nave not adapted
themselves to their environments. Ii Is deplorable
that this nervous affection has until recently
been considered quite the correct thing, but now
that physical culture has become fashionable II
may with higher intellectual employment solve the
question"
Dr. Harriettc G. Kea;nge Was the next speaker
and she treated the subject from the point OF view
OF "Heredlty." No disease. X said Is 50 surely
"A
declared 10 b. common among men a.
among women. The disease was said - have its
mental strain they undergo while IN school Board
inp schools condemned a. breeding both ner-
VOusncss ana vice. aad mothers wee specially
warned REGARDING the character of their cnLdrens
nurses H-as~"rt"i marriages were referred u, me
lums aud prisons. An IDIOT Is not an accident.
Dr Heating continued any more than Is an
nature Almost invariably the cause OF the sudden
deaths about which We 80 constantly read j. ar
OF
becoming ALARMED and realize that II y tine - put
The average New York man ana woman eats
drinks. lives on excitement Thcy dress on timr eat
d"vourlng politics. Nocks. murders suicides and
ls 10 a state 81 congee ou. and MS brain al hign
pressure. \ society woman does more IN one day
Than her grandmother dl in a month. and yet she
wonders Why me Dr. so nervous. rms era h',h'"I
unrest viii ruin home and happiness unless II IS
stopped and It !. our duty to save oar children rom
Dr Mary L. Bond. Who spoke "stmulauts anI
higher standard than those Of Other nation. AMI
apparently 20 have adopted rapid transit rs the
strain must be- .e-rned Women said 10 suffer
more from s'imulan,s than do men, and IL was added
acquire the hsbits OF cigarettes okng and brandy
drinking than can readily be realized
when W., on Dress any Diet" and Ma both
/ amusingiy original and interesting. she first dis
Gained al pre'ens ln- T. any ritht oi reason u
speaking In company Nth %" wise ana learned
| doctors
said that sh. m.Sht have observed a few Things IN
her phillnthrOIir round, among shop girls ana ~ "
Set lrfnenf worker hat the other, had not men
toned. Il have several times In tn last Jew days
she added ATTENDED my own funeral ne cause
being ihi- same nervousness about wnich " are
asked % talk IL ~ convenient TO nave term
which W. may Apply in all cases. Whatever ovc
does n says that peculiar unpleasant or II the
wearing apparel happens To c1us" comment, on"
u-ltl., hear the remark. on she a. nervous one
c,s. Of this nervousness which prevails - such an
alarming extent H. that We are suffering from the
lr.e ding Of our ancestors" Miss Bradford tod 81
her asking 4 physician who Is u friend OF hers u he
| would give her some points for her paper about
| nervousness and h. replied. Yes. you can LAX on
| Two subjects heels Ia1 corsets. Tell your hearers
10 wear nat TONED shoes and no corsets, 10 htns
everything from their shoulders. ana they VIII th'h
uv. longer and a.so look like the devil hdirplns,
| Wells and trains referred to "a artlrleS oi
torture and an amusing anccdot' VAS toll ABOUT
tn. latter in connection with Henry WARD berchrt'
who Il was said. wAcn seeing y woman "cii
ing /, train on the street exclaimed, ivory
| When he saw Il man attempting u Walk up ,lhc
hack breadth he shouted "ilalleluJah' ana whti
he heard the skirt give way at inc WAIST II, nlu'
nur.I Amen" Excessive Use ~ stlmulaitS. ldch vi
prDprr nourshmcnt and extravaganza III nVihS WERE
s,,i 10 he the practical causes OF nervousness
| I'm the general dis -ussion which followed Mr7.
Iozier ex president OF Sorosis; Mrs sara G. Ostrom
| ana Airs Scuadrr took part Mrs lfagley, VIC,
| president Of the Federation OF Woman tiupS' ali
| VIE OF cx-tiovernor Baglcy. OF Michigan; also
| snake and Mime. Chcka Sakurai. who was IN ma
,ion,l asked for money 10 he.p suppots q