The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-16
WHEN WILL Il USELESS.

WHEN WILL II USELESS.
From the New York sun.
There are some persons, and they en-
ter into all the daily circles of life.
whose wills are so soft and plant that
they need the strength of another will
to be joined to theirs before they can
act. This common phase of a weak will
hardly deemed possible by the non
observant. Persons suffering from
this form of diseased volition can Will
themselves according to the dictates OF
reason. They can feel desire to act,
but they cannot make move toward
that end. They are powerless TO trans
late that desire into an act.
Esquirol mentions the case of a mag
fstrate highly distinguished for his
learning and his power as a speaker,
who was seized with monOmania in
consequence of certain troubles of the
mind. He regained his reason, but
would not go into. the world again,
though he acknowledged himself TO be
in the wrong in not doing so. When
advised to travel or to attend TO his
much-neglected affairs, he would say:
81 know that ought to do so, but l
an unable. Your advice is very good,
and wish could follow il. 1t as GER
tain that I have no will save not to
will, for 1 have my reason unimpaired.
/ know what ought TO do. but strength
fails me when ought TO act"
The case of the magistrate, however,
Is hardly as strange as that recorded
by Prot. J. H. Bennett, of man who
frequently could not carry out what he
wished to perform, even to the simplest
acts of daily life.
Often, on endeavoring 20 undress,
this man was two hours before he could
get his coat off All his mental facul-
ties were perfect, but his Will was i'm
paired. Once he ordered a glass OF
water. When the servant brought j.
he was utterly unable 10 take il of the
tray, though he was most anxious 20 do
SO. The servant waited half an hour
before him. al the end of which time
the man overcsme the difficulty, seized
the glass and drank down IFS contents
He described his feelings afterwsrd AS
if another person had taken possession
of his will.
The abuse Of opium produces some
what similar condition De Quincy
saws: The opium eater loses none OF
his moral sensibilities or aspirations
he wishes and longs as earnestly as
ever to realize what he believes posi-
bic and feels 20 be exseted by duty.
But his intellectual apprehension Of
what is possible infinitely outruns its
power not OF execution only, but even
the power 20 attempt
Another curious instance quoted By
Dr.. Billed. Of Nancy. is that Of man
who was greatly frightened at thirty
years OF age by certain civic tunults II
which he, unfortunately. became in
VOWED Thereafter, though he re-
tanned perfectly his mental balance, ne
would not remain alone. either on the
street or n his chamber. BAT was a.
WAYS accomDsnied II he went out u
was impossible FOR him 20 return alone
Whenever he went out alone, which
ne EeEs-F III - NOe-81 asS@S s8S-.- Va 4t-s
street and there remain indefinitely,
neither going OF nor turning back, IN
less some one led hlrz.
He seemed 20 have viii. but Z vss
that % those around hin Whenever
the attempt was made % overcome this
resistance OF the man, be vv0EId fail
into . swo0a-'
A disease 81 Tho viii that = ~rea
more carious j. that which prevents 4
rs ssss.sr e-Qssju< 81 open sgsee- IL