The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-27
THE MADNESS OF SELF
EGOTIsM A DISEASE FOR WHICH
THE VICTIM DESERVES PITY.
COnceit symptom of Progressive,
ParaIy tic Insanfty-The Fin de
Steele Brand of Lunacy.


His conceit is appalling. There is no
topic on which he won't talk. and his ignor-
ance is distressing, because to contradict
would mean to quarrel, and it is hardly
worth the while
humorous twinkle came into the doc
tors eyes "Ah, you have noticed it," he re-
marked.
"Noticed?'' replied, who has not noticed
his awful egotism?''
He can't help it,, he quietly responded;
.'it is not his fault
Not his fault That's pretty excuse for
a man who shovels ideas before you like
unpayng sand--not CLEAN of gold, silver
or metal in it,
do you know it is dsease-a Distress
ing one, too?' continued the doctor, with
out needing my angry interruption. a dis
ease which is not generally understood, but
a disease nevertheless. tuberculosis, you
know, / have before told you, is only
family beginning to be understood. You
can have tuberculosis of the knee, any
part of the body. The victim of this disease
is to be pitied, not scorned.'
well, when man calmly tells you he
has been SO busy making history that he
has had no time to record it., with Bis
MARKHAM suggestiveness of satisfaction,
feel inclined TO kick common sense into
him
Whenever man commences by saying No
is my equal in such and such a work.
no man knows as much as do about that
thing; no man can begin to do 1T as well
as l can; taught him all he knew; with
out me he would be nothing; he has been
benefited by me in several ways, it is
simply the inception of the disease. Its
AWFUL effects VIII follow later. Depend upon
it that the more egotistical man gets the
more advanced is he in this pecunar dis
ease, and his people should be extremely
careful of him. He should be watched, and
if he has property those interested should
take steps to protect themselves. That
is diseased mentally, and the disease will,
sooner or later. declare itself"
Pray give me the name of this inter-
esting disease. Several of my friends must
ut is known progressive paralytic in
sanity.
Progressive paralytic insanity"
Exactly so.''
And has any man yet been declared
progressive paralytic lunatic?"
Undoubtedly. There is interesting
lawsuit now which l am watching; I
will let you know the result. Do you wish
to hear about it?"
Certainly, yes
A TEST CASE.
/ had, l believe, made some such state
ments regarding my own prowess in GER
tain lines of general usefulness and this
awful idea of being progressive para
lytic lunatic' fascinated me. l recog-
nized at once that several of my warmest
friends were progressive paralytic luna
tics, but when it came home to me I had
bodings. Did this doctor, with his clear.
blue eyes. sphinx-like face his calm, imper-
turbed manner-this bookworm and great
surgeon-look down into and adjudge
me progressive paralytic lunatic? l tenn
porzed with the doctor.
Are the signs unfailng?'
Unfailng, he assured me.
Are there many progressive paralytc
lunatics wandering about without keep
ers?''
1T is a hdeous term-'progressive par
alytic insanity. 1 don't like its sound at
Suppose" he continued. II said 4 am
the greatest surgeon alive There is no
body can perform operation like my
however skillful I may be still you are
morally certain there must be surgeons
cleverer than am. Are you not?''
We'll, no; / am not
I determined to AVOID being dcgmatc.
not knowing whether assurance might not
be one of the steps leading toward that
terrifying edifice of progressive insanity.
We'll, there. was wealthy man in the
East who suddenly displayed this mania.
1t was harmless at first, laughed at, ig
nored and then became wearisome. That
egotism developed rapidly till it became
family. The wife, a most sensible woman,
took the proper view of the case. She ar
gued that no, man in his senses would
talk such foolishness. There was some
thing wrong-radlcaliy wrOng-wIth
husband. She consulted two eminent ply
sicans, who advised her that her 'hus-
band would certainly within few years
lose his reason and in five years would
die: They even event, timed his death and gave
sive paralytic lunatic They followed up
their advice by telling her to have her
husband insure his life in large sum in
her favor. The man passed the insurance
examination and in five years he died.
Then It leaked out that these doctors
dangerously sick, knew he would die. The
insurance people accused the physicians of
fraud and intent to deceive and refused
widow is a
most interesting case and If it does come
to law it will be watched carefuny. I am
not yet certain whether proceedings have
been commenced. In the case of your friend
he is in identically the same position and
his family should be apprised of the fact.
1t ia your duty"
"My duty?.
81 Jumped back. alarmed at the PROPOSE
family by telling them Your father is a
progressive paralytic lunatic.' No, thank
an earnest and abiding desire to go down
to my grave in peace, though 1 do live on
"You are often spoken of as a warm and
true friend"
am / answered hastily, .sbut I don't
intend to have my head broken sacrifice
my life on the altar of friendship
1.-THE world is supremely selfish" re-
book, he became absorbed in it's contents
1t was Roman history-Cornela fascinated
the doctor.
NOT ALTOGETHER FUNNY.
case-if there happens to be humorous
aspect to it-what hideous pictures does
this disease conjure? 1t was evident that
my friend was not joking. He is not
given to popularity, and what he said was
said in earnestness.
We all know of that millionaire whose
conceit was amusing to those who knew
him. Carelessy he was called liar
a phenomenal liar. Singular stories are
current regarding him, the best known
being the in which he declared that
he accidentally, with a billiard cue poked
out a sheep in flock in d famous paint
ing owned by him, and skillfully painted
the torn part that no one ever detected
any sign of the accident. The stories that
are now being circulated about his peculiar
financial operations show that there must
have been something of the progressive
lunatic about him.
Certain ii is that egotism takes on a new
garb. 1t can now be covered with the
mantle of charity. Prior to this new dis
ease the egotistical man was abhorred and,
if possible, Stunned.
HE would be tolerable were he not so
Internally conceited," would all exclaim
Now il will be- Poor chap, he Is in a bad
way; he is progressive paralytic luna
tic"
Some occupations must provoke the dis
ease. Take actors as class; each of them