New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-17
A QUESTION OF DEGENERACY
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION BEFORE
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB.
DIR. MAX NoRDAUs BOOK GETS THOROUGH
ovERHAuLING-HIs OPINIONS APPROVED

IN GREAT IRhi'
"Ars we degenerate?" was the subject of an in
teresting discussion before the Nineteenth Century
Club last night at Sherrys Dr. Max Nordau
hook on Degeneration" the English translation
of which has recently been published mere, gave
rise TO the discussion, and the Speakers ait"ou6"
they did not agree In all minor matters WIN d.
Xordau. took sides with him on the more important
ponts of his work which is an elaborate STUDY OF
the symptoms of physical and mental degeneracy'
This degeneracv according to the writer, mani
f. sits itself In literature. in art ana IN the eh'a
and physical structure OF the human laihily
Walter H. Page the president OF the club, called
the meeting to order. and in presenting as the
first speaker DR. Charles l.. Dana, said: we VINO
are sane and know that we are sane meet 10 us
cuss degeneracy."
Dr. Dana said that the theories OF Or. Nordau
were not new, but that they were based on tnor-
oughy established facts and upon SOUND prihclpies'
Or Dana described the human degenerate a.
one VINO differs from the average type OF MS lanHy
or race and styled him as one disordered OF ao-
normal The healthy normal man he lkened 10
the lone Hoss Shay
He begets others OF the same temperament, he
said. while the abnormal the degenerate race dies
out"
Or Dana divided the degenerates into three
classes the lowest. mbecies and idiots: the second
class Inferior degenerates and the third class su-
porior or intellectual degenerates Degenera'es
have certain stsmata to identify them, sucn as ao-
tionaI disturbances bodily and mental, by which
they may b. recognized. ON me bo"ets!, ne ne
said. they would be known as having whee.s III
their heads-in Kansas they would DE sent 10 Oo"-
The speaker took Issue With Nordau for calling
Wagner. Ibscn ana Rustln dogenerates Dut ap-
proved his denunciation OF the loathsome ana Ie-
generate In literature and art Degeneracy IN 'he
human family the speaker thought, was slightly on
the increase. but BY Appropriate means me incrsae
might be checked. As examples OF the degenera,es
MIMI @ur,.ts and The believers in the mystical
4 ,9rf m ps ID
lie parks and public buildings. ne said they were
rather the outgrowth OF politics than degenerate
art Even political parties. the speaker continued
and in that connection he spoke OF Thomas C:
Ticnerd Burton Of Hartford. the next
speaker. He said that there vas great deai OF
the morbid sckly and degenerate in the iteratur.
OF the day and that Nordau's book was necessary
and that II would do good because 1t strips the glory
from number Of men who have been REGARDED WIN Win
admiration when they were re s gay colsae
man in his salad lays Is regarded by the young
maiden Don Juan and by the Siersym hs,n as "a
garded with mingled pity and contempt oy an me
would mend his ways. Nordau he said had caused
crates. He questioned the writer's style and &C.
cused him OF having "a normal Teutonic lack OF OF
truth Mf Burton drew the only applause q the
sy HG Was THe beng IN nSSd Win the
Amons, those present were Mrs r Robert A 4SS
ams Mrs Ii. }. Hayden. Miss Amy Townsend.
Daniel @ Thompson Mrs: Henry Draper, Mrs Ea-
en HSr, osR saA s yG Fur &Fs Phelps
stokes Frederick r. Couder, the Honorable George
& Barrett Edmund ws,more Horace o r. DENIM pnr,a
Dorman - Eaton. Mrs. Arthur Brooks. Mrs Cnster.
William Travers Ie:2mc, Percival Knanth, Recorder
and Mrs g. l. Pllmpton. Mrs. Alice Morse Earle;
NJ and Mrs simon stgrne Henry Hot MT' T and
r.. Denng