The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24
DEGENERACY DISCUSSED
Is THE HUHfN RICE rs 4 UHOLE
DEGENERfTTNG?
why Bicycli-ts Hall Dead After Too Rapid
Euns-Cau-e and Effect of In
somnia-Good Advice.

In view Of the prominence given the
subject OF degeneracy by Dr. Nordau.
the numerous comments and criticisms
brought forth by his book, the Doctor
takes the liberty of setting in full, before
his readers, an article bearing on de-
generacy, in the Annals OF Hygiene.
Max Nordaus book on degeneracy has
probably called forth greater diversity
Of criticism than any other book OF mod
ern timrs. Dis the human race. as Il
whole, degcnerating, or is il the degener-
alton of a single mind that causes it TO
see evidences Of degeneration in the hui
man beings that il views?
To our way of thinking NOrdau IS
right and wrong. We cannot but divide
human beings into two great classes.
which, for lucidity, We Will designate
'naturalists" and "artihcialsts." There
seems 10 be implanted in The makeup
Of a certain portion OF Humanity "a desire
for change, for variety "a dislike or dis
taste, so TO speak, for what they car
mOnotony; that which they DO to-day.
they are not inclined to do tomorrow,
something new. something novel, some
thing different from that which has pre-
ceded it, whether IL be I'm dress, Occupa-
ton, pleasure, or In any direction; diver
sity only seems consenial to these per
sons
Now, the student Of humanity fun well
knows that the human being is but an
incident OF nature; he knows that what
is sometimes called mOnOtOny-that is
II say, the regular repetition of the
same acts az the same hOurs-he knows
that this is an absolute requisite in the
grand designs Of nature. In his primitive
state, man was a regular animal, al
most. If not quite 10 a unit As time
passed on, the restless spirits craving
this change and variety TO which We. have
referred, became, 50 TO speak, irregular
animals, and in this way originated the
division OF artifcialists."
From the earliest ages humanity had
been capable Of division into these two
classes. Augustus and Constantine were
naturalists; Nero and Caligula We're ar
tihcialists. Is our meaning clear before
we proceed? "Naturalists" are those who
instnctively. or studiously. comprehend
the laws Of nature, and regulate their
lives IN accordance herewith. 'artih-
cialists' are those who, discomfort with
the monOtony Of natural laws, disregard
them for the code Of impulse" that has
been established and is being daily elabO-
rated and modified b. restless. dissatis-
hd beings like themselves. Artihcialists
ar. and always have been, degenerating
ArtficiaIists would ultimately
evolve humanity into some insignlfcantly
inferior condition were it not for the coun-
teracting influence OF the naturalists, who
are continuity elevating il from the pit
Of degeneracy into which the artificlalists
have plunged IT.
Nature is conservative; nature is power
ful: nature compels. 10 a certain extent.
an observance OF her laws, and this Is
how she works.
hi.f1in (Cs.e cmfwyp vbgkqj xzfinn Wig
HJo "natu,alis&" farmer, financially
poor. physically a Croesus. after a hard
days work. retires 10 rest not exhaust
led, physically or meneSb1 but just
tired: not too tired. bur
lust tired enough: just as rired as nature
intends that he should be-bear in mind
hat am writing OF the ideal naturalist
that l am making q vast