Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-11-27
GENIUS OR INSANITY
THE FAps AND PEcuLlARITIEs OF
WRITERS AND COMPOSERS.

notwithstanding Maaias That Loln-
brosO Incorrectly Regards rs Mental
Alterations.
:. is not All easy matter to try todraw
the frontier line of insanity. Although
certain psychologists, basing their opin-
ion on the physical anomalies and &C.
centricitics of mind observed in men Of
genius, claim, with apparent reason,
that genius and insanity are the same
thing, it is going to excess to consider
writers and artists insane in whom
queer traits and little manias appear.
In this respect Lombroso and his disci-
pies have gone too far, their tendency
being to make 10 distinction between
genius and talent.
Genius is an anomaly, but all anon
aly that the whole world is satisfied 20
admire. 1t is constituted by the cxug-
geratcd development of Il single faculty,
usually at Gie expense of the others.
This is the cause of the iMpcrfections Of
these brilliant mcteors and the eXplana-
ton of their dcgeneracy IN other points.
Essentially spontaneous and original
genius is q natural phenomenon that we
cannot explain, although it is unques-
tionably the result of natural causes.
Talent is different. 1t is the fruit of
work and sustained application, and it
can be acquired and developed at any
time. AT the present day, for instance,
tt,ara n,n fpyry ,,N, g .o.- ,.-,,
painters, and yet they almost all have
talent. The consequence is that the
greater number of the paintings in our
exhibitions are pleasing to us, although
no exceptional work fills us With admit
ration and reveals a painter of genius.
Actions, therefore, i'll appearance ex-
%traordinary do not warrant us in infer
ring insanity on the part Of those who
accomplish them, especially as these ac-
tions, however abnormal they may seem
at first, are often very rational and JUS
tifiable.
Thus, i'll order to be able to mediate
at their case, many writer's insist on not
being disturbed by anything and seek
s%eclusion. Montaigne, in his moments
of inspiration, used to run out of his
house and go and shut himself up i'll an
old tower, into which no one else enter
ed. Jean jacques Rousseau used to
mediate i'll the fields while gathering
flowers i'll the sunshine. In order to
shut out the noise of the world he liked
to bury himself i'll the hay or close his
ears with cotton.
Others can only compose with success
-. %t.> ,,,s<l,+ - ..1&, 81 .-lf..A1
Italian composer Cinlarosa was of this
number, and only found the fine motives
of his operas i'll the midst of the joys
and noise OF the crowd.
Such was also the professor of whom
Felix Regnault says that he could only
lecture i'll the midst of IL great racket.
When his scholars wished to manifest
against him, they kept absolute silence,
as under suc!, conditions he was inca
pablo of making an addition even.
Just as noise stimulates the brain of
some, motion quicl:cns the circulation
of Others, whence the large number of
persons who can only compose while
exercising. Ampere could not explain
clearly ever tho things he knew best
unless the action of his brain was helped
by exercise. Victor Hugo, while COM
posing, walked about murtering to him
self.
In u day many writers prefer to
walk. Catullo Mendes walks up and
down, and then writes at his desk; jean
Lombard, the we'll known writer, WHO
died u few years ago, walked IL great
deal; Mistral, the Provencal poet, COM
poses while walking.
On the other hand, certain writers
avoid all motion, probably on account
of their weak constitutions, and in order
to stimulate the brain circulation put
themselves i'll IL h%oriZont::! position. For
example, Descartes, who used to lie
down motionless, and Cujas, who could
only work profitably lying on his stom-
ach OH the carpet.
A whole class Of writer's, T%heophile
Gautier, Baudelaire, Francois Coppee
and Scaccini, require the presence Of
eats to write. Gautier used to have as
many as IL OR 10. Leon Cladal writes
i'll wooden shoes, in the society of his
dog i'll Il garnet. At intervals he takes
his dog off for q walk.
Intellectual stimulants are largely
used, among which coffee is a great IA
vorite. Lortzing drank bowls of it while
composing his melodies, and Balzac used
it to great excess. De Musset, Poe, Ver-
laine and many others preferred alcohol,
while Schubert wrote his beautiful so.
natas under the influence Of large guam
titles of Rhine wine.
Tobacco smoke is also much used.
Flaubert could no write Il word until
he had smoked three or four large pipes
and half a dozen very strong cigars.
Daudet smokes enormously, Catulle
Mendes smokes cigars while writing
and often has three or four going at the
same time through observation-disclosures.
: Perfumes were highly appreciated by
Baudeiaire, Theophile Gautier. Lott and
M.izeroy. Byron couldn't write with
out having the odor of trut1les about him
and frequently carried his pockets full
Of them. Cooper acted Oh his sense OF
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