Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-11-24
GENIUS OR INSANITY
THE FADs AND PEcULlARITIES OF
WRITERS AND COMPOSERS.

1t is not an easy matter to try to draw
the frontier line of insanity. Although
certain psychologists, basing their opin- :
ion Oh the physical anomalies and &C.
-centrioities 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 .maDias appear.
In this respect Lombroso and his disci-
pies have gone too far, their tendency
being to make no distinction between
genius and talent.
Genius is an anomaly, but an anom-
ally that the whole world is satisfied to
admire. It is constituted by the exag-
gerated Development of single faculty.
usually at the expense Of the others.
This is the cause of the imperfections of
these brilliant meteors and the explana-
tion of their degeneracy on other points.
Essentially spontaneous and original
genius is a 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
Cab be acquired and developed at any
time At the present day, for instance,
there are few men of genius among
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 admi-
ration and reveals a painter Of genius.
Actions, therefore, in appearance ex-
traordinary do not warrant US in infer
ring insanity on the part of those who
accomplish them, especially as these &C.
tions, however abnormal they may seem
at first, are often very rational and JUS
tifable.
Thus, in order to be able to mediate
| at their ease, many writer's insist on not
| being disturbed by anything and seek
seclusion. Montaigne, in his moments
Of inspiration, used to run out of his
house and go and shut himself up in an
old tower, into which no one else enter
ed. Jean Jacques Rousseau used to
mediate in the fields while gathering
flowers in the sunshine. In order to
shut out the noise of the world he liked
to bury himself in the hay or close his
ears with cotton.
Others can only compose with success
in the midst Of tumults. The celebrated
Italian composer Cimarosa was Of this
her, and only found the fine motives
Of his operas in the midst OF the joys
and noise Of the crowd.
G,,oi, 81 oE
Felix Regnault says that he could only
lecture in the midst Of great racket.
When his scholars wished to manifest
against him, they kept absolute silence,
as under such conditions he was inca
pable Of making an addition even.
Just as noise stimulates the brain of
some, motion quickens the circulation
of others, whence the large number of
persons who can only compose while
exercising. Ampere could not explain
clearly even the things he knew best
unless the action Of his brain was helped
by exercise. Victor Hugo, while COM
posing, walked about muttering to him
self.
In our day many writers prefer to
walk. Catulle Mendes walks up and
down, and then writes at his desk; Jean
LON bard, the we'll known writer, who
died few years ago, walked 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 in horizontal position. For
example, Descartes, who used to lie
down motionless, and Cujas, who could
only work proftably lying on his stom-
ach on the carpet.
A whole class of writers, Theophile
Gautier, Baudelaire, Francois Coppee
and Scaccini, require the presence Of
cats to write. Gautier used to have as
many as 10 or Is. Leon Cladal writes
in wooden shoes, in the society Of his
dog in a garnet. At intervals he takes
his dog off for a walk.
Intellectual stimulants are largely
used, among which coffee is great IA
vorite. Lortzing drank bowls of it while
composing his melodies, and Balzac used
it to great excess. De Musset, Poe, Yer.
lalne 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 not write q 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 OF four going at the
same time through observation-disclosures
+. Perfumes We're highly appreciated by
Baudelaire, Theophile Gautier, Lott and
Malzeroy. Byron couldn't write with
out having the odor Of trufles about him
and frequently carried his pockets full
OF them. Cooper acted on his sense of
taste by filing his mouth with honey
tablets and small pieces Of lieorice.
0arolus Duran and Anne Morot worked
themselves up before painting by play
ing the piano and organ Darwin pre-
ferred the violin. .. - 80.
] The ssingularities qneer traits and
even manias to which / have lust called
attention in writer's and artists are. il
one reflects. generally explicable. No
i doubt some Of them betray nervous
condition that is on the, limits Of mental
uerang but as rule they are SIM
i PIE peculiarities, whose Importance il
exaggerated on account Of the public no.
satlon Of the writer and would not iusti..
4 WI any sense en- the term insanity y hich
tor THIS reason mbroso would like to-
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