Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-11-27
GENIUS OR INSANITY
tHE FADS AND IRREGULARITIES OF
WRITER'S AND COMPOSERS.


broso Incorrectly Regard. us Mental
Alterations.
IS not an easy matter to try to draw
the frontier limo Of insanity Although
certain psychologists, busing their opiu-
ion On the physical anomalies and &C.
contricities Of mind observed in men Of
genius, claim, with apparent reason,
that genius and insanity are tho 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 anon
ally that the whole world is satisfied to
admire. 1t is constituted by tho exag-
gerated development Of single faculty,
usually ut the expense of the others.
This is the cause of the iinperfections o.
these brilliant meteors and the explana-
ton Of their dogcneracy on other points.
Essentially spontaneous and original
genius is q natural phenomenon that we
''AhAAOu tAll4Alls hlAnbNEl IL u unIutE-
tionably the result Of natural causes.
Talent is different. 1t is the fruit of
work and sustained application, and it
can DO 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. Tho consequence is that the
greater number of the paintings in our
exhibitions are pleasing TO Us, although
no exceptional work fills us with ndmi-
ration and reveals 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 ao-
tions, however abnormal they may seem
at first are often very rational and jus.
tifiable.
Thus, in order to be able to mediate
at their ease, many writers insist on not
being disturbed by anything and seek
seclusion. Montaigno, 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. Joan Jacques Rousseau used TO
mediate in the fields whilo 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
number, and only found the fine motives
Of his operas in the midst of tho joys
and noise of the crowd.
Such was also the professor of whom
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
pablo 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 tho 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
Lombard, the well known writer, who
died u few years ago, walked great
deal; bIistral, the Provencal poet, COM
poses while walking.
On the other hand, certain writers
avoid all motion, probably on account
of thoir weak constitutions, and in order
to stimulate tho brain circulation put
themselves in u horizontal position. For
example, Desoartes, who used to lie
down motionless, and Cujas, who could
only work protitably 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 IL or 10, Leon Cladal writes
in wooden shoes, in the society of his
dog in garrett. At intervals he takes
his dog off for walk.
intellectual stimulants are largely
used, among which coffee is a great ia.
yorito. Lortzing drank bowls Of it while
composing his melodies, and Balzac used
1t to great excess. De Musset, Poe, Yer
laiue and many others preferred alcohol,
while Schubert wrote his beautiful So
natas under the influence of largo quan.
titles Of Rhine wine.
Tobacco smoke is also much used.
Flaubort could not write word until
he had smoked three or four large pipes
and half dozen very strong cigars.
Daudot smokes enormously, Catulle
Mendes smokes cigars while writing
and often has three Or four going at the
same time through absentmindcdnoss.
Perfumes were highly appreciated by
Baudelaire, Theophile Gautier, Lott and
Maizeroy. Byron couldn't writo 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 filling his mouth with honey
tablets and small pieces of licorice.
Carolus Duran and Aimo Morot worked
Themselves up before painting By play
ing the piano and organ. Darwin pre-
terrcd the violin.
Tho singularities, queer traits ana
even manius to which have just called
attention in writer's aud artists are, "
one reflects, generally applicable, No
doubt some Of them batray nervous
condition that iq on flo li.ytfr4 of ,nprttoI