The herald., 1897-04-04
Taken by Miss farnsworth
Toward Her Mother
MISS HOLMES WISE REMARK
PRovoKEs SOME SUGGESTIVE
THOUGHTS ON SPOoKS
How Far Dabbling in Spiritualism
May Tend to Develop On Unpre-
ceived Insane Taint--Chap-
man Opens Arguments


The Times libel suit has reached the
argumentative stage. After the vast
mass of testimony which has been &C
cumulated counsel on either side are
now engaged in sitting it down to such
proportions that, when the jury retires
the mental digestion of each individual
juryman will not be put to too severe a
test.
Quite a number of unkind things have
been said about Miss Josephine Holmes
during the trial, but the lady herself,
while upon the witness stand, made a
wise remark. although not quite origi-
nal. In response to an inquiry, she
said that in her opinion everybody is
more or less insane. Many centuries
ago one of those philosophers whose
name is familiar to everyone, but whose
works are read by none, first propound-
ed the theory that nobody is entirely
sane, no matter how well balanced men,
tally he or she may seem 10 be, there is
some particular twist in persons men,
tai equipment which approximates to
insanity. This twist may never become
acute; it may, on the other hand, develop
into a very positive unsoundness.
"A mans mind, according to this the
ory, resembles an apple, which, however
perfect in appearance, always has some
where on its surface or in its interior
blemish not ordinarily worthy of notice,
but which will furnish the starting
point for disease. 1t may be some od-
dity of thought or eccentricity of ac-
ton; the contemplative habit or a meth
cd of doing the most ordinary things in
another than an ordinary way. The
popularity may never amount to more
than the speck upon the apple, but there
exists the possibility that it may develop
to such extent as to become the alb
sorbing inclination, and then the per-
sonage is classed with those whom the
world calls insane 1t is unpleasant to
think that because you take too light or
too heavy grip upon your knife and
fork you are apt to so crazy some day,
or that because you walk the streets en-
wrapped in your own thoughts that you
are tending to become victim to melan-
cholia. Nevertheless, peculiarities of this
kind that seem to establish the individ-
uality of person are the very ones that
are not infrequently cited as evidence of
insanity in it's incipient form. In the
light of much of the testimony given
during the Times libel suit il would
seem as If there was some truth in the
old theory reiterated by Miss Holmes.
1t was Oliver Wendell Holmes. too.
who advanced the whimsical theory, a
modification of that referred to- that
there is on every human brain an
"idiotic area" on which an idea alight-
ing makes no impression. With most
persons this area is small, and there is
plenty of space on the rest of the brain
for ideas to alight upon, so that only oc-
casionally does one find resting place
on the idiotic space. In some cases the
idiotfc space. however, is naturally large
or is enlarged. and then the man or wo-
man needs guardian. Whichever the
ory may be believed it is certainly com
forting to the conservative and a CON
tinual bar to the development of indi-
viduality
A RIDDLE OF SCIENCE.
The human mind is so constituted that
an opinion that seems perfectly reason
able to one man appears the yeriest
nonsense TO the next, and the idea of the
iunat1c who said he thought the world
crazy, and the world, in turn. said II
thought him crazy, and so voted him. is
not so absolutely idiotic, after all. DR..
Sohnsons saying: "All power of fancy
over reason is degree Of insanity" ba.
generally been accepted as approyi-
mately true, but where to draw the d.
Vlolng line has puzzled some of the
most expert neurologists
ana SO one naturally asks if the fol-
lowers OF Miss Holmes actually did he
iIeVe IN the curious things alleged dur
ing the trial? There is, in such case
positively nothing offensive in the cun,
position that Miss Holmes was perfect
ly accurate in the remark anent in
sanity IN its application to herself and
ner following, for Raphaeps day
dreams, Michael Angeles divine fury ="
6eethoven's spasms of rage, Shelley's
eccentricities. and Franklin's absent
mindedness, are all evidences of pecu.
liarlty significant to the expert. "Great
genus is to madness near allied" and
so the frequenters of the Holmes men
age, in believing in spirit manifesteaions
OF the most extraordinary kind in Miss
Josephine Holmes herself as of such
eplfltueIle character as to be angelic
ana a sharer with Jesus Christ in tho
redemption or humanity from sin: and
In those marvellous pictures as accurate-
~ representing spirit conditions. NAV
De olspiaying original traits of thought
ana character IN every way commend
aDle or, on the other hand thew may
not. In any case if the "speck on the
apple" is broadening out with them
then surely their eccentricities place
them in good company.
"DEVIL-HAUNTE FAVORIr1,"
Yesterdan morning the proceedings of
the day began with Mr.. Arthur Tayl,r
testifying. This youth-he is 10 years OF
age-has been mentioned so continu-
ously during the trial that considerahIo
interest attached to his evidence. He
stated that at the time referred to in
the Times article he was suffering more
or less and was troubled with insomnia.
Although in weak physical condition.
1t was his mental state that caused the
most anxiety. Mrs. Arthur and Mrs
Horace Wheeler, with Miss Holmes.
nursed him and watched over him con-
This had been rendered
necessary by the impulse he had to com
NIT suicide. A suicide had happened
about that time at Westlake Park, and
upon one or two occasions he did escape
the vigilance of his nurses and ran TO
the park, but not being coward enough
DR. brave enough to throw himself I'M to
the water he came to no harm. On the
Dvening Of the first meeting at the hall
the witness could not remember with
whom he went down stairs. He denied