The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-03-10
GENIUS OR INSANITY?
THE FADS AND PECULIARITIES OF
WRITER'S AND COMPOSERS.

Stimulus Trifing Manias That Lon-
broso Incorrectly Regards as Mental
Alterations.
1t is not an easy matter to try Co draw
the frontier line of insanity. Although
certain psychologists, basing their opin-
ion on the physical anomalies and &c.
centricities 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-
Piles 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. It is constituted by the exag.
gerated development of a single faculty,
usually at the expense of the others.
This is the cause of the imperfections Of
these brilliant meteors and the explana-
ton of their degeneracy on other points.
Essentially spontaneous and original
genius is natural phenomenon that wa
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,
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 painter Of genus
Actions, therefore, i'll appearance ex.
traordinary do not warrant us in infer,
accomplish them, especially as these &C.
lions, however abnormal they may seem
at first, are often very rational and jus.
tifiabIe
Thus, in order to be able to mediate
at their ease, many writers insist on not
being disturbed by anything and seek
seclusion. Montaigne, i'll 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 tC
shut out the noise of the world he liked
30 ktv,ocoIF in ho hos ,11 Il ;e
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 the joys
and noise of the crowd.
Such was also the professor Of whom
Felix Regnault says that he could only
lecture in tho 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 o.
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 ke knew bes
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 writer's prefer II
walk Catulle Mondes walks up ant
down, and then writes at his desk Jeal
Lombard, the we'll known writer, VIII
died few years ago, walked grea
deal; Mistral, the Provincial poet, CON
poses While walking
On the other hand, certain written
avoid all motion, probably on accoul
Of their weak constitutions, and in orde
! to stimulate the brain circulation pl
themselves i'll horizontal position. +,
example, Desoartes, who used to /
down mOtionless, and Cujas, who cou