The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-01-13
GENIUS OR INSANITY
THE FADS AND PECuLiARiTlES OF
WRITERS AND COMPOSERS.

tF6 THGO INV E@SS GiNEutte0 VT
WRITER'S AND COMPOSERS.
Hnnumerable Ways Of Supplying Mental
Misunderstanding Manias That Lon-
broso Inoorroetly Regards ~ Msaaal
Alterations.
It Is not an easy matter to try to draw
the frontier line Of insanity. Although
certain psychologists, basing their opin.
ion on the physical anomalies and e..
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
writer's and artists insane in whom
queer traits and little manias appear.
In this respect Lombroso and bis disoi-
pies have gone too far, their tendency
being to make nc distinction between
genius and talent
Genius is an anomaly, but an anon.
ally that the whole world is satisfied to
admire. 1t 10 constituted by the exsg-
geratsd 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-
tion Of their degenerscy on other points.
Essentially spontaneous and original
genius Ia q natural phenomenon that We
cannot explain, although 1t ia unquea-
tionably the result Of natural causes.
Talent is different 1t is the fruit of
work and sustained application, and II
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 admit
ration aud reveals a painter Of genius.
Actions, therefore, in appearance ex-
t~raosdinary do not warrant N In infer
ring insanity on the part Of those who
accomplish them, especially as these ~.
tons. however abnormal they may seem
at first, are often very rational and JUS
tisable.
Thus, in order to be able to mediate
ut their ease. 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 60 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
10 bury himself in the hay or close his
ears with cotton.
Others oan only compose with succesa
in the midst Of tumulta. The celebrated
Italian composer Cimarosa wa 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 the midst of a great racket.
When his scholars wished to manifest
against him. they kept absolute silence,
"a under such conditions he was inca
pable Of making an addition even.
Just as noise stimulates tho 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 muttesing to him
SELF.
In our day many writers prefer to
walk. Catulle Mendes walks up md
down, and then writes at bis deak: Jean
Lombard, the we'll known writer, who
died . few years ago walked . great
deal; Mistral, the Provenoal 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 a horizontal position. Foz
example, Desoartes, who used 30 lie
down motionless, and Cujas, who could
only work profitably lying on his stom-
ach on the carpet.
A whole class Of writer's, Theophile
Gautier, Baudeiaire, Francois Coppee
and Soaccini, require the presence Of
oats to write. Gautier used to have az
many as 10 or 10. Leon Cladsl writes
In wooden shoes. in the society Of his
dog in a garrett At intervals he takes
his dog Of for Q walk.
Intellectual stimulants are largely
used, among which coffee Is q great "a
vorite. Lortzing drank bowls Of it while
composing his melodies, and Balzac used
IL TO great excess. De Musset. Poe. Yer.
laine and many others preferred alcohol,
while Schubert wrote his beautiful 10
patas under the influence Of large guam
titles Of Rhine wine.
Tobacco smoke 10 also much used.
Flaubert could not write q word until
he had smoked three or four large pipes
and half q dozen very strong cigars.
Duudet smokes enormously, CAtulla
Mendes smokes cigars while writing
and often has three or four going st the
Same timothrough Observation-Disclosures
Perfumes were highly appreciated BY
Baudelaire, Theophils Gautier. Loti and
Maizeroy.v Byron couldn't write with
out having the odor Of truf1es 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 licorioe.
Carolus Duran and Anne Morot worked
themselves up before painting BY play.