The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
MAN AND HIS ALTER EGO.
TWO PERSONALITIES and EVEN
MORE IN ONE INDIpIDUAL.
The Bible Quoted In Defence OF the Theory
Tho ''Binck sheep or tho Family" Acc
counted For-StnrtIina Alterations In 1n-
dividunl Chnrncter-Interesting suggestions

From The chicago Times. Herald.
DIR. Osgood Mason, whose Investigations In
psychical phenomena have attracted wide nt-
~tention. has made public n series Of exceedingly
interesting facts bearing on n most important
discovery regarding an actual dual personality.
1t Is that n large proportion Of tho civilized
world possesses alternating personalities. The
strangest feature Of the condition referred to
is that the existence within us OF the second
self is not realized, and yet it is the impelling
force which provokes the commission OF ac-
tiOns totally foreign to the known nature Of the
individual. II shows that tho novolist's crca.
ton OF ID Jokyll and Mr.. Hyde" is not in the
least improbable. In fact, 1t Is demonstrated
beyond question thnt there are many persons
in this world who arc c~onSlomcrate OF two In
dividunls of exactly opposite characteristics
Even further than this, the facts which DR..
Mason presents go to prove the truth Of the
famous Biblical quotation, "The sins OF the
fathers shall be visited upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation OF them that
hate Me-" This is shown by what some per.
sons are pleased to improperly call herodity.
Technically, heredity refers to certain personal
peculiarities noticeable in each generation OF
n family. The Biblical assertion, however. Is
proved by tho fact that frequently the dual per
sonality OF an individual is composed Of tine
nature which his father and mother have d.
rcctly transmitted TO him. and a second nature
or self which is n direct reproduction of the
evil that lay in an ancestor three, four, or per.
hups five generations before.
1t Is n matter OF common knowledge that in
almost every family there has been at one
time or another q marriage which has given
cause for regret. often from the fact that the
person who has married into the family
proved to be Of a nature not at all desirable.
1t may be the children which result from such
a marriage will be devoid of the maternal char
acteristics, and the same statement may provo
true OF the generation that succeeds them. So
1t runs along until perhaps the fourth genera
tion following, and then the child of parents
whose natures are all that could be desired,
in whom the spirit OF evil finds no Judgment,
develops n character such AS might have
been bestowed upon him by the ficnd incarnatc.
Then the world mnrvels and wonders why this
Is 80, but cannot dispute its truth.
Now, then, this is when the nature Of the in
dividual in whom Satan has an interest Is
plainly visible. DR.. Niason's investigations
and deductions relate to those among us who
possess these dual natures and yet, as a rule.
have sufficient moral courage to repress, as far
Individuality. However, sometimes Mr.. hyde
will not down, and then are COMMITTEES those
strange actions which the world and even the
persons who commit them find 1t impossible to
reconcile with the character of the individual
There arc few persons who have not felt mys.
FERROUS impulses to stray from the path of rec
titudc IN "a violent and startling manner. 1t
is these impulses which have led some medical
men to assert that all humanity is more or less
insane. DR.. Mason proved that there is moth
ply the influence Of the second or evil self.
The second self is not necessarily. evil, but it is
an unpleasant fact that generally this is the
case. All these things will be set forth in a
statement Or. Mason is soon to issue to the pub
regarding the dual personality. lie has given
the members of the American Medical Associa-
tion something to think of in a paper read by
| hII haflrD Ihn GRpttnr nm Jnllrn1nrE "a TINT ~.
Ranization, treating, principally, of, the origin
and the medico,lesal aspect OF the dual person
1T is a well.recognizcd fact that certain
clearly defined traits or characteristics. either
or remote, may after passing by one or more
generations. at length crop out distinctly and
e enheshieao or dleaforHmiiatiIes r tSs tend gnS TO Certain PG,
diseases or peculiar mental characteristics are
i peo,,ItaE }n, IN ms in,o manner nr Ssp,n 1ranf oI ri,, also S,r a
suits. as, for instance. hunting, fishing. and
frontier life, n military career. mathematics
music, acting. or scientific pursuits. existing
in n marked degree In some near ur remote
ancestor may be Inherited directly in the sue.
cceding generations. but, on the other. il may
pass over one or moro generations to appear in
an unmistakablc manner in a later one.
suppose, FOR instance, that five generations
thoroughly bad characteristics married To u
ffsG'i ha wse m T;Iisar o even rc,, rsi,Ei9 mro, woman snd
vicious In life, and INSCRIPTIONS in his ioal.
ings with others; that the generations which
VA Wv Nhih' Aiiit
which, aided by inherited characteristics from
the mother, led TO lives OF morality. upright.
generation appeared a man who, IN the midst
OF these moral and religious environments.
WAS conspicuous for his profanity, his vicious
life and INSCRIPTIONS conduct, so identical
with his remote ancestor as to make the connec.
ton undoubted.
Where did this evil tendency exist during
the four intervening Eencrationsl Let us tip
the main line between the two extreme points
ana see what Information may be extracted.
In the fourth generation was u mild. religious.
" inclined woman OF delicate health and per.
haps unstable personality. From some sudden
shock, syncoDe or loss Of consciousness occurs.
and on recovery an entirely new and different
personality, Is found to have taken the place Of
the original one. 1t processes TO be n man, and
TO the horror and CONSERVATION OF the good
people pc GiSs s"T ,n nTiI,ss her: ths patient commences
hold fsnd sentiments and practices OF the most Of.
known to tie primary self. but consistent with
considered.
In an hour or a day the primary conscious.
recollection Of the character which she has rep.
resented in her second personality. and very
ity,; in u more. primitive age 1t would have been
called possession by an evil spirit. II was in
aS al aIs,i lnS p strsosaY{i im MgHisS had SGia aES aSTnnSs
in the sub-conscious self for three generations
now S1ming to the surface temporarily under
other generation it actually appeared. nm alta.
yism, ms the primary and usual personality.
In like manner n personality OF conspicuous
goodness or talent might pass over many gem
eralions OF mediocrity or of cvildoers, and APP
pear. a. pleasant atavism. after ono or more
generations had interviewed.
Less extreme personalities might be formed
In like manner, and more than one might be
impressed upon individuals in successive gen.
e%rations, giving rise to the pcrplcxing and
much debated condition of multiplex person:
alities. kraft.Ebing, as We have seen. found
in his patient three physical existences,' or
personalities. Prot. Janet's patient, Mime. b.,
possessed three widely different ones, while one
or my own cases presented three, and another
two, alternating spontaneously ut longer or
shorter intervals, not including the cases In
which changes of personality were brought
with this view Of the origin and nature
or ordinary, rs well rs alternating personalities,
IL IL not difficult to determine the mcdico-legal
aspect, from which these cases should lie
viewed. Il is evident, first, that the primary self
must not be held responsible for action, either
good or bad, committed ny the second or succeed.
ing personality. since 1t Is absolutely ignorant
OF the ,doings or even the existence Ct these
personalities. IT would undoubtedly be just to
restrain the individual from violence or wrong,
| doing during the Drpspnpp nf tnn tnrEnrnlit IN .nnn.