The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-19
HOMsSICKMeSS.
A 0ls:sss That IN The Inlense Form kIflics 0hu
Races Than The lnglo-SMon.

There Is a malady which boasts OF
learned appcllation compounded of two
Greek words, but which is better
pressive nams in the vernacular, and
yet although this binomial disorder is
described i'm the dictionaries az "A We
hement desire affecting the
physical health" il has not been as
signed a place in the nomenclature OF
diseases for which the Royal College
OF Physicians OF London is responsible.
The fact. too. that homesickness. II i'm
pervlous 60 drugs is nevertheless i'm the
highest degree amenable TO treatment.
might credibly seem to still further JUS
tify it's inclusion I'm the official glossary
OF the 1868 natural shocks that flesh IS
heir 90. With regard 20 the etlology
OF this unqualified complaint there st.ll
remain several points requiring eluci
dalton. says the Lancet, albeit In its
genesis no bacillus is concerned, nor for
It's adequate diagnosis is there any need
OF either microscope or test tube.
Shortly stated the essential factor in
the product. on Of nostalgia is an cnVi-
rOnment differing from that amidst
which the affected person passed hts or
some intangible influence is generated
which reacts upon the victim, but just
as happens In many official maladies
there must first be innate receptivity
or preparedness of soil on the part Of
the individual who succumbs. This re-
ceptve state is favored by at least
three separate things-race. education
and temperament-but of these predis-
posing causes the last possesses less
power than either Of the others Cae-
teris parbus. phIegmatic subjects are
more likely 10 experience homesickness
than their sangune cOmpeers. a ten
dency 10 despOnd without sufficient
cause undoubtedly subserves toward |
nostalgia, but ardent. enthusiastic peO- /
pie who continually look forward-who /
never are but always to behave the /
advantage. II advantage IL be, of re- /
naming immune.
Education. or rather the want OF it, |
Is more potent than temperament, the !
trend Of civilization, which is equiva-
lent 10 education, being distinctly n
the direction of cosmopolitanism. The
deeper the ignorance. the ruder the
conditions Of life under which human
being exists. the greater the probable
ity when exposed to its influence Of his
acquiring nostalgia. III an Islander
from TERRA del Fuego for instance,
were 10 be transported TO the cOmpara-
tive paradise of the Gilbert islands in
the Pacific ocean which have been de-
scribed as "a cluster of pearls hung up
)n the equator" he would very likely
Dewail his hard lot and pine for his own
nclement and inhospitable wilderness.
md IL i'm like manner a Pacific Gllber-
ian were 20 be promoted TO. say, Pail
Lall--Which without wishing TO speak
unexpectedly OF the equator, we
TO be the more desirable
bode of the two-he also would no
oubt soon break his heart longing for
he delights of his sweltering hut in
licronesia.
But OF the three predisponents race
Is which is the strangest and most
consequential. Anglo-Saxons and
heir Celtic brethren vary their manner
nj customs while abroad to a less ex-
,nt probably than people OF any other
ationality and yet in spite of this they
lake the best colonists. There is no
uman being in existence who can ap-
reciate the charm OF a home more ex-
uisitely than the Celtic-Anglo-S Saxon. |
nd yet he is TO be met with in every |
orner of the world. He loves his own
ative place beyond words but he can
ndure enforced eXpatriation without
living i'm to nostalgia. The fact is he
ecognizes the futility Of kicking
gainst the pricks and so makes hfs |
lind up To sacrifice portion of his
fe or even. If the worst comes to the
'orst. the whole of It, For nostalgics
% must turn to some other tribe.
Vhen all is said they remain a narrow
linded crew whose mental processes
IN in grooves They may call their
lil.ng by the hgh-sounding name of
itriotism. but such IL is not
Nostalgia is the cats COMPLAINT, q
lrely selfish disorder whereas love of
'untry can flourish anywhere and
kes no account of self And so after
our masters i'm medicine are perfect-
right. Nostalgia is righteously ex-
uded from a list of the shocks that
1gloSa flesh is heir TO.