The times., 1899-09-17
HEART-AcHEs FOR HOME.
A Malndy That Amicts the Entire
Human Family
(From the London lance,

Vrom the London Laneet)
There is q malady which boasts Of a
learned appellation compounded of two
Greek words. but which is better known
by q homelier and far more expressive
name IN the yernacular, and yet, although
this binominal disorder is described in the
dictionaries as "a vehement desire q
affecting the physical health" it has not
been assigned place in the nomenclature
of diseases for which the Royal College
of Physicians of London is responsible
The fact too, that homesickness, if i'm
peryious to drugs, is nevertheless in the
highest degree amenable to treatment
might credibly seem to still further JUS
tify its inclusion in the official ossary OF
the 1,053 natural shocks that flesh Is heir
to. With regard to the etiology of this
unqualified complaint there still remain
several points requiring elucidation, albeit
in its ge. isis no bacillus is concerned, nor
for its adequate diagnosis is there any
need of either microscope or test tubes.
Shortly stated, the essential factor in
the production of nostalgia is an environ
ment differing from that amidst which the
affected person passed his or her early
days. When this is the case some tan
gible 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 VINO
suecumbs. This receptive state is favored
by at least three separate things-race.
education, and temperament; but of these
predisposing causes the last possesses less
power than either of the others. Ceteris
paribu, phlegmatic subjects are more like
ly to experience homesickness than their
sanguine compeers. A tendency TO despond
without sufficient cause undoubtedly sub
serves toward nostalgia; but ardent en-
thusiastic people, who continually look
forward-who never are, but always ap-
pear to be, blessed-have the advantage,
II advantage 1t be, of remaining immune.
Education. or, rather, the want of it, is
more potent than temperament, the trend
of civilization, which is equivalent to ed
ucation, being distinctly in the direction
of cosmopolitanism. The deeper the ig-
norance, the ruder the conditions of life
under which human being exists. the
greater the probability when exposed to
its influence of his acquiring nostalgia
II a GilSrt Islander from Terra del Fue-
60, for instance, were to be transported to
the comparative paradise of the Gilbert
Islands in the Pacific Ocean, which have
been described as "a cluster of pearls hung
upon the equator" he would very likely be.
wall his hard lot and pine for his own in
clement and inhospitable wilderness; and
If, in like manner. Pacific Gilbertian were
to be promoted to, say Pail Mall-which,
without wishing to speak disrespectfully of
the equator, We maintain to be the more de-
sirable of the two-he also would no doubt
soon break his heart longing for the delights
of his sweltering hut in Micronesia.
AngloSaxons and their Celtic brethren
vary their manners and customs while
abroad to less extent probably than peo-
pie of any other nationality, and yet In
spite of this they make the best colonists.
To the Celtic Anglo-Sa the word home
is full OF the tendereSt and sweetest mean
ing; in no other language is there a term
that fully corresponds with it in breadth
and depth of Specification. Take the French
chez-soi, for example. How narrow in COM
parison, how utterly selfsh-centering the
whole interest in the individual, whereas
home" implies the Importance of others as
we'll. The expression, "a solitary home. .
is sometimes used, but the user must be
either thoughtless or an ignoramus, if not
both. Such an anomaly as a solitary home
is impossible; it becomes den, If not a
prison. BE it ever so humble, there's no
place like home and assuredly whoever
breaks up one willfully is guilty of an un-
pardonable sin.
There is no human being In existence
who can appreciate the charm OF a home
more exquisitely than the Celtic Anglo
Saxon, and yet he is to be met with in
every corner of the world. He loves his
own native place beyond words. but he can
endure enforced expatrietiOn without CIV
ing in to nostalgia. The fact is he recog-
nizes the futility OF kicking against the
pricks, and SO makes his mind up to ssc-
rifce portion of bis life. or even, If the
worst comes to the worst, the whole Of It,
He looks upon querulous repining as &
weakness unworthy of man, end. having
been denied home at home by fate, he is
strong enough to accept the inevitable
with a good grace. For nostaigics we must
turn to some other tribe. When ail IS said
they remain a narrow minded crew. whose
mental processes run in grooves. They
may call their falling by the high sounding
name of patriotism, but such it is not. Nos
talgia is cats complaint, purely selfish
disorder, whereas love OF country can -four
ish anywhere. and takes no account Of IT.
self. And so, after all. our masters in
| medicine are perfectly right. Nostalgia
| is righteously excluded from a list OF the
shocks that Anglo Saxon flesh is heir to.