The Republican., 1899-10-12
VICTIMS OF HoMESICKNESS.
A Disease That Is Pronounced by
Physicians to BE ImperViOus
to Medicines.

There is a malady which boasts of
learned appellation compounded of two
Greek words, but which is better known
by a homelier and far more expressive
name in the vernacular, and yet, al
though this binominal disorder is de-
scribed in the dictionaries as "a vehe-
ment desire = Il i affecting the physic-
al health, it has not been assigned to
place in the nomenclature of diseases
for which the Royal College of Physi-
clans of London is responsible. The
fact. too, that homesickness. if impervi-
Gus to drugs, is, nevertheless, in the
highest degree amenable to treatment,
might credibly seem to still further
Justify its inclusion in the official CLOS.
sary of the 1853 natural shocks that
flesh is heir to. With regard to the Ell.
ology of this unqualified complaint
there still remain several points requir'
ing elucidation, albeit in its genesis nc
bacillus is concerned, nor for its ade
quate diagnosis is there any need o
either microscope or test tubes.
Shortly stated, the essential factor il
the production of nostalgia is an en-
vironment differing from that amid
which the affected person passed his or
her early days. When this is the case
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. nf coil "a apt nf
the individual who succumbs.
\ tendency to despond without suf-
ficient cause undoubtedly subserves to-
ward nostalgia, but ardent. enthusiasts
tic people, who continually look for
ward-who never are, but always APP
pear to be, blessed-have the advantage,
if advantage it be, of remaining i'm
mune. Education, or, rather, the want
of it, is more potent than temperament.
the trend of civilization, which is equiv
alent to education, beng distinctly in
the direction of cosmopohtanism. The
deeper the ignorance the ruder the con-
ditions of life under which human be-
ing exists, the greater the probability
when exposed to its influence of his ac-
quiring nostalgia.
If "A Gilbert islander from Terre del
FuegO, for instance, were to be trans
ported 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 bewail his hard lot
and pine for his own inclement and in
hospitable wilderness. and if, in like
manner, a Pacific Gilbertian were to be
promoted to, say, Pail Mall-which,
without wishing to speak disrespect-
fully of the equator, we maintain to be
the more desirable of the two-he also
would no doubt soon break his heart
longing for the delights of his swelter-
ing hut in Micronesia
Anglo-SaXons and their Celtic breth-
ren vary their manners and customs
while abroad to a less extent probably
than people of any other nationality
and yet in spite of this they make the
best colonists. To the Celtic Anglo
Saxon the word home" is full of the
tenderest and sweetest meaning: in
no other language is there term that
fully corresponds with it in breadth
and depth of signification. Take the
FRENCH chez-soi, for example. How mar
row in comparison, how unutterably
seltish-centering the whole interest in
the individual, whereas home" implies
the Importance of others as well. The
expression "a solitary home is some
times used, bat 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 assur-
edly whoever breaks up one wilfully is
guilty of an objectionable sin.-Lon-
don Lancet.