New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
SCHOOL OF HAPPINESS.
French Institution to Restore
Human Beings to Normal Condition.
Paris, December %

Paris, December %.
The opening Of the Ecole de Bonheur-the
School Of Happiness-at so propitious a moment
as that which precedes the Christmas and New
Year holidays has aroused widespread curl
osity and interest, especially among French
women. AT first atmosphere of humorous
incredulty prevailed but when the founders Of
the new movement-Dr Paul Valentin and hi.
wife-showed that the School of Happiness
by no means aspred TO provide a mere vague
indefinite road to a sort Of terrestrial paradise
but was based on practical. scientific methods
and laws, the idea elected the sympathy and
support OF a goodly number Of prominent men
and women, among whom may be mentioned NJ.
and Nine. Jules Claretie Of the French Acad-
envy; Baroness de Gunsbourg, NJ and Nine
Hartwig DereHbourg, Of the Institute; Marquis
and Marquise de TEglise. Comtesse de la Vaulx
VI. and Nine Louis lie Roger NJ. and Nine
Charles Jolbois NM Andre Theuriet Anatole
France, Alfred Capus Geoffroy Saint-Haire
Count de Saint-Mar. Christian de Saint Mars
and scores Of doctors and scientists Foremost
among the adherents of the new movement
toward happiness is Nine du Cast, the at
tractive Partisan lady Of literary. balIoonng and
automobile fame, whose exploits have already
been described in The Tribune
DR.. Paul Falentin, who opened proceedings
with an eloquent address, is a nervous, why
little man with exec edingIy intelligent sparkling
eyes. He studied nervous diseases with the
famous DIR. Charcot, and has for the last ten
years devoted himself to special experiments and
Investigations in regard to the psychology of
modern women from normal and pathological
standpoints. DR.. Paul Valentin has succeeded IN
forming a group Of devoted apostles of both
sexes, and lectures and courses of instruction
will begin in Paris in January at the Institut
Rudy, and il is intended later on to arrange for
similar courses IN the United States Great
Britain, Germany Austria Hungary, Italy and
Spain. The School OF Happiness has a valuable
auxiliary in its publication. La Vie Normale"
a monthly review. in which subjects of psyche
logical interest and actually are treated in
a commOnsense, practical way
a fundamental idea Of the School of Happi-
ness is that the human in civilized
tries is afflicted with complex maladies and af-
fections which can only be combated by bring
ing back men and TO the normal condi-
ton OF cerebral. moral and psychicaI equi-
lbrium; that intense civilization has greatly
enlarged and deepened the struggle that has al
ways existed in the human organism between
pleasure and beneficial activity on the one hand
and pain and pernicious activity the other.
According 10 the apostles Of the new school,,
happiness depends upon the re-establishment Of
| the normal system. When questioned on the
subject Dr. Valentin said: If all human beings
were in normal condition-that IS to say, in
the possession of the full sense Of their functions
! in accordance with the requirements OF perfect
orcanisru-they would ali have the balance of
| agreeable sensation TO their credit, and to them
| there would be no problem of happiness to solve.
| Each of our vices corresponds with some bio
logical defect. known or unknown. which units
1 US for correct development. Our faults express
! intellectual conditions more or less mcrbid and
complicated by nervous congenital deterioration.
or by nutritive reflections from the cerebral
| centres Whether we have to do with irresistible
impulse, failing memory. alternative excitement
or depression. the psychologist always finds be-
hind these apparently spontaneous features the