The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
INFLUENCE OF COLORS
ON THE MENTAL STATE
OF HUMAN CREATURES
Scientists Are Learning to Apply
the Principle in Various Prac-
teal Ways.
SOME COLORS SOOTHING
Blue and Violet Rays Have a Dis
tinctively Quieting Effect on the
Violently Insane.
RED RAYS ARE EXCITING
National Colors Thought to Indi-
cate to Some Extent the Ma
tional Temperament.
SOME COLORS SOOTHING
RED RAYS ARE EXCITING

Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
PARIS, Jan. 1S-"Color exercises a great
and variegated influence upon human life,
upon the life of the soul in particular. L
have myself seen madmen become quiet
under the influence of blue and violet light
rays" said a celebrated Paris insanity ex-
pert and he assures me that these colors
"are as good as a straightjacket" any day.
1t is strange, indeed, that their soothing in
fluence is not more frequently employed.
Perhaps people are so used to the old
brutal ways that they prefer them to the
gentle medicine nature places within the
reach of all. Quite recently l heard of
poor princess, kept prisoner in an asylum
near Dresden by her father, dissolute and
heartless King. This unhappy woman, ii is
said, often suffers from paroxysms of
wrath-and who could blame her since she
is robbed of liberty and enjoyment of life
principally for financial reasons? Some
times this woman can be restrained from
doing violence to herself and others only
by an offer of violets or forget-me-nots.
This Kings daughter, whose father. as init
mated, is a man of violent passions and bad
morals, who. moreover, was married as
young and innocent girl, to one of the
most consummate roues of Europe, is LA
BILE to fly into rage at any time; suicidal
mania even threatens to engulf her mind,
yet a bunch of flowers in the colors named
suffice to bring her to her senses and make
her docile and obedient to the rules of the
institution. Blue and violet rays do away
with violence; it is almost too wonderful
to believe, yet an incontrovertable fact,
folxa ipfn ion, INV
medical men and the authorities dealing
with the insane poor. 1t would be just as
cheap to use blue wash and paint in asy-
lums as white. yellow or black. but the lat
ter colors prevail just the same in most in
situations of the kind.
RED AN EXCITING COLOR.
Everybody knows what a red bandana is
to the bull or the turkey gobler, but Mon
sieur Lumiere tells me that the red color
is likewise OF decided unfavorable influence
upon human minds. This gentleman en-
ploys great many clerks and other help
ers and in the number, naturally, are some
distinguished for a choleric temperament.
Their passionate disposition used to lead to
annoyances and brawls, even, and Lumiere
wanted to put a stop TO this condition of
things, If possible. Finally his attention
was called TO the fact that his workrooms
and offices were decorated in red through
out, red walls and ditto curtains and
shades. At convenient season of the year
all this was changed, a harmless green be-
ing substituted.
THE soothing influence of the change be-
came noticeable within q few weeks says
Lumiere. land now peace and quietness
reign in my establishment, thanks to the
innovation made"
have already spoken of the foolish habit
of decorating insane asylums and hospitals
in yellow. Yellow and orange are colors
closely related to red. While blue and violet
soothe and hypnotic the nervous system
they produce excitement and distemper. An
explanation of the phenomenon would be
too technical, and perhaps unsatisfactory
in a paper largely read by laymen. Suffice it
to say that the facts have a scientific basis
and are proved beyond doubt.
Green is the color of mild joy. An apart
ment decorated in green confers a portion
of that blessing upon human beings that
every right-minded person finds In the con-
temptation of nature. All kinds of blue ex-
ercise a soothing infuence-blue proper, in
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PART o.