Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11
SCHOOL OF HAPPINESS
FRENCH INSTITUTION TO RE-
STORE HUMAN BEINGS TO JOY.
Professors Allege That in Seienf'nc
WAYS They Can Drive Sorrow
From the Mind.


choo1 of IJanniness-has aroused wide
snread curiosity and interest, especially
omonp French women. At first an atmos-
nhere of humorous incredulity prevailed,
b,,t when the founders of the new move
ment-Dr. Paul Valentin and his VIE
showed that the School of Happiness by no
means aspired to provide mere vague
indefinite road to a sort of terrestrial para
disc but was based on practical, sclehtinc
methods and laws. the idea enclted the
sympathy and support Of goodly NUMBER
of prominent men and women, among whoih
may be mentioned NJ. and Nine jules Sia-
settle of the French Academy, baroness de
Gunsbourg NJ. and Nine Hart"lg Dafen
bourg of the institute. MARQUIS anu MAJ
mise de lEglise, Comtesse de la Nauik, W.
and Nine Louis LIE Roger, M ana NINE
Charles Jolibois MN. Andre Theuriet: AN
atole France, Alfred Capus, GeoHroy sam,
Hilaire Count de Saint-Mar Chrls.ian US
Saint Mars and scores of doctors ana scleh-
fists. Foremost among the adhereats OF the
new movement toward happiness Us NINE
du Cast the attractive Partisan lady OF
literary, ballooning and autonephe lahie'
The Professor.
mr. Paul Valentin who opened proceed
iugs with an eloquent address, is a nervous
wiry little man with exceedingly inteIlgent'
snarkline ewes He studied nervous dis
ga ses with the famous DR.. Charcot. and has
for the last ten years devoted himself 10
snecial experiments and Investigations m
regard to the psychology OF modern Wo-
men from normal and pathological stand
points DIR. Paul Valentn has succeeaeo IN
forming a group of devoted apostles or ootn
sexes, and lectures and courses OF lnslruc
tion will begin in Paris In January at the
Institut Rudy and 1t Is intended later ON 10
arrange for similar courses in the Unlteo
States, Great Britain. Germany, Austria,
Hungary. Italy and spain me ochoof ~, "
Happiness has a valuable auxiliary IN It's
publication La Vie Normale," a monthly
review. In which subjects OF psychoiogical
interest and actually are treated IN COM
nonsense, practical way.
A fundamental idea of the School or Rap
pipess is that the human race in civilized
countries is afflicted with complex maiaoies
and affections which can only be comoateo
by bringing back men and women to the
normal condition Of cerebral, moral and
psychical equilibrium; that intense civiiza-
ton has greatly enlarged and deepened the
struggle that has always existed IN the
human organism between pleasure anu ben-
eticial activity on the one hand ana pam
and pernicious activity on the other. Ac-
cording to the apostles Of the new school,
happiness depends upon the re-estapiish-
ment of the normal system
Normal Condition.
When questioned on the subject DR.. Val
entin said: eff all human beings were III
normal condition-that is to say, IN the
possession of the full sense of their func
lions in accordance with the requirements
of perfect organism-they would all have
the balance of agreeable sensation to their
credit and to them there would be no prob
lem of happiness to solve Each of our vices
corresponds with some Biological defect,
known or unknown, which units US for
correct development Our faults express in
tellectual conditions more or less merbid
and complicated by nervous congenital de-
terioration, or by nutritive reflections from
the cerebral centers. Whether we nave 10
do with irresistible impulse, failing MEM
ory alternative excitement or depression
the psychologist always finds behind these
apparently spontaneous features the mo
gism, transient or permanent, or e brain
fatigued, badly constructed OF paoiy
reared
.Can these conditions be treated and
cured?"
Eyes. Science possesses medical treat
ment for excessive or dangerous passions.
Soon we may have an educational prophy-
laxia of criminality. Mental orthopedia is
not an empty phrase We can teach Ger
tain unbalanced minds to examine them
selves and those about them. and we can
gradually awaken notions of real life by
giving them the motive sense of effort, OF
striving to improve; thus the psychologist
substitutes insensibly, In place of the bad
cerebral defects, better habi He is then
able to raise the patient from the suffering
that Expresses, from the incoherence that
that exasperates or from the moral uglt-
ness that incriminates."
what are some Of the subjects that will
be treated In the courses of instruction of
the School of Happiness this winter"
Inherited Nervousness.
First of ALL the child. Under this cap
ton come treatment of inherited nervous
ness which makes many an infant ready for
anger, falsehood. idIeness and crime. Then
there will be detailed courses In regard to
woman. That is to say. specialists VIII
lecture on the complex subject of nobility
and of marriage. symptoms OF amorous IN
toxication and it's possible cure, lectures on
Irritation and calibacy. and amite amou-
reuse or sentimental friendship between
man and woman. Other subjects will be
treated, such as mystic deviations from the
normal conceptions OF love and friendship.
A number OF lectures will be given OH jeal-
ousy, its causes and It's treatment. Jeal-
ousy in nine cases out of ten, Is merely
sentimental ilogism complicated with ny
pertrophia of self-esteem. There will be in
dications drawn from actual cases and OK
periments as to the best treatment for un-
justified suspicion of heart partnership
'partage'-which leads SO many nice wo-
men and men to scandal that so often ends
i,xv, n&t& for npc r1sr7c n ~