The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-14
THE SELECT DISCUSS MANlAS,
UNVEILED TALK LET LoOSE
AT THE SUNRISE GU u.
sadakichi Hartmann Philosophers on
witchcraft in the Middle Ages-Ehfha
Goldman Says We SIN Have Halluci-
nations-One Nearly Finished her'

Sadnkichi Hartmann addressed the sun
rise Club in unmuzzled language last night
upon the witchcraft mania Of the Middle
Ages. He was down for a defence Of the
witch burners 1t was tie regular pi-
monthly dinner Of the club.
Il begin with the understanding that
none in this audience can be shocked, said
Mr. Hartmann. Then he proceeded TO Try
Here are few Of the least shocking
passa ges, carefully expurgated.
-Manias due to suppression Of natural
instincts we're a characteristic OF the Middle
Ages. The children's crusade was a mani
festation of this; so were the dancing mania
and the strange sects which grew into devil
worship.
Witches in all countries had many things
In common. There was the desire TO fall
into a cataleptic state. with strange visions
and the records Of witchcraft phenomena
in all countries read very much alike. FROM
those old women who lived on the edges
Of the forests they obtained the drugs
which brought their strange visions, their
belief in levitations. their hysteria, Women
we're particularly given TO the habit 1t
grew with awful rapidity. No wonder
that at times all Europe seemed 70 be sick.
The authorities tried many means,
and always came back to the came old
cure. England had just such a problem
to hght in India with the thugs.
Now the devotees Of the 'lnuggeemania
are incapable Of producing sane and healthy
offspring Just incapable were the
witches. And as il hns been agreed in all
times that a certain part Of society has 70
he cut off. why not that part? II it hadn't
urhg INT I OF
have come down to rs through the ages.
and that some of you might be going out
tonight and doing dernonacai dance on
Second avenueY
clined persons are descendants Of witches
who we're missed. | am sure that every
real medium in the world to-day had in her
ancestry a witch.
The discussion brought out nothing
startling until Emma Goldman took the
floor
III the authorities Of the Middle Ages
we're justified in burning witches. then the
authorities Of to-day are justified in burn
ing Mr.. Hartmann. abe said. The major
ity opinion waa against the witches. Inc
ma iority ia against Mr.. Hartmann. IL tho
theory il true. then we are justified in burn
ing all consumptives, for consumption ia
aEmore terrible soourge than witchcraft
ever was,
only three year, ago mania passed
over hlntIlNu- ilITdAl AAt NlAhIiAAtN
mania Men and women were found who
ware ready to declare and 70 swear that in
Denver, Cleveland. Chica go ard st. Louis
they had seen Czolgocz and myself at the
same time in the same place So you see,
It isn't strange that people should suffer
from hallucination at any time Sugges-
ton ia a great thing Few ages have not
been subject to its influence.
Humanity hasn't changed much They
don't want to burn their witches In these
DAYS: they want to lynch them. When the
Mckinley mania was rife. ] got 100 letters
from respecta ble citizens telling me what
thew were going to do to me when | got
out Of Jail They were going 20 cut out
my tongue. pour oil over me and set fire 70
me and cut me into bits. So. you see,
once YOU get an idea started and get a few
yeilnpr journals TO take i: up. II spreads
until the people believe II.
In rebuttsl Mr.. Hartman touched on his
half ia panese ancestry, saying
Il only regret that my father hadn't
been negro and that hadn't married
red Indian. | could then abolish writing
and live on my reputation. The sym
pathy with witches Is a Christian humani-
tartan ideal Now there's only one sane
and healthy doctrine Of life-the one laid
down by Omar and some Of the Chinese
philosopher Get out Of life az much as
you can. each for himself That's the only
road TO happiness.