Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
QUEER PARIS CLUB.
Organization Which Rivals the Monks
Of La Trap

|
| TT is not surprising that the first year
| Of the Silence Club Of Paris has closed with
such gratifying results that the club may be
said to have achieved success in it's decidedly
unique sphere of usefulness" remarked a
Washington psychologist to a Star reporter.
| II look for similar clubs to be established
| In this country among the cult, as their
foundation and purpose is anything but a
| joke or of freakish nature. The idea is
| new in this country, however, though the
| success OF the Paris institution will give 1t
| an impetus among the advanced thinkers
among us and those who have made the
| interesting problem of mental philosophy a
| critical or a pastime study.
THE rules Of the society do not call for
absolute silence but the members are sup
| posed not to talk unless they have some
| thing to say. Chatter Is absolutely tabooed.
Each member pledges himself to avoid noisy
places and participation in public demon
strations. At a recent meeting the men,
| bers declared that since they had joined the
| club their nervous systems were In much
better condition than before they became
! members.
'pf course. such club could not be COM
posed of the fair sex, even though they
we're all deyot believers In and followers
of psychological teachings. A congrega-
| ton composed of silent women would be
impossible of conception, and while our
fair sisters may experience chagrtn that
they are to be shut out Of participating in
any form OF club life among themselves
that is also INDUCED in by their brothers,
this Is one form OF assembly that bars them
out. Neither would politicians be eligible
for membership. unless as disciplinary
measure.
THE club is based upon the sound psy-
Geological principle of not doing unneces-
sary things nor calling the brain cells into
play by unnecessary thought In practical
every day life this principle Is exemplfied
in the establishment of retreats among GER
tain OF the religious creeds to which MEM
bers may repair for meditation and rest
and In medical circles 1t is shown in an
other form in the so-called rest cure If
one wishes to enter into a study of mild
form of this particular principle let him
consider the amount Of wasted energy, phys
zeal and mental, that the average person
each day expends In needless talk and need
less action; 1t will be found to be pro-
digious.
"All rules of mechanics converge to the
concentration of force and the elimination
Of waste energy. In human affairs nearly
every individual endeavors to expend as
much energy as he can In the simplest as
in the greatest of his endeavors, seeming to
think that the more force he puts into an
act, thought or speech the better it is
Constant repetition OF this waste force leads
to enfeebled bodies and wrecked mentali-
ties; the law of compensation operates In
the inevitable reaction and consequent let
ting down of the forces. This Is shown In
another interesting example In every day
life in the familiar afternoon receptions,
where each of our dear sisters tries her
best to talk more and to say less than her
neighbor. and she usually succeeds. though
she pays for 1t with headache, which is
merely a physical protest on the part of
the overtaxed brain cells controlling the
power Of speech. The effect upon the lNrv-
Gus system is very trying, and 1t is to be
expected by those who know that the men,
bers of the club in question find themselves
SO much better in this respect"