The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-23

F rom Paris Ed. of New York World.
 It is not easy to mark out the boun- daries of insanity. If certain psych O. chologists. passing their opinions on the physical anomalies and mental eccen- tricities observed in men of genius as sert, that genius and madness are the same thing. it is excessive to desire to consider as madmen writers and artists in whom we notice 'onliy eccentricities. extravaganeies and idiosyncracies.
 In that direction Lombroso and his school go much too far. These are demi -madmen, according to Prof. Gra- net, of Montpelier. For Dr. Azam, of Bordeaux, they are crazy persons. Be- sides, one must not confound genius and talent nor forget that the former is essentially original and spontaneous, while the second the fruit of sustain ed labor and application, is acquired and developed every day.
 Acts which appear singular do not therefore afford grounds for concluding as to the madness of those who commit them and the more so since these acts, abnormal as they may appear at first sight, are often very reasonable and can be justified
 Writers Who Want Solitude.
 Thus, in order to be able to mediate at eheir ease, many writers will allow nothing to disturb tn em. They call for solitude. Montaigne, when taken with inspiration, used to run out of his dwell ling and shut himself in an old tower, into which no one else ever entered.
 Jean-Jacques Rousseau meditated in the fields in full daylight while collect ing botanical specimens. To escape escape external sounds, he had a habit of plunging his head into hay or stuff ed his ears with plugs of cotton wool
 Others cannot compose and have no verve except in tumult. Such is the case of that professor who could give his lesson only amid the most internal noise When his pupils wished to dem onstrate against him, they remained absolutely silent. In these conditions he would have been unable to do an addition sum. Such was the celeb rated Italian composer Cimarcsa, who found the fine motifs of his operas only in the midst of the joys and clamors of the crowd.
 Victor Hugo Walked and GrumbIed.
 If noise can excite the brain, moder- ate motion stimulates the circulation, hence the somewhat large numbers of those who compose only When walking Ampere could not clearly explain what he knew best unless the movement of the body came to his aid. Victor Hugo, in the fever of composition, walked and grumbled. He used to write standing, throwing to the ground the leaves Of paper which piled up in superposed layers
 In our days many authors affect walking. In the fever of composition, M. Catulle IAendes walks up and down, and then goes and writes at his desk. Jean Lofnbardy distinguished writer who died some years ago, walked a great deal. Msitral, the great Proven cal poet, composes while he walks. That is not sufficient for M. Harau- court who, before seizing the pen. takes turn at boxing, nor for M. Rich epin who practices with dumbbells md trapeze.
 Authors Who Like Heat.
 On the contrary, some absolutely avoid movement, no doubt on account of their natural weakness, and in order to stimulate the blood circulation fin the had take a horizontal attitude. Des- cartes was in the class of those who remain lying still, and Cujas could only work with profit when stretched flat on a carpet with his face down ward.
 There are authors who like heat, such as Milton, who was always wrapp- ed in an old wooden cloak when he wrote Paradise Lost" M. Sardou nev- CT quits his black velvet cap. To cause the blood to flow to the head, Schiller used to put his feet in ice, and Cha teaubriand walked barefoot on the icy tiles of his room when he dictated an article to his secretary.
 So far as clothing Is concerend, the most comfortable is what is generally adopted. In a manner which differed entirely from Buffon, who could only work in dress coat, with ruffled shirt. lace cuffs, and sword at his side, Dumas used to write in haggy trousers and flannel shirt. Theophile Gautier worked in a red dressing gown with a cap on his head; M. Francois Coppee wears a jacket; Balzac used to wear A monks frock. M. Catulle Mendes, winter and summer, is at ease when writing only if he is in his shirt sleeves.
 Quite a category of authors, Theo- phle Gautier, Baudelair, M. Francois Coppee, can only work in presence of cats. Gautier had as many as twelve