The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-07-07
MENTAL EPDEMlCs.

the world has been referred to - IN
"age of great mental activity" And
it is true. Within the past one hum
dred years the world has made won
derfal strides in advancement. Within
that period the population has in.
creased from one billion to one and
one. half billion, the ingenuity Of man
has made it possible to cross Q cont.
nent in less than six days, and steam
across the Atlantic in five days; with
in thirty minutes after yacht contest
off the English coast. the news boys
were selling papers on the streets Of
New York announcing the result; two
hours after the birth of . child in
Philadelphia, its grandfather in
Chicago was called up by phone at
midnight and heard the infant cry;
the wooden pillow used by our ancestors
to scratch the soil, has gwen place to
the steam pIow that turns over thirty
acres of earth in u single day. Free
schools, free press and the separation
Of church and state and greater re-.
pect for the individual rights If man
were instrumental in blazing a trail
along the highway Of Time for the
uplifting and advancement of the
human race.
Yet during this period Of great men-
tai activity, there have been outbreaks
of mental epidemic" which have
threatened i'll for the good Of man and
endangered his political and religious
freedom, but in combating extremes
and marching on in the middle Of the
road, the people of this country have
kept the old Ship of State from strik.
ing the rocks, although many times
tempest tossed on dangerous coast.
The mental activity period has at
present reached a stage which has de.
veloped a reform" microbe that
threatens to cause an endless amount
of agitation and endanger the per-
sonal rights Of man. In the name Of
reform the adjustment of the supreme
court has been suggested; in the name
of reform the acknowledgement Of
God in the constitution is demanded;
in the name of reform the con6scation
of private property is advocated; in
the name of reform there are men who
advocate the expenditure of billions of
dollars of the peoples money for the
purpose of purchasing the railways Of
the country at price IT, be fixed by
congress regardless of the rights Of
those who Own railway property to fix
their own price or sell at all; in the
name of reform the country is being
harangued by professional agitators
who preach the gospel of discomfort
and fanaticism at SO much per
"preach."
In commenting on mental epidemics,
G. G.. Wenzloff. in . recent article
taken from Mental Man." says:
Socially and historically the signifi.
canoe OF sueRestibility may be seen 10
certain epidemic like movements and
affections that have, from time to time,
stirred communities and even whole
nations. The Crusadee. which involved
the great nations of Europe, started from
the appeals Of an Insignificant hermit.
The suggestion to possess the Holy
Serulcher found Judgment in . mental
soil perfectly adapted, and coon the
hosts of Christendom, including even
children, launched out repeatedly on
those Inflated expeditions. The story
Of witcLcraft and it's suppression fur
nishes another instance Of Q persistent
and widespread suggestion that held the
nations in mortal fear, and cent thous-
snds of guiltless wretches to the stake.
The dancing mania has arisen at diff
ferent times and places and spread over
considerable areas. BY Thousands, men,
women and children were drawn into
the dancing vortex. In Italy they
danced to the tune of Tarantells. which
was believed to cure the dancer from the
supposedly poisonous bite Of the tsran-
tula, and 60 widespread became this
mental epidemic that few were quite
exempt from it. During the French
Revolution the Carmsgnole song drew
the Partisan popuisce. men and women,
into Q wild dance that went whirling
down the streets. and was conspicuous
at the public executions.
Qussi-relieious epidemics furnish OK
cellent illustrations Of the varied poesi-
bilities of suggestion. The affected per-
sons we're seized with quaking and
trembling. or with calculations and roll.
ing On the ground, accompanied With
either deep rsmorse or intense joy, or
with swsyine motion and shouting OF
more or less meaningless phrases. In
the great revival in Ohio in 1900 lat one
OF the meetings nj Cane Ridge it 10 esti.