The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-31
is "GGNlWS" SAME AS INSANITY?
NItNISTS CLAIM GREAT HUMAN PRODUCERS OF TIL; PAST
HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY MANIA.

winch IN the one case is physiological
or evolutional and in the other path
illogical and degencrativc. He will be
a genius if his brain is tough enough
to Withstand the high tension; if it is
not he is sure to go mad.
1t is not therefore surprising that
when one brother is shut up in Il mad
house the other is a great genius. and
ina some mon displaying genius are
at times a little mad. Both the in
san II the man of genius give ten
denotes to the future. but their ouali-
ties are not passed on to their poster
ity."
DIR: Prosper Lucas in his treatise ON
~hered1tT SAYS that giants in minds,
IKE giants in bodies do not propa-
gate themselves and are generally
chlld!ess. There is a law by virtue
OF which variations. whether of mind
or BODY, that pass to a certain extent
DeNond the mean are not inherited.
the organic tendency always being to
! revent to the mean.
Ellie Metchnikotf. who is a man of
unusuai ability, also sees a close re-
latlon between the insane and the
man OF genius. He believes that men
OF all types often become insane be-
cause of their pessimism, and got
pressure from this abnormal mood. 1t
Is as common to the man of genius as
TO the man of ordinary mind. This
was true OF Buddha. Byron. Leopardi
ana o~chopenhauer. who were all SPLEEN
uld examples of men of genius hor.
aerlng on insanity. 1t was only after
s~chopenhaucr grew old that his views
We're tinged with optimistic ideas,
lhen as an old man he commenced
to enjoy life.
NO less an authority than Alljn
Islpot holds that the brain of the
genius shows physical and chemical
larlatlon from h ordinary brain. He
claims mat there is a center located
under the protuberance at the ton of
the head which is much develoned IN
all men of genius whose brains have
pecn studied. In Beethoven as we'll
as IN Bach this development was no.
t1ced t" q marked degree.
IN scientists the posterior region
ana the frontal region are wonder.
lnlly striking. The scientific genius
shows proportions OF brain structure
other than the artistic genius.
IN such brains this results in ma.
Gu,lar manifestations. Schiller always
kept rotten apples in the dsek on
which he wrote. ONE used artificiai
means OF sending the blood to tho
head. mus Rousseau always walked
parcheaded In the sunshine before he
ega to write. Bossuet worked in a
cold room with his head wranned mn
IN furs. Gretty always studied and
wrote with his feet Immersed in a
pau OF water. Some require motor
eScltation; they work best when walk
ing: This explains Aristotle's walking
ana occurring at the same time. Others
need absolute quiet to do their best
work. For instance. Tycho.Rrahe
hardly ever left his observatory in
which he was at work for n
Years. While L.elonitz often sat as
motlonless AS if he We're dead for
three days at a time, thinking.
Ihese and other strange habits show
una genius certainly has "A p%athoIogi-
hcl foundation. Il believe with Moreau
OF Tours that genius is neurosie," saws
itlbo1. IN most men Of genius are
tound so many p%eculiarities and phy-
slca! eccentricities and disorders OF all
klnds, creative work requires Of them
a nervous excita bility and a FREEDOM.
nance OF affected states that andy
become morbid"
opinion is seconded by ]. r.
Nlsbet. a nan who takes up this a1es.
,ion from a Physiological point OF
view. He says that men of genius are
as much freaks as A sport amone
ANIMALS and plants. The genius is alb.
normal and is likely not so happy with
MS surroundings as is the ordinary
man. y should think 1t probable that
q large proportion of genius sports
are likely to come 10 grief physicaIlv
and socially. and tho intensity Of their
feeling. which is n of the conditions
mat Is commonly termed genius, ia
especially liable to run in fixed ideas
which Is at the bottom Of so much
insanity.
Epileptic and other morbid excite
ment often shows great intellectual &C.
tivlt!. 1t passes over the cere.
bral centers there Is a great aptitude
to perceive things quickly and to ex-
anime them under the most brilliant
aspect. Mechanical ingenuity. acute
as well as wonderful powers Of adapt-
alton to all possible physical condi-
tons are often observed among a Ger.
tain class Of insane. Forbes Winslow.
a we'll known physician, attended a
young boy who had nj talent for
mathematics. but when he had an
attack he could do almost any prob.
lem.
According. to Hayelock Ellis, in. his |