New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
HENRI BERGSON INTEL LECTUAL BOTTLE OF SMELLING SALTS

over here II has really startled me 70
pie are in ideas of psychology ana III
their practice OF the new philosophy. vi
course IL is somewhat dangerous 10
practise new ideas-at least until they
have adapted themselves TO the sociai
conditions which they precede. Ii is THIS
eagerness In the American character 10
do everything perhaps a little too quick
" that creates such startling and SEN
sational incidents in their actual lives
AMERICAN RIGHT AND WRONG.
THE American newspapers are always
full of some unusual event which mas
taken place in the lives OF your men ana
women There is a daring spienoor III
the way Americans settle the psycho-
logic problems of their lives by soEe ac-
tual violation OF law or custom that ~
inspiring, If sometimes shocking In
Europe when anything in social lie hap
pens which is contrary 10 the existing
theories and traditions of society, IL g
put down as something TO be deplored'
But in America you seem to settle the
matter of right and wrong for your
selves without any reverence for tradi-
tons
Now, ! am entirely in sympathy with
the liberty of human beings 10 reach out
for themselves so that they may hnd
their own psychology, their own reason
for the startling things In their lives.
There is no reason to suppose that the
dreams which come TO us all in sleep are
not in themselves new language by
which we express hidden powers or
thought and feeling and energy. Just
because some scientific theory insists
that a dream is unimportant does not
make IL so.
There is nothing conservative about
Americans. They enjoy nothing that Is
old, they want everything that is new.
whether il is good or bad for them.
That is something they will decide for
themselves after they've seen II or heard
about it. They have no patience with
anything that is not original. With a
people like that there is material for
new race-a race which shall lead the
world TO a greater understanding Of lib
erty. Mere material freedom is very
small part VI lNe dHioiliol "iiSh '"V
philosopher expects. Liberty OF SOUL
that is, the absolute freedom for the soul
is the goal Of all advanced thought.
FIELD FOR THE PHILOSOPHER.
In a country like this, where action
and the mania for doing things are upper
most, the philosopher has n splendid field
in which 70 SOW the seeds Of harvest for a
philosophy such as my observations have
given me. All psychology is obtained by
watching the result Of physical expert
ments. II is the actions OF human beings
which reveal their souls. From these
physical experiments which | have fol-
lowed I am perfectly sure that there Is
in man a power of memory that does not
lie entirely in the brain. For instance.
you remember face that you have seen.
Science tells us that your brain cells have
retained an impression of that face. but
as a matter OF fact you really receive
slightly different impression OF the same
. face during every instant and on every
I occasion YOU saw IL. You see billions OF
! impressions of II. II will be quite i'm
possible for you TO remember II merely
from the impression on your brain. There
| lOrSs liltIt liluSl bt n pONNA VI AAtN.'Sts
apart from the brain.
This is merely a sugg eston ~ the I'M
known and the unseen enerGy which Will
develop only when We permit ourselves 10
accept phenomenal possibilities. or
course. during my three weeks visit I'm
this country / have met chiefly men and
women who are associated with your uni
versity. II was my privilege 10 visit Har-
ward one afternoon, and TO be delighted
with the intellectual temper OF not only
the Harvard students. but with the people
| of Boston, whom had been told were In
such keen sympathy with intellectual
ideas. | also made short visit 10 Prince
ton, where ! talked TO the students one
afternoon. Princeton is one OF the most
charming spots have ever been in. All
the ideals of a university settlement are
there. and / only regret that / have not
had the opportunity Of seeing the ground
! I'm spring.
II return 70 Paris less willingly than L
believed ! should. I look forward TO COM
ing here again. and spending longer
time. so that may have an opportunity
TO study, instead of lecturing. as have
been obliged TO do this time"