The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-13
Beware of Red
~ n. ApoINeToN BRUCE.
Author of The Riddle of Personality.
Psychology and Parenthood." etc

Is a fact not so generally known as II
ought 10 be. that different colors have different
effects on the nervous systems Of human beings.
Some colors are peculiarly stimulating 10 the
nervous system, and under certain conditions
stimulate ii abnormally. This is especially true
OF the color red
Nature, as you must have observed, 10 ex-
ceedingly chary In the use OF red We do not
have red oceans or red skies or red grass.
Only In the autumn. when the days are short
and gray Is red used by nature TO any extent
Then our forests and meadows are sprinkled
with IT, in bright patches that afford stimu-
Iating contrast to the general dulness OF the
autumn landscape
to take Whether In articles OF dress or in
household decoration. red should be used spar
ingiy. Under some circumstances IL should
not be used at all.
So abnormally stimulating is red when used
in excess and for any length OF time, that II
sometimes causes serious nervous symptoms.
A medical man was once puzzled by the ex-
IRENE nervousness OF a whole family. whose
members often came TO him 10 be treated for
headache, sleeplessness, and other nervous Ills
he found II impossible 10 give them permanent
relief, until one day he was called TO their
home.
hen he noticed that rad much in cyl.
dence In the color scheme Of almost every
room In the house. particularly in the vallpa
pers. Being aware OF it's irritating quality when
used thus layishly, he advised that the house be
This having been done. the nervousness from
which the entire family had suffered soon dis
appeared
In another instance reported by New York
specialist I'm household decoration, many ytsi-
tors to a clergymans study found IL difficult to
talk TO their pastor without becoming excited.
This was at first attributed > his peculiar per
sonality" But his personality changed for the
better, and those who entered his study felt
tess nervous strain, when ITS bright red wall
paper gave place to paper OF less irritating hue.
Similarly the unruliness OF class OF small
children was discovered TO be largely due to
the exciting effect OF the wildly red carpet on
the floor of their schoolroom. The removal Of
this carpet was followed hy marked improve
ment in behavior.
Facts like these suggest that red should not
be allowed 10 predominant In the upholstery,
floor coverings. wallpaper Of any room in
which people have to spend much OF their time
II should not be used at all in living rooms into
which the sun enters freely for large part OF
the day.
The sun itself is sufficient stimulus for the
nervous system. BY adding TO II the stimulat-
condition OF nervous irritability viii be estab-
lished.
Az to the use OF red In clothing. the rule
adopted by a friend OF mine member OF the
teaching staff of Wisconsin University, is one
which every body might follow 10 advantage.
when the day is dull. or I feel depressed"
he tells me. Il put on necktie wholly or part
" red. This find has a pleasantly stimulating
effect on me. But never wear such q tie on
= bright day. or when I am already In good
spfrits."
A with neckties. so with dresses. The dress
days when the skies are dull or the mind de
: ~ the effects Of other coIors, I shall have
- - ~ another day.