The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27

through stages OF lntOxiCation thdt
correspond to those Of alcoholic slim
ulation, first ~elation, then depression.
In conversation the victim OF the
colon bacillus inclines to negative
statements: Many a man a never
learn the reaso for lack OF success
in his undertakings until with the aid
of a notebook he checks of the pro-
portion of negative speeches that he
makes during the day n finds that
he IL only n Punch and Judy show
at the hands OF his microbes"
DIR. Morris's microbes put him
through a merry performance. they
excel in demonic ingenuity when he
takes up Taine's desire for a scientific
basis for literary criticism. W. are
the makers of literature the microbes
cry. What Is genius? To the mi
crobes this ancient puzzle is no puzzle
at al: Genius consists in a high
degree Of sensit.z,tion of the proto-
plasm of any organism through the
Influence OF or by toxic products o.
body cells which respond to inimical
influence of any one or more kinds
VI microbe." Sysonby was a genius.
s, is a Ieghorn hen. more useful
t.ln most accredited geniuses. "Ge-
! Mus represents the doubling rose and
portends the end OF a family" The
doubling rose Is n pretty symbol for
all sorts Of decadence, Of cell, nerve
or mind. THE supermau is a ma
ending his family lineage in a b.aze
Of glory" Balm for the superman.
and rich consolation for the common
place father Of FIVE"
\ page from the notebook OF the
scientific" critic OF literature:
l. A mind allergic tsllo.. ergonl to the
tied op;imism.b
. \ mind allergic to the colon bacillus.
! ,Nletzsche with cry baby philosophy
.. A mind belonging to a definite psy-
chosis-hys,eri,. Mrs. Browning. with
grace and sweetness in morbid exaggera-
ton Of feminine characteristics
- mind witt a definite psvchosl'
-cyclothemia. ID Musset, with fine In
spiration In the euphoric stage. He did
not write much when In the Oppressive
stage because dipsomania supervencdb
3. \ mind with another definite psychic.
sls-manic Oppressive. tS;rindberg. With
beauty In his collection OF Fairy Tales
belonging TO the euphoric stage. distress
In his Inferno OF he Oppressive stage,
6. A mind tlat we might classify al
present a. belonging to the Internal se'
erection Of a3errant gland development
OCTAVE Mlrbeau)
The "biologic literary critic" CON-
pares Rabelais and Mirbeau: Rahc.
lais's writing indicates heath and
sanity: his coarseness Is a crude tool
Mirbeau dipped his pen in the inter-
nal secretion of a ductless gland. il
is impossible to determine without
Ia laboratory examination whether an
author is really poisoned or IL he
shrewdly %concocts a stencil for the
poisoned crowd" Here and there
in certain works that appeal" TO per-
verted instinct occur sentences or par
d,rate sincerity and sanity in the
author; correlatively. evidence OF q
deliberate endeavor to win a market
among the victims OF the toxins. Does
the doctor really think he liz earning
for his profession the credit OF dis
covery? The words are new. but the
knowledge is ancient.
Carlyle's fundamental genius wrote
the "Sartor'; when the French Rev
olution" was written his genius was
cor trolled by toxic disturbances.
Nietzsche:
As the June bug stung by a scorpion
circles about in the most interesting way
for observers. so Nietzsche. stung by the
colon bacillus. engages the deep interest
OF many spectators as he circles abou'
wildly with outspread logic. The splendoi
OF Nietzsche and his contempt for com
mon things are the splendor and con
tempt OF the drunken man who see,
double stars, and trips up because OF ri,
contempt for the pavement.
When the theory has had its hear.
ing there Is little to be said of il
only thai IL promulgated seriously
IT is amusing. II meant as a joke il
is a sad failure. The author OF these
books commands respect on one page
with a bit OF practical wisdom ant
sensible suggestion. only to counteracf
it on the next with a melancholy
pun or a freak OF his microbe mama
DR.. Morris has prepared for himsei
a defence against the protests OF out
ragged readers: blame the bacteria!