South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-23

THE war Iiei
II punctuates the mind OF the civil
lied world with az exclamation point

III
Il punctuates the mind OF the civil
lied world with az exclamation point
In the impenetrable cloud of rumor of accu-
sation and counter-accusation. OF horror tale
and denial. how is the truth-seeking faculty to
function?
II you permanently confuse the sense OF
truth the whole social structure atrophies.
How can we keep falsehood from bewildering
US in our judgment?
For centuries we have been trying to train
the human mind to distinguish truth from
error. Truth is the base rock of all science
of all religious law. of ali pedagogical efforts
Of the principles OF commerce and trade. 1t
is. therefore. vital to analyze every new cpl
demic of untruth to discover If possible the
causes and effects.
There are innumerable examples Of what we
call the lie. One OF the most spectacular
has been the "war babies" scare In the
, whole history of the invidious art of foulng
ones own nest there has probably never been
so complete a masterpiece" says the Man
chester Guardian (England). This opinion is
based upon the evidence recently furnished
on the "war baby" by the report Of the British
National Union of Women Workers This
committee made an immediate investigation OF
the rumors which spread like. wildflre across
the civilized globe to the effect that the Brit
fish army was guilty Of great immortality in the
neighborhood of the training camps. The
newspapers we're full of the story for weeks.
It was discussed seriously everywhere
A psychologist suggested TO me that he be-
Eevt4 the war had produced a new instinct
an instinct roofing in the primal force OF ma
ture ITSELF for the continuance Of the human
species. This instinct he thought either new
or at least fresh demonstration adjust
ment OF the old instinct Of man to perpet-
II IL
individual, not even a tribal instinct, but
stupendous national force to Keep the world
inhabited
The sociologists gave the rumor immediate
attention. In the civilized world-or at least
a presentable part OF it-society is built upon
the unit Of the family. and the family is
structed upon a strict marriage law which has
10 do with the legitimate birth of children. IL
this war baby" irregularity was TO be
copied as a military necessity, what effect
It to have upon our old family unit?
The moralists were equally puzzled. It did
not take any great profundity Of thought to
picture a military condition-an extreme need
where the war baby" might be necessary,
but had England reached that point?
So the war baby gave us opportunity for
some very learned discussions. think we were
tust about ready to arrive at some kind OF a
conclusion when the British National Union of
Women Workers came forth with the truth
about the war baby Here are few ex
tracts from their report: 1--WE were told that
Government
the lying-in wards Of the infrmaries. Not
single new bed has been ordered, We were
told that in a welknown maternity hospite.
preparations were being made to add fifteen
new wards. The additions were begun In l9l
1--WE heard that in an important place the
lying-in ward OF the infirmary WAS FIJI and that
they we're contemplating a new ward. There
was not a single case IN the ward and no new
ward contemplated. Place AFTER
place reports nothing Abnormal, no increase
expected"
The wide acceptance Of this war lie makes
II Of special interest to the psychologist. How
did the mind OF man start such rumor ana
why was the world so ready to accept II as
the truth? OF course at bottom have the
old blighting influence or the emotion OF eX
cftement upon the intellect-upon our ability
20 Judge AT a time when Europe, ASIA ana
Africa are I'm a state bordering upon Madness
human emotion is, OF course, running rampant
Notwithstanding the long battle of the intellect
to control the emotions, there has been little
headway moment or an episode or intense
excitement and the spark has been struck TO
the emotions In the upheaval which follows
no one knows just where TO search for the
pieces OF those old human standbys-iudge-
ment and horse sense.
This explosive effect Of excitement upon the
Judgment is illustrated every day. We do not
need a world war 70 demonstrate the fact. In
your own experience you probably can remem-
Der the time when you were startled by the
cry of fire in the night. You Jumped from ped
and threw on the lights. Your first idea was
20 save yourself. You saw that the avenue
OF escape was still open. Then you turned TO
your property-yOur treasured possessions
Ten minutes later. when the FIRE was out and
you were creeping about your front lawn
gathering I'D the treasures you threw from the
window, you discovered 10 your horror that
Won had saved a toothbrush, comb, an old
hat one shoe and a buttonhook The hrst
minute OF excitement had blasted your tuds-
ment into fragments Your mind was left
helpless ia its attempt TO recognize values.
When the mind Is put IN this condition illu-
sion and hallucination find fertile soil. After
the first blast OF emotional excitement weak
sntausct is paralvzed and 4 strong mind Is
crippled The permanency OF the injury IS
regulated by the intensity OF the emotion and
the shock The mental processes minus the
ability TO weigh and Judge evidence to com
are values. are In a state where they might