Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04

"Of course, all the author cared about
was the girls two personalities" he OBJ
served, as if his thoughts had never left
the story they had been discussing.
"Queer, isn't it, what fascinating SUBJ
ject dual personality is?'
His companions gaze, which was wan
dering abstractedly down the car came
back at once, and he nodded; but, as he
did not speak, Scarborough went on:
SIN fiction, that is, of course-not in
life. Take, for instance, Stevenson's
Strange Case of DR.. Jekyll and Mr..
Hyde Jekyll is decent, kindly man
who, by means of powder that he has
compounded, transforms himself into a
cowardly ruffian calling himself Hyde.
With another powder he turns himself
back to Jekyll. It's fascinating idea for
u story. But just take real case of it.
Change decent, quiet, reasonable man
intoea noisy, irresponsible beast, mot
with powder, but with alcohol, and it
isn't fascinating at all. It's disgusting.
Or let poor devil get the notion fixed
in his added brain that he is John the
Baptist or Napoleon, and there is nothing
enhancing about that,a either
4But drunkenness and insanity are not
change of personality" tt-
%Whynot? The victim changes COM
pletely-becomes something altogether
different from his normal self. Isn't it as
near dual personality as we ever get,
outside of books?'
.."But it isn't dual personality at ALI"
The repeated assertion was emphasized
by a slight note of establishment, and
the speaker looked curiously at Scar
borough, as if wondering that any one
so intelligent should be so mistaken.
Dual personality is the result of
dissertation of personality-that' the
technical term" he explained. "It's the
splitting up of personality into separate
parts, which in turn dominate the facul-
ties. Each is conscious of itself as a dis
tinct and complete individuality; and
neither has any direct knowledge of the
others existence. That is what is meant
by double personality.
eyes, know said Tim. @But don't
believe that it exists outside of fiction
"Why-there are cases of it on record!'
protested the young man earnestly.
@Some of them are as strange or stranger
than the one of that girl in the story. I've
read the records!"
81 know" said Tim again. Give read
several myself-the doctors reports, you
mean. But it seemed to me that they all
boiled down to some form of insanity"
LIS companions lips parted to speak,
plainly in contradiction, but closed
again silently. Then, as if reaching a
decision, he said with courteous firmness:
Il am sure you are mistaken, but dare say
most people would agree with you,' and
took up his knife and fork as if that was
all he cared to say on the subject.
Then, almost at once and before Scar
borough could reply, he laid down the
knife and fork again, and, as if impelled
by some hidden feeling. he leaned forward.
@Don't you see that that is just why
anybody afflicted with double personality
would do anything in the world to keep it
from being found out?' he demanded,
adding at once: "And don't think for a
minute that he couldn't do it! For, far
from being insane and irresponsible when
in the abnormal state, as you suppose, a
man may be quite as intelligent as he is
normally. And he can learn all about his
normal self and initate IT. ca we'll that No