New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-02
THE TRANsL ALTON OF GERMAN EMOTION
An Application of KutmUnconscous ROVER ~
by the Rest of Us in Heroic Thoughts
Bv DIR. DAVID ORR EDISON

have fried on several occasions to ex-
plain what might be called Germanys elu-
cidation Of the Unconscious wish and Pne
drive IL holds, which outyies In both toree
and logic the conscious wish. But mere IN
America they all laugh That is to say-'l
burn up the deep significance OF the matter
in an emotional debauch-whil in Germany
they listen with minds alive 20 its physical
utility. r.,
The unconscious wish is explained as fol
lows: John Smith is afraid to cross the
street for fear of being injured by passing
automobiles In consequence Of his conscious
wish not to be injured he dare not cross the
street. Day after day and month after
month he does not cross the street Then the
day comes when he starts to cross the street
and in so doing is killed In being killed MS
unconscious wish is gratfed The elabors-
ton Of the matter is along these lines. me
basic principle Of human achievement as well
as the projection of achievement itself lies
i'm practice and study. Without this IRE
would be unstable. II is by practice and
gtudy that we achieve the power Of auto
matte adjustment to our environment-tne
power. for instance, TO cross the street safely.
John Smith has not achieved this power. why
Because he has not wished TO do so. He has
uncongciously wished for something else lie
has wished to live in a world where streets
are safe, where motors do not honk at one
where traffic is soft and noiseless. He has,
i'm short. not practised the art OF crossing
strscts in the world as IL is. unconsciously
wishing all the time to be in another Nnd Of
world. Now behold him standing on the
curb. his brain serving only as the platform
upon which his conscious wish must meet the
unconscious in silent combat. He thinks he
wishes to cross the street, but behind that Is
the cumulative weight Of the unconscious
wish to be in world where streets are az
safe AZ graves The unconscious wish IS
about TO be realized.
At first glance this may seem to be extrsV-
aqantly logical But when one stops TO con-
slider that our Supreme Court was designed
10 protect our basic desires against the I'M
pact OF our shallow conscious desires, the
necessity for a presiding guardian over the
unconscious is clearly seen.
This holds deep significance TO those VINO
have not become seduced TO the joys Of mira
clos (emotion). But Germany knows Of this
unconscious drive, wherein emotions debar
actions. Not as a smouldering bit OF knowl-
edge does she know this thing, but as dy-
manic force Witness the Belgian SCRAP Of
paper" Witness the Lusitania incident VII
ness the slavery Of the Belgians and. verify
now. the torpedoing Of a ship Of civilization
itself mercy ship. And what is more,
Germany is quite right. There is nothing to
fear in these proceedings from those nations
not involved in personal encounter They
are attended to by emotions vast bonhres
into which are thrown the materials from
which deeds are fashioned. We run about
expending our emotional proves in anger at
these happenings, until we are too exhausted
to think about personal impact in the matter.
Germany's kultur is not thing to be emo
tionalizcd into a laugh; it is titanic stun,
and it is accomplishing titanic deeds for
Germany. The day is too far spent for US
to hope TO acquire the knowledge Germany
holds Of the cold facts Of reality. II we are
20 have another crack at independent ciyill-
cation. we shall have to find way to utilize
our emotions without the exhaustive salts
faction incident TO such affairs. What we
need at this time is "Marseiliaisc,' or man
with those organs under the skin of abdomen
which will allow him to shout: ITO arms
every man of you who values his hearth, the
spread of his table and his progeny