Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-07

thorough knowledge OF all the somberer pas
sages and Implications of the Scriptures in
his conceptions of the punishment which he
deems necessary for the Emperor of the
Germans.
VIT WAS, of course, not reasonable to
expect from these unfor.unatcs any
logical opinion of the world catacysm that
now engages the passionate attention of the
rest of mankind. Yet some of the reactions
TO this major suggestion may be cited here
as n guide to future investigators in this
limitess field. The gasoline addict, surprised
as he turks darSly in his home or in his
garage. will usually burst into ribald and
bitter laughter at the mention of the En-
peror of the Germans. And this display of
emotion does not seem to be related TO ANY
thought of the rape of Belgium or the menace
of the Hun. 1t Is the delusion of the addict
that great company Of Pretzel Hurlers
minor functionares in the familiar bier
stubes of the Germans, conspircd not to
dominate the world but to compel him. the
addict, to remain at home on the Sabbath
compelled to listen to the conversation of
his relatives on his wife's sidc'
SCOMEWHAT similar delusions occurred
~ with interesting variations in many of
the cases examined. One victim of the gaso-
line mania whose symptoms were of the
greatest interest TO your commission, pro-
fessed to be acquainted with the hidden pur-
poses OF Providence. 1t was his insstent
contention that the Emperor of the Germans
was destined originally to be a Pickle Sitter
in German diet kitchen. Extensive re-
search has failed to reveal to us the exact
status of pickle sifters in the country of the
enemy. IL may be assumed however that
such a functionary is employed to isolate,
so TO speak, small pickles suitable to the
needs of robust people habituated to that
form or food when they are in a state of
perilous Illness The term as it occurred 70
the gasoline maniac was obviously intended
to be one of derision and an implication of
an inferior mentality, This particular sub
Ject was swept by a fense of outrage at the
thought that "a picklX SITTER had been per-
mitted to upset his habits of life Occasion-
ally similar casesfsreferred to the Emperor
OF the Germans as n fish, or cheese, or a
pfune. The exact source of these mysterious
Illusions cannot be stated at this time They
are the subject now of separate investiga-
tion. q
ST N ALLlthe cases examined in connec-
l. ton with the general subject of what is
called the Gasless Sabbath it was found that
those accustomed to driving ongned yehj-
cles display one common sign of a general
l. aWction, They have been accustomed 10 go
at greats speed from place TO another
anu TO return with great speed to the place
| W lHeH utDdItufe ana thus to go always
from place to place without apparent object
Now, since a definite objective Is a necessary
sign of sound mind, the subjects examined
may be said always to have manifested signs
| OF mental irregularty. The interruption of
routine causes an extension of the disorder
WTNHE victim of gasoline mania withdraws
on Sunday from contact with humanity
| He is to be found more often i'm the building
| used to house his gas-propelled vehicle Upon
hn rnnta n.
usually prompted by love. family ties or
| the more intimate human relationships 1t
| is his habit TO invent monstrous falsehoods
| about the speed of his curious machine. This
| is the regrettable use to which he puts his
| Sabbath And 1t has been interesting to
observe that his delusions and the false
| hoods in which they are expressed become
| more fantastic in a fair ratio with the obvi-
| Gus ineptitude and the shabbiness OF his
| particular engine"
|
| .see Muddwltz and Hochsten; ''Hstreds and
| Antipathes of Cousins"
4