Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-14
ACCIDENTS
BY H. Addington Bruce

N accident, according to the dictionary,
~ is an undersigned, unexpected, unfort-
innate occurrence. Most people be-
ieve that accidents, as thus defined, are oc-
curing all the time. But some psychologists
nowadays insist that they occur far less fire.
quently than is commonly supposed.
These psychologists hold that many hap
penings which pass as accidents are in reality
the product of design, in that they are
brought about by subconscious wishes and
purposes on the part of those to whom they
occur.
Or, more deliberately stated in one of the
most curious books l have ever read, Sig
mund Freuds recently translated "The
Psychopathology of Everyday Life
Certain performances which are apparent
ly unintentional prove to be well motivated
when subjected to psycho-analytie investiga-
ton, and are determine by =. unwelcome
repressed, psychic material, which, though
pushed away from consciousness, is neverthe-
less not robbed of all capacity to express
ITSELF"
For example, while reading your evening
newspaper you hear crash somewhere in
the mouse. You investigate, to find that the
cook has dropped favorite platter, which is
scattered in fragments ON the kitchen floor
Weeping, the cook protests that it was en-
t1rely an accident. The platter simply CHANGED
to slip out of her hands. You are angry, but
you accept the explanation.
And, indeed, it would be unjust to accuse
the cooA of having deliberately broken your
platter.
But suppose that earlier in the day some.
thlng had occurred to vex the cook and o
create in her resentful sentiments toward
you. Or suppose the platter had become OBJ
hoHlous 10 her because of the extra care she
had to take of it.
Might it not be that, all unconsciousIy. she
had allowed it to slip from her hands in or
oer 10 SATISFY in the one case, subconscioous
craving for revenge; in the other, a subcon-
sclous wish not to be troubled with the Mat
ter longer
Thus Professor Freud and his followers
would argue. Also they would see tie work
ing OF subconsCiOus motives in the accidental
losing or misplacing of objects. even objects
winch one consciously would not desire ia
lose or misplace, and in the accidental forget
ing OF promises and Intentions
In two positions of life" Professor Froud
observes, even the layman is cognizant that
forgetting, referring to Intending purnoso7
-. Ultimately depends on unadmitted mo.
service. anu Ilil1 'dry
"A lover who is late at the appointed place
Will Valnly tell his sweetheart that unfOrtu.
nately, he had entirely forgotten their rem
devious. She will not hesitate to answer
him: - -
:" A year ago you would not have forgot
ten. Undoubtedly you no longer care for
me-
"Of course, the woman does not wish tc
deny the possibility of forgetting. But she
believes, and not without reas on, that prac-
ticalIy the same inference of a certain un-
willingness may be drawn from the unlnten-
tional forgetting as from a conscious sub
terfuge."
On the opposite forgetting, according to
Freud, may at times be reveatory not OF
waning love or a feeble interest but of secret
love unusual interest.
Calling at friends house, where you spend
a pleasant evening, you depart leaving your
purse or veil or walking cane. To recover
the forgotten object it is necessary to call
again at the friends house.
Wherefore, your purely accidental for