The Washington times., 1921-04-03
By DR.. !. L. Nascher.

tinctly make for unhappiness
Ind hang like cloud over the homes of
the very rich threatening not only domes'
tic peace but the fidelity and honor of
husbands and wives?
The startling charges Banker James A.
Stillman has recently made in his divorce
action against his wife, Anne Urquhart
Potter Stillman, reveal, II true, ruined
home which may be traced to the curse
of too much money. The counter charges
Mrs. Stillman makes against Mr.. Stillman
confirm this assertion.
II fascinating "Fifi' Potter had married
a poor man and had had her home and
her babies to fill her time and her mind in
stead of being left alone for weeks in the
Canadian woods with an apollo Belvi-
dere" halfbreed guide. 1t is unlikely that
the scandal which now clouds her good
name and points suspicion at her youngest
child would have ever arisen.
Why did this very attractive woman with
everything worth while within her grasp
20 wrong, IL her husbands charges are
true? Why was Banker Stillman not sat
isfied with the companionship and charms
of the woman he married.?
Why should infidelity, as divorce statis-
tics show, prevail to a greater extent pro-
portioaately among the wealthy than
among the poor? The usual explanation
for moral lapses, opportunity and pro-
plnquity, does not go to the basic cause,
for the frequent association with some one
of the opposite sex and the opportunity
for intimate relations rarely result in at.
tachment and 1nfdslity among workmen
and housewives. Opportunity and pro-
pinquity are like the matches that start
the fire but a whole case Of matches would
be as harmless as a case OF nails IL there
were no inlammable material that could
be put on fire. The basic cause must be
sought in the individual and his or her
habits of life
There are physical and moral differences
between the rich and the poor. besides the
difference in their mode of life, that make
the former more susceptible to temptation
and at the same time lessen their will
power and self restraint. Every physician
knows this.
Well fed and we'll cared for from infancy
the rich grow up physically strong and
usually attractive. Compare young shop
workers as a class with college students
of the same age, the mill workers in New
England with the girls in Wellesley and
the BOYS in Harvard, the young farm hands
from upstate with the girls from Vassar
and the boys from Cornell
What was lost through improper feeding
and insufficient food during the period ~
development cannot be made up later IN
life. The college-bred individual from
home Of plenty grows up vigorous. full OF
animal spirits which find an outlet In
athletics, sports and other fields OF activ-
ity The shop and farm workers develop
certain muscles which are employed IN
their occupation, or no muscles at all II the
occupation is sedentary or mental, while
the dull routine Of the shop or farm forces
repression of animal spirits. They lack
pep" that all-around spirit that marks
the energetic man and woman who are ac-
customed to diverse association and activ-
titles.
The food plays an important part in the
development Of animal spirits as we'll as
in the physical development Take the
single item, sugar An enormous amount
is consumed in the form OF sweets, the
cost of which limits their use by the poor
but not by the rich. Sugar is converted
in the body into energy, and IL taken N
excess 1t is converted into fat. The exces-
sive use Of sweets by rich women is be-
lieved to be one of the main reasons why
these women are usually plump and well
developed and exhibit an amount OF energy
and activity far greater than one would
expect to find in them.
Later in life, rich foods and especially
liquors, have a powerfully stimulating ef-
feet upon the animal passions. Alcohol in
any form rouses the imagination, stimu-
lates desires and weakens the control OF
the will over such desires. Various foods
and drinks are popularity supposed to d.
rectly stimulate definite impulses. Such
combinations as lobster salad, champagne
and oysters, sherry and egg, have such
effect ascribed to them. The effect is really
produced through the imagination, al
though the constant use Of rich foods will
undoubtedly tend to stimulate desire. Add
20 these the seductive cocktail or cordial
and the individual is in an unstable state
in which the slightest stimulation, through
the Imagination or Impressions produced
through the eve or ear, arouse thoughts
and desires.
Now let us consider factor which Is
rarely, II ever, considered when we speak
OF the causes OF divorce.