Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-03
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN

ID y. ItAShlN
Washington, D. c., Dec. 31.-That
n large percentage OF divorces is due
to too much red in the nuptial home,
and that crime would decrease II the
streets were lighted with yellowish
green lights, is the claim of the most
recent professor to come forward with
a new set of theories about color and
the effects it has upon our lives.
Conservatives will doubtless say
that the professor claims too much.
and perhaps he does. but the part
which color plays in the daily life of
everyone has never been properly un-
derstood by most persons. In fact,
most men pay no conscious attention
to color at all. while most women are
concerned solely in choosing those
coiors which harmonize with their
hair and eyes.
Tell the average man that tho red
cover on his library table is injuring
his nerves and he will laugh at you.
Yet It is possible to give him scientific
proof of the fact Red has been
shown by many experiments to sti-
mulate the heart action just as surely
as n drug. and to be powerful nerve
stimulant as well. Orange, yellow,
violet and purple are also stimulating
in large quantities even a depressing
one. Green is perhaps the most
wholesome of all colors.
This seems to be about all that Is
conClusively known about the ply
siological effects OF colors. Besides
this. you may read n great deal OF
theoretical stuff about the colors of
souls and of personalities, the rela-
tions between color and sound. and
other speculations OF n like nature.
But OF this much you may be sure.
the colors tha. surround you have
an effect upon you. and by regulating
them properly you may to some extent
promote your health and comfort.
NATURES USE OF COLOR
It Is interesting to note that the only
colors which are in nature used in
large masses are green and blue. If
the sky were to turn bright red and
the leaves and the grass bright yellow,
It is probable that we would all go
crazy. |, Many interesting reflections
are suggested by the use OF color in
nature. 1t is strikinsly noticeable
that in brightly sunlight countries.
like our own Southwest, where all
colors are more brilliant, where the
sunsets are intensely colorful. and
where sunlight bnd distance work
queer color effects. nearly everyone
feels an acute nervous stimulus.
amounting in some cases to n sense
OF tNtlAdNloDs on lH' manu.
cloudy rainy countries where all colors
are subdued, where a shrouded green
mixed with gray predominates. like
the British Isles for instance, are
noted for the production of healthy,
somewhat stodgy. people. The differ
onccs between persons of the same
blood and race living in Arizona and
In Scotland are very noticeable. Just
how much of this difference is due to
color n yrnn1A hp hard ia hnt [
seems probable that color accounts for
n part or II.
It has long been n mysterious but
we'll known fact TINT all migrations
and great movements of people gem
orally have been westward. May not
the flarinE reds and yellows of the
sunset slSv In tho " est have something
to do with this7
Whatever such speculations may he
worth. It Is worth anyone's while to
know that some colors are stlmulants
and some are anodynes, and TO pro-
coed accordingly In matters of deCora-
tion and clothing. 1t is probably we'll
to follow nature, and to make green
and blue the only bright colors that
are used In large masses. All bluffs.
grays. and other neutral tones. arc
of course neutral In effect. Blues and
greens should be the only bright colors
allowed to appear In large duanti-
ties. Tf red is used It should be
merely "a touch here and there. Such
touch of red is undoubtedly pleas
Ing. and probably henlthful so long as
It * not large enough to force itself
upon the eve. OF course in dark
room brighter colors may be used,
and red may he used in large duanti-
ties because its value does not come
out 80 strongly. Rooms which arc
flooded with SUNLIGHT or brightly lit
with electricity should be decorated
in soothing colots, only.
II has also been often claimed that