Evening star., 1928-05-04
Bottled Lightning.

William James was one of the worlds
great psychologists. In the language
of later day, he put American psy-
chology on the map. Twenty-Five years
ago he wrote: Il remember reading a
story in which, after describing the
beauty and interest of the heroine's per-
sonality, the author summed up her
charms by saying that to all who looked
upon her an impression as Of bottled
lightning was irresistibly conveyed.
Bottled lightning, in truth, is one Of our
American ideals, even Of young girls
characteri"
He cites the comment OF a still earlier
day made by a distinguished mind doc
tor from Scotland; you Americans
wear too much expression on your faces
You are living like an army with all its
reserves engaged in action. The duller
countenanceS of the British population
betoken a better scheme Of life. They
suggest stores Of reserved nervous force
to fall back upon. This inexcitability
this presence at all times of power not
used 1 regard as the great safeguard
of our British people. The other thing
in you gives me sense OF insecurity,
and you ought somehow to tone your
selves down. You really do carry too
much expression; you take too intensely
the trivial moments of life"
There are two sides to this matter OF
American excitability, which Is much
more marked today than when these
comments were made. and James Is fair
to both "All Americans who stay in
Europe long enough to get accustomed
to the spirit that reigns and expresses
itself there, so uneXcitable as compared
with ours. make a similar observation
when they return TO their native shores.
They find a wild-eyed look upon their
compatriots' faces, either of too deSper-
ate cagerness and anxiety or Of too in
tense responsiveness and goodwill. 1t
is hard to say whether the men or the
women show IL most. Many OF us, far
from deploring it. admire 1t. We say:
What intelligence it showsl How DIFF
ferent from the Stolid cheeks, the cod
fish eyes, the slow, inanimate demeanor
we have been seeing in the British
Islesr Intensity. rapidity, viVacity OF
appearance are indeed with us some
thing of nationally accepted ideal; and
the medical notion of irritable weak
ness is not the first thing suggested by
them to our mind"
Here is a vital issue in mental fitness,
as we'll as a contrast in national ideals.
We speak of our British cousins, but
/ in mental makeup they seem 10 be
cousins once removed, If not more dis
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psychology, there can be no question
that poise Is a sound ideal, and that
effervescent spurts OF sputtering energy
and constant restless fussiness, and abb
sorption in the bare feeling of activity,
and behaving like a live wire carrying
a highly charged Circuit is more waste of
energy than profitable discharge. For
ii is a falling back to the childish pat
tern of excitable behavior. Not only
haste, but too much push and drive and
fuss make waste POise is not stolidity.
but reserve power: it isn't dull weight,
, hard TO move, but bottled energy care
/ fully controlled
I The most recent indications Of mental
I habit are suggestive. The auto, ever
ready 10 dash madly anywhere. has
come TO express this agitated desire Of
/ America to be ON the go As the saying
/ goes. we don't know where we're going.
but we're on our way" The satisfac-
ton Of moving obScures the supreme
Importance of choosing the right road
wanting 10 be known as huSslerS, 60
getters, live wires-again confusion OF
mere activity with well directed energy.
The women show it in their ready adop-
tion OF the smoking habit as another
relief Of tension. Men tend. like the
native American Indian. to smoke the
| pipe OF peace; women puff the cigarette
| Of agitation.
I There should be nothing in excess
One may go too far in either direction.
Too much control is as bad as too little
But back of all stand certain definite