Year: 1877

ana the amount OF min 1n0uigcQ In, de-
climates the population. Again, the epi-


demic takes moral or religious form,


and we are devastated by revivals, tenn


perance reforms, or some other fever that


affects the moral nature. Another time


there will run through country some


social or aesthetic malady-a rage for old


china, passion for dancing the german,


or a determination to get cured of real or


imaginary ills by drinking mineral water,


taking a variety of baths, or eating


Graham bread There seems to be in


human nature tendency to act in con-


cert physically, mentally and morally,


and those people who have independence,


or force enough to resist the universal


impulse are set down as original or &C.


centric, according to the phase and de-


gree of their independent action.


just now there is avery peculiar craze


abroad known as the "blue- glass mania"


Gen. PleasontOn, an older brother of the


we'll known cavalry officer Of that name,


has harmless hobby; at least IT was


harmless 80 long as he kept 1t to him.


self He got the idea-when, how, or


why does not appear-that sunlight trans


mitted through blue glass has peculiarly


invig0rating effect upon animal and veg
| CtdulC lllC- 1lC suSidillS II Qy oOuckuluS


that looks like q scientific theory about


the actinic rays Of the sun, the chemical


action of those of one part of the spec


trum, the development OF electricity by
the sudden interruption of all the rays


except the blue one, etc. 1t is q theory
that will not bear examination by real
scientific scholar, but scientific scholars
are not common, and it has q plausible
1o<Sy vxybi 8nsn To
who do not comprehend it. But, apart
from his theory, Gen. .Pleasanton pro-


fesses to have tested the effects of light


coming through blue glass by variety of
experiments. By covering grapery with
glass, every eighth pane of which was
blue, he got a vigorous growth of vines
and abundance Of excellent fruit. Pos
sibly he might have secured the same re-
suit if none of the glass had been blue,
but he does not tell us anything about
that He tried q similar experiment with
pigs, and those which were favored with
blue light flourished apace and grew fat.
So did the others, and there was precious
little difference, so far as we can make


out


D But the important feature Of the alleged


discovery Of Gen. Pleasonton, and that
which has given rise to the mania, is the
supposed effect of light coming through
blue glass upon the human system. He
claims that it is peculiarly invigorating,
and counteracts in this state Of man the
tendency to disease and decay. He raises


the hopes that by living in glass houses,


with a sufficient variegation with blue
panes and panels, and abstaining from the
practice of throwing stones at our neigh


bors, we might be free from the blues,


have no occasion for blue pills, and reach
ripe old age in the full vigor of all our
faculties. The notion of the General is
certainly pleasant one, but we fear it is
dclusiOn. To be sure he gives numerous


instances of the cure of rheumatism and
the Punishment of pains of many sorts by


basking in sunlight that came through


panes Of q ccrulean hue. But, then, bask-
ing in sunlight of any kind is beneficial,


and 1t would not be difficult to get up in


stances of cures by any process whatever.


Who has not heard Of rheumatism being


cured by carrying horse chestnuts in the


pocketfl Let anybody start q notion that
Z tarred string worn around the neck will


be sovereign remedy against catarrh
and all the ills that affect the throat, and
I in six months plenty of certificates and


testimonials can be obtained of the won-
drous cures that it has effected. The i'm
agination has, remarkable curative powers
| in itself, and, besides, cure that is pure
| ly imaginary is just as good a. any other
for the purpose of proving the efficacy Of


blue glass or tarred strings.


The blue glass epidemic will have to


run its course. Gen. Pleasonton first
published his book six years ago, and
now has brought out q new and enlarged


edition. After much writing and talking
he has got the mania started and the i'm
porters and dealers In blue-giass are re-
joicing at his success. Meantime many
people are making themselves ridiculous
by putting blue panes into their windows
and bathing in the sunshine with un-
wonted ardor. We fancy them carrying
the passion 10 8 fantastic extent. Per
haps we shall soon be trying the salutary
effect Of looking through blue glass
tumblers while absorbing the contents.
Our food may receive imaginary nutritive
properties from being under blue glass
covers and in blue-glass dishes. Next
summer we may find people at the sea-
shore summing themselves on the sand
under domes Of blue-glass. People may
have this peculiar type Of q blues'' with :
severity that will tinge their. very. blood
and make them more aristocrstic. In
deed we hope the epidemic will be violent
and pr0portionally short. It Is amusing
to Gee people making fools Of themselves; j;
but it soon grows wearisome, and this
blue-glass folly is likely to b one Of the
most tiresome. ~ Bostos Globe.


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