The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVINWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1915. MIND VAGARIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 January 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVINWEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1915. MIND VAGARIES.

Jn modern society there exist* a large c-liuss of imperfectly developed or morbidly affected minds, whose owners hover between what is culled eccentricity and what is called madnessi. One of the special weaknesses to whi i these- people are liable is the subjection to dominant ideas. Society conbisks in the perfect co-or3inatoin of the physical 'organism of niind. ' When this machinery works normally well every subject considered is given its duo significance and weight. When morbid cerebral conditions exist there is danger that any subject which impiesses itself in a special way upon tiie mind will evolve dominant ideas, iind that these., given a feverish impulse, will upset the intelligence. "Whatever tends to centre the thoughts upon si'lf is peculiarly dangerous in this state. That is why meditation upon religion, or upon the sterner and mare startling among theological dogmas produces so much "mental derangement. Modern civilisation also undoubtedly tends to enlarge the area peopled by these feebled mentalities. 111-assorted marriages, the excessive use ot stir.:u limts. the uctvous afflictions ieveloped ti rough feverish business haoits. the thousand excitements which go to make up life now-a-days, each and all hav<> their effect in producing the class vulgarly known as the "cranks." Yes, there are cranks, but many of tmse who have been looked upon as sad. by unthinking people have k-d the way in reforms. The judgment of the man in the street on these people is, too often, not founded on reason. Even educated people who are dominated by their pet creeds and' theories "jump upon" any person who desires to think differently from them. These people have no room for a fresh idea in their craniums and are really cranks. Ignorance and prejudice rule their actions.