Modern Views of Love.

Southland Times, Issue 14788, 3 November 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

Modern Views of Love.

'Once, in a word, I was a fool; and then I was ia love.' So wrote a cynical seventeenth oentury writer witb, let it be confessed, a modicum of truth. We (St. James's Budget) have recently received two Amerioan publications which claim to show that their authors have localised lave. Oae of these, Dr. Wallace Wood.Jplacea it in what he calls the 'anterior metopic lobule.' The other, Mr John M. Dagoall, crudely states his idea thus — 'Love is in the Btomach.not the heart.' Dr. Wood* thesis, which is reprinted from the New York Medical Journal for June 23rd, 1900, is as follows : A 'ramp' is an Sshaped curve, and 'every fibre and artery in the living body ia a ramper. . . . The humblest worm aspires, lamps, stands upon hia base, and lifts nose and feelers skyward.' Darwin, jb will be remembered (cays the Lancet), Btudied worms with peculiar care, but we do not recolleot that he mentions their ramp'ng. On the other hand, we do remember that he mentioaa that they were quite indifferent to the loudest sounds of the bassoon. Perhape, however, Dr. Wood's worms would moderate their rampings if he were to play to them. However, to pro ceed. The brain, says Dr. Wood, flower* at both holes, the brain surges forward and upward, and overarching, the Psyche seems to lift up her head. The top of the forehead appears to be ever ramping heavenward or sunward, and life is rampanoy, perennial life is double rampanoy, immortal life is supernal rampancy. We must confess that we have not the slightest idea what thia last sentence means, but somehow 'supernal rampancy' does not seam a thing to which to look forward. But we understand from Dr. Wood that in this godlike peak, the anterior metopic lobule, lies the centre for the higher sympathy. 'As "eunoia," or the "vis passiva," this divine force is willingness to givo your heart away; as "prothymh," or the "vis aetiva," it is uncontrollable impulse forcibly to give or throw your heart away."' Further, 'it is a divine artery through whioh is poured the milk of women and the bloD 1 of men ; it is the navel string that co meets the faithful hound to his maiter." A divine force whioh is at) once a willingness to give your heart away, an artery which oarries both blood and milk, and is a navel string, is, to quote Calverley, 'a thing imagination boggles at.' Mr John D Agnail writes in what he calls 'rhythmical phraseology.' We do not find the rhythm although the sentences are out up into lines, e.g. : — ' But now comes the mystery of locating Love's parmansns seat. Is it in the bosom Or in the stomach ? It is so believed That the bosom hath yet Love for a tenant ; But I can prove that Love's lease there hath Long since expired, and that it hath vacated The apartment it once ooonpied in the heart To dwell in the stomach.' Needleeß to say, Mr Dagnall does not prove this remarkable thesis. If be has not already done so he had better communicate with Dr. Wallace Wood.