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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36849-8.txt b/36849-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32afc7a --- /dev/null +++ b/36849-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5463 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Think, by Col. Wm. C. Hunter + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Think + A Book for To-day + +Author: Col. Wm. C. Hunter + +Release Date: July 25, 2011 [EBook #36849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THINK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: Wm C Hunter] + + + + THINK + + A Book for To-day + + By + COL. WM. C. HUNTER + + Author of + Pep, Dollars and Sense, Brass Tacks, etc. + + [Illustration] + + The Reilly & Lee Co. + Chicago + + + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + + Copyright, 1918 + + by + The Reilly & Britton Co. + + _Made in U. S. A._ + + Published September 24, 1918 + Second Printing--October 1, 1918 + Third Printing--June 15, 1919 + Fourth Printing--June 1, 1920 + Fifth Printing--April 3, 1922 + Sixth Printing--February 27, 1925 + Seventh Printing--October 25, 1926 + Eighth Printing--October 5, 1927 + + + _Think_ + + + + +PUBLISHER'S NOTE + + +When Colonel Hunter wrote PEP in 1914 and offered it to The Reilly & +Britton Company, we immediately accepted the manuscript for publication. +So highly did we regard the work that the president of this company, +over his signature, contributed an introductory note of endorsement, +citing his own experience in following the rules and principles laid +down in PEP for the attainment of "poise, efficiency and peace." + +Our confidence and belief in PEP were amply justified. Eight large +editions were printed in four years. Over 70,000 copies have been sold. + +THINK--the last book that Colonel Hunter wrote--is now published for the +first time. It is especially important, coming, as it does, at a time +when commonsense thinking, good health, good cheer, optimism and +rational methods of living are more necessary than ever before. + +In this trenchantly written volume, Colonel Hunter has given some golden +advice to the man or woman who is facing the big problems of to-day in a +wavering or hopeless spirit. Correct your thinking. Get a grip on +yourself. Colonel Hunter tells you how. + + + + +THINK + + + + +1. + + +We all enter the world with an abundance of nerve energy, and by +conserving that energy we can adapt and adjust our nerve equipment to +keep pace with the progress and evolution of our times. + +The way to preserve and conserve nerve equilibrium and power is to rest +and relax the nerves each day. + +You may rest them by a change of the thought habit each day, by +relaxation, by sleep, and by the suggestions made in this book. + +There are but few advance danger signals shown by the nervous system, +and in this there is a marked difference between the nerves and the +organic system. + +If you abuse your stomach, head, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or eyes, +you have distress and pain. + +The nervous energy is like a barrel of water--you can draw water from +the faucet at the bottom until you have almost exhausted the contents. + +Nature mends ordinary nerve waste each day, like the rains replenish the +cistern. + +[Sidenote: Conserve Your Energy.] + +A reasonable use of your nerve force, like a reasonable use of the +rainwater, means you can maintain a permanent supply. But you must be +reasonable; you must give the cistern a chance to refill and replace +that which you have drawn out. + +You, who have shattered and tattered your nerves, are not hopeless. You +can come back, but it must be done by complete change of the acts that +brought on the condition. + +Get more sleep. Eliminate the useless, harmful fads, fancies and +functions which disturbed and prevented you from living a sane, rational +life. + +Avoid extremes, cultivate rhythm and regularity in your business and +your home life. Keep away from excitement. Read really good books. Walk +more, talk less. + +Eat less heat-making foods and more apples. Follow the diet, exercise +and thought rules suggested in "Pep." + +[Sidenote: No Need to Despair.] + +Maybe these lines are being read by a discouraged one who is "all +nerves," which means lost nerve force. To you I say there is hope and +cheer and strength and courage if, right here, now, you resolve to cut +the actions, habits and stunts that knocked you out and follow my +suggestions. + +I know, my friend, for I've trotted the heat, danced the measure, and +been through the mill. + +Now I am fearless, calm and prepared. I can stand any calamity, meet any +issue, endure any sorrow. + +I can do prodigious work in an emergency, go without rest or eating when +required, because I have poise, efficiency--peace. + +[Sidenote: Steer a Middle Course.] + +I realize nothing is as bad as it is painted. Nothing is as good as its +boosters claim. I go in the middle of the road, avoiding extremes. I +have confidence in my heart. Courage, hope, happiness, and content +attend me on my way. + +I've buried envy in a deep pit and covered it with quick lime. + +I am keeping worry out by keeping faith, hope and cheer thoughts in my +brain-room, and these are antiseptics against the ravages of the worry +microbe. + +I have my petty troubles and little make-believe worries, just enough of +them to make me realize I have them licked, and to remind me I must not +let up on my mastery of them. + +Worry growls once in a while just to make me grab tighter the handle of +my whip. + +And you may enjoy this serene state, too. There is no secret about it. I +will gladly give you the rules of the game in this book. Just prepare to +receive some practical, helpful suggestions. + + + + +2. + + +[Sidenote: How to Use Your Assets.] + +You are a busy person, so am I. Busy persons are the ones who do things. +The architect is a busy man, but he has learned that the effort spent in +preparing his plans is the most important part of his work. The plans +enable him to do his work systematically and lay down rules and methods +to get the highest efficiency and accomplishment from those who do the +work of erecting the building. + +If the architect would order lumber, stone and hardware, without system, +and start to erect the building without carefully prepared plans, the +building would lack symmetry and strength, and it would be most +expensive. + +The planning time therefor was time well spent. + +Few persons have the ability to control and conserve their talents so as +to produce the highest efficiency. Men rush along thinking their +busyness means business. Really, it means double energy and extra moves +to produce a given effect. + +[Sidenote: Unnecessary Moves.] + +The elimination of unnecessary moves means operating along lines of +least resistance, and any plan or method that will help to do away with +unnecessary moves and make the necessary moves more potential will be +received with welcome, I am sure. + +With the object of conserving energy and strengthening your force, this +book is written. + +It shall not be a book of ultimate definiteness or a book of exact +science. There are no definite or exact rules that will apply, without +exception, to any science except mathematics. + +But we shall learn many helpful truths, nevertheless, and if I err, or +disagree with your conclusions, just eliminate those lines and take the +helps you find. + +I particularly emphasize the importance of taking a few minutes each +evening and using the time for sizing up things, by inventory, analysis, +speculation, comparison and hypothesis. Many of the great captains of +industry who are noted for their energy in accomplishing things worth +while, have learned the value of this daily habit. + +[Sidenote: Know Thyself.] + +I want to help YOU to form the habit of thinking over each day's +activities in the quiet, relaxed, uncolored, unprejudiced, secluded +environment of your home. When the day's work is over, spend fifteen or +twenty minutes each evening in seclusion, and with closed eyes, size +yourself up. Think over your daily round and the work you are doing. Are +you getting the best out of yourself? Or are you plodding along +aimlessly, scattering your energy in a haphazard, hit-or-miss fashion +that benefits nobody? Are you growing, or are you standing still? In +these fifteen-minute sizing-up sessions, you will come to grips with +yourself. You will see yourself as you really are, and will discover +your weaknesses, your strength, your real worth. + +I have chosen the evening as the time for our little talks. In the +evening we can be cozy, comfy and communicative. The bank is closed. We +met the note and got through the day. We are alive and well; we can open +our hearts. There is no office boy to disturb us, and the life insurance +agent is away at his club. + +Yes, we can be alone and tranquilly let down the tension, lower the +speed and with normal heartbeats play the low tones, the soft strains, +the quieting music, and soothe our nerves. + +All day we've heard the band with its drums and trombones and shrieky +music. The day with its busy whirl kept our analyzing mental think-tank +occupied with thoughts of gain and game and fame. + +In the evening we have time to study logic and to reason, to analyze and +to take inventory, to thresh out problems. + +So let us relax and reflect in the evening quiet. + + + + +3. + + +Man's nature makes it imperative for him to be interested in something. + +That interest is to his help or hurt, according as he directs it. + +There is much worry and misery in the world because so many are astatic, +like a compass that has lost its loadstone. + +Man is definitely the result of the materials the body and the mind feed +upon. + +Character is the result of a determined purpose to be and to do +right--to one's self and to one's fellows. + +The man of character focuses his attention on truth, and on fact. + +[Sidenote: Theory and Fact.] + +He uses theories with fact, to aid his progress, but he recognizes that +theorizing, without fact as a safety ballast, is a useless expenditure. +Theories without fact leave man in a rudderless boat; he gets nowhere, +he merely drifts. + +Theory often helps to get at fact, but the better way is to get at fact +by proven experience, of which there is an inexhaustible abundance in +the world. + +Facts are based on natural laws. The study of natural laws is +beneficial. We shall strive in our studies to keep close to fact with +just enough speculation to enliven the interest in facts. + +Living the artificial life makes for worry, illness and failure. + +Living in harmony with the great natural laws is the helpful way to +live. + +To abide by the law is safety; to violate the law brings punishment. + +Every man is better if he follows scientific methods and habits of +thought and living. + +The loafing or astatic mind will fall into morbid tendencies. + +The employed, truth-seeking, idealistic, hopeful mind is never dependent +on people or things for its pleasure. + +The acquiring of helpful knowledge, the seeking of worth-while truth, +are ever profitable employments, paying present and future dividends, +and meanwhile those acts positively divert the thought from morbid +tendencies. + +I shall strive to bring helpful knowledge, good cheer and interesting +facts for your present occupation and benefit. + +If I succeed in accomplishing my purpose, even in part, my time has been +well spent. + +[Sidenote: Thought Never Stops.] + +We have an unchallenged fact to rest our feet on, a fact that shall +follow us through all the pages of this book, and that is: Our thoughts +never stop, our brains never sleep. So then, we must consider that +thought current, and reckon with it. + +The motive power is turned on, and we must grasp the helm if we sail the +sea of life successfully, baffling storms and avoiding rocks. + +Scientific books are usually dry, uninviting reading; they lack the +human interest. They are generally bloodless skeletons. + +We shall try to weave science into new patterns and paint interesting +pictures, so that science will attract and not repel. + +This book is different in its suggestions, in its prescriptions, in its +language, but it is universal with all scientific books, in that its aim +is helpful truth. + +We go by different routes, but our objective point is the same. + +We will avoid technical names and symbols, and will speak the common +language that the multitude understands. + +We shall deal with problems and aspirations that come to us all in this +busy workaday world. + +We shall try to cut the underbrush in the swamp and blaze a plain trail +out on to the big high road. + +We shall keep in step to the drum-beats of truth, we will rest and +recreate in cool shady places, and then up and on to our purpose with +smiles on our faces, courage in our hearts, and song on our lips. + +Every moment of our journey will be worth while and positively helpful +if we take the trip with conscientious application and continuity of +purpose. + +Our path is strewn with roses and thorns; we must enjoy the roses and +escape the thorns. + +We welcome you, the neophyte, who have joined us in our pilgrimage. + + + + +4. + + +Let's be personal; that's a good way to establish a good idea in place +of a bad one. + +Are YOU pleasant to live with? Keep this personal question before you, +even if you are cocksure that you can answer, yes. + +[Sidenote: Be Pleasant.] + +Maybe there are some little jars, rattles, gratings, you are not aware +of. Few of us are honest when looking for our own faults. There may be +some sand in your gear box. It won't hurt you to keep the personal +question alive for a few days,--"Am I pleasant to live with?" + +I love the pleasant people whether they are fat, lean, tall, short, red +heads, brown heads, homely, handsome, republicans or democrats, business +men or artisans. + +The complaining, unpleasant grouch is like a bear with a toothache. +Miserable himself and spreading misery all around. + +A freckle-faced, red-headed, cross-eyed man with a healthy funny bone +will spread more cheerfulness and sunshine than a bench full of sad and +solemn justices of the supreme court, or a religious conference. + +What a different story would be written of Job, if he had only possessed +a servant who could dance a double shuffle and whistle "Dixie" while +cooking breakfast. + +David was a man after my own heart; he brought gladsome songs into the +world. He said, "Live the way of pleasantness." + +You can pray, sing, play, work, think, rest, hope; you can be well or +ill, rich or poor and still be pleasant to live with. + +[Sidenote: Pleasantness a Tonic Quality.] + +Being pleasant helps you to be strong in body and mind, and it keeps you +young a long time. It's good medicine; I know it. My little motto, "Be +pleasant every morning until ten o'clock, the rest of the day will take +care of itself," has brought sunshine into many homes. + +If you frown it will soon get to be a habit--and give you a heavy heart. +If you smile your face will be attractive, no matter how unlucky you +were in the lottery of beauty. + +Be pleasant and you will never feel old. The pleasant disposition is a +sure route to happy land and happy homes. + +Old Ponce de Leon lost out in searching for the fountain of youth. If +he had been pleasant, he would have kept the smiles on his wife's face +and there would have been no excuse to leave her to find the mythical +fountain. + +Hoe cake, bacon and smiles beat lobster, champagne and frowns. + +Our land is thrice blessed with its peaceful, happy homes--for "happy +homes are the strength of a nation." + +Be pleasant in your home. Make the children feel home is the pleasantest +place in the world. + +Every act and example is written in the child's memory tablet. Let your +hours with the children be loving, laughing, living hours. Pat them on +the head, joke with them, whisper affection, express love to them. Those +acts will be remembered in all their years to come, for you are planting +everlasting plants that may pass on to a hundred generations and make +children happy a thousand years from now. + +[Sidenote: Cheerfulness Its Own Reward.] + +Be pleasant to live with and you will have more pleasant things to live +for. There will be kindnesses, kisses, beauty, health, peace, fun, +happiness and content coming your way all along the great big road of +life you are traveling. + +Be pleasant to live with and the people will turn to you as you pass +and reflect your cheerfulness like the sunflowers turn to face the sun. + +Be pleasant; don't be cross and crabbed because someone else in the +household is not pleasant. Do your part; you will likely thereby cure +the frown habit on the face of the unfortunate disturber of your peace. + +Make yourself right before you criticise your life partner. Answer this +question, "Am I pleasant to live with?" + +Don't fool yourself in the matter. Get right down to brass tacks with +yourself, watch your moves and acts and attitude for ten days carefully +before answering the question. + +If your answer is no, now is your time to change your attitude and try +the pleasant plan, and here is my blessing and good wishes in such an +event. + + + + +5. + + +There is fun and interest and diversion all around us. All we need is +keen observation and we will see much that passes unnoticed to the +preoccupied person. + +What an interesting thing is the great round world we live in! The +people are as interesting as fish in an aquarium. + +[Sidenote: Sitting on the Side Lines.] + +See the rushing, surging crowd. Man pushes along searching for necessary +things to be done; he builds cities, harnesses rivers, makes ships to +sail the seas to the uttermost parts of the earth. Man goes to war, he +builds death-dealing devices that destroy in a few minutes a beautiful +cathedral which has taken centuries to build. + +Man makes the desert blossom like a rose. + +Here is the scientist in his laboratory, trying to unite certain +elements to produce new substance. Here is the beauty in her silken +nest; here the lover; there the musician; yonder the peanut man, and in +the office building is the captain of industry--all busy bees deeply +absorbed in their respective interests, and intoxicated in the belief +that they are important and greatly necessary. + +Yet in the broad measure of ages they are mere ripples on the sea of +time, faint bubbles on the eternal deep, and grains of sand at the +mountain foot. + +Great man by his own measure--minute man by the great measure of time. +Mammoths to the near-sighted--mites to the far-sighted. Hustle and +bustle, crowd and push. They tramp down the weaker brothers in the mad +race after the golden shekels, which are only measures of the ability to +buy and own material things; symbols of power to make others serve you. +These golden shekels which men fret, sweat and fight for, can only buy +physical and material things. + +[Sidenote: A Great Truth.] + +Away from the crowd is the little group who have learned a great truth, +which is that happiness is not to be bought with gold. This little +minority knows that mental pleasures are best, and that mental pleasures +cannot be found on the great highway of material conquest. + +The puffy, corn-fed millionaire pities the man who is content to live +with small means and enjoy what he has to the full extent. + +[Sidenote: Real Happiness.] + +The wise man is he who gets fullness out of life--happiness, respect, +content, freedom from worry; who is busy doing useful things--busy +helping his brother, busy training his children, busy spreading sunshine +and love and the close-together feeling in his home circle. + +The corn-fed, hardened, senseless, money-mad, dollar-worshipper knows +not peace. Smiles seldom linger on his lips. Peace never rests in his +bosom, cheer never lights his face. He is simply a fighting machine, +miserable in solitude, suffering when inactive and sick when resting. + +The money-chaser is up and doing, working like a Trojan, because +occupation takes his mind off the painful picture of his misspent +opportunity and his destroyed natural instinct. When fighting for gold +he forgets his appalling poverty in the really worth-while things in the +world. + +Like the drunkard in his cups, the intoxication makes him forget, and he +is negatively happy. + +Money received as reward for doing things worth-while is laudable. + +We cannot sit idly by and neglect to earn money to provide food, shelter +and education for our loved ones, but between times we should seek the +wealth that comes from right mental employment. + +The millionaire thinks, dreams and gets dollars, and that is all. + +The worth-while man thinks kindness, usefulness, self-improvement, +brotherhood, love and he gets happiness. + +[Sidenote: Doing for Others.] + +The man who discovers means to help his fellow man, does a good act, but +is the man with the dollars in front of his eyes who commercializes the +discovery and invention. In the end, the man that helped mankind fares +better than the man who made the millions. + +It's a great crowd surging by, and very few have the good sense to learn +the value of TO-DAY. That great crowd I see below my window thinks ever +of to-morrow and forgets the wondrous opportunities that to-day holds +out. + +Those who think always of to-morrow will never get the beauties and joys +from life that comes to the little group of To-day, who appreciates and +enjoys the real Now, rather than the pictured To-morrow that never +comes. + +It's mighty interesting to sit on the side lines and watch the crowds go +by and speculate on their movements. + +[Sidenote: The Road to Disillusionment.] + +Save up your pennies, measure everything by the dollar standard, think +dollars, dream dollars, work, slave, push for the dollars and you will +build a fortune. You will never have peace or recreation or joy; you +will live only in hope of a some day when you will retire. That's the +way the millionaires travel life's highway. + +Some day the paper will announce the death of those millionaires, and +then the dollars will be blown in by reckless heirs, and so the grinding +wheels roll on. + +Surely there are many ways of looking at things. Surely there is much of +interest in the crowd. Surely there is an unending amount of thought and +speculation possible about that crowd way down on the street below my +window. + +What passions, what hopes, what joys, what sorrows, are in the hearts of +that hurrying, worrying crowd. + +What noise this din of traffic makes; what activity man has stirred up. + +A picture, a drama, a tragedy, a comedy--all these I see in the human +ants that run along below the hive where I sit and write these lines. + +The phone rings and my little Nancy Lou's voice says, "Daddy, will you +please bring me a pencil and a tablet with lines on it." + +So I must needs stop this, whatever you may call it, and push through +the crowd to get that tablet with "lines on it" for my Nancy Lou; and +there is some feeling of happiness and content and peace in Daddy's +heart as he lays down his pen, for Daddy is going Home, and that word +means a lot in his little family, where they all say "Daddy" instead of +Papa or Father. + + + + +6. + + +[Sidenote: Wasted Energy.] + +It is hard enough to do duty once, but doubly hard when you anticipate +mentally everything you have to do to-morrow. This doing things twice is +a habit easily acquired if you don't watch out, and it means wasted +energy. + +I have just read the experience of a housewife who was resting on a +couch and reading. Her eye caught sight of a book lying on the floor +across the room. + +Instantly her mindometer, if I may coin a word, registered, "When you +get up, pick up that book." + +She went on reading, but her mind was not on the magazine she held, but +on that book on the floor. + +So obsessed did she become that she was miserable until she got up and +picked up the book. + +I was talking with a woman who was resting on her porch. Her day's work +was over. She was dressed for the afternoon. Everything in the home was +neat, sweet, clean and tidy. All was serene but her face, and that was +the window through which I saw worry working overtime. + +By strategy I learned the trouble, and here is her story: "To-morrow a +lot of fruit will be ready to preserve. I am worrying where I shall put +it. My fruit closet is full." + +[Sidenote: Doing Things Twice.] + +The woman had every reason to say to herself, "Sufficient unto the day," +yet she was doing the preserving mentally to-day and to-morrow she would +do the work physically. A tired mind is harder to rest than a tired +body, so we must nip this advance mental work in the bud. + +We have all been mentally obsessed with worrying about the things we +were going to take on our trip; then worrying over the routine of our +work when we should return from our trip. + +If the housewife looks over her week's work and washes the dishes, makes +the beds, cooks the meals, dresses the children, mends the clothes, and +does all these things in her imagination before she does them in +reality, she is indeed a hard working woman. + +It's all right to plan your work; that's economy in mental expenditure, +for it simplifies, systematizes, and saves work. + +[Sidenote: Planning is Efficiency.] + +Plan your work in advance, but do not keep your mind on the plans until +the work is done. When you have planned, then close the mental book of +to-morrow's duty, and turn to pleasures, rest, relaxation and enjoyment +of to-day. + +It is to get a definite, different thought habit fixed that I ask you to +give me these few minutes each day, so that we may consider various +phases of life, science, pleasure, morals and mental refreshment. + +True, we can only have a fleeting look at things, but we'll get enough, +I hope, to freshen your minds, change the humdrum, and elicit interest +in things. Maybe these heart-to-heart, confidential chats will help us +and keep us from going through the mental motions of to-morrow's +physical work. + +If these evening talks interest you, help clear your vision, help cheer +you, help rest you, then they are good for you, and because they help +you, they certainly benefit me and make me very happy, because happiness +comes from doing something for others. + +I write as the mood strikes me, or as a phase of life comes before me, +or as an idea strikes in and just won't let go until I grasp my pen and +let the words flow. + +I mean this book to be human, and not a studied literary effort. + +I want to reach you right there alone in the room where you are reading +this, and I want the suggestions, the good, the help, to soak in, and I +want you to pass the good you get to your brother; you won't lose a bit +by doing so. + + + + +7. + + +"She is all right--her only trouble is her NERVES." How often we hear +that and how little does the person with steady nerves appreciate the +tortures of "nerves." + +[Sidenote: About Nerves.] + +A cut, a bruise, a headache, or any of the physical ailments can be +quickly cured. Nature will mend the break, but tired, worn, stretched, +abused nerves take time to restore. These nerve ailments call for most +vigorous mental treatment. + +Neurasthenia means debilitated or prostrated nerves and it shows itself +first of all by worry. Worry means the inability to relax the attention +from a definite fear or fancied hard luck. Worry leads to many physical +and mental disorders. + +Left alone this worry stage develops into an acute state and brings with +it nervous prostration, and sometimes a complete collapse of the will +power. + +Before the acute stage of neurasthenia is reached, there is noticed +"brain fag," and brain fag is nature's warning signal calling upon you +to take notice and change your mental habits. + +Worry sometimes develops into hysteria; again it takes the form of +hypochondria or chronic blues. The hypochondriac has a chronic, morbid +anxiety about personal health and personal welfare. Frequently this +state is accompanied by melancholia. + +Melancholia is the fork in the road. One turning leads to incurable +insanity, the other to curable melancholia. + +Right here is where heroic action is needed by the sufferer. + +[Sidenote: Cure the Worry Habit.] + +Here is where the sufferer must exert his maximum will power, and change +completely his mental and physical habits and his surroundings. +Occupation, changed habits, taking in of confidence, faith and courage +thoughts--these changes are necessary to the victim of melancholia, or +he will shatter his health on the danger rocks and go to pieces. + +Melancholia is an ailment that offers a good chance for Christian +Science. Mental suggestion, the powerful personality of a friend, and +the personal help such a friend can give by counsel, example and +suggestion, are all helps. + +I have abundant evidence that melancholia sufferers can be restored to +peace, efficiency and poise, by proper thought direction, and by proper +physical employment. + +"Pep," which has principally to do with mental efficiency, definitely +lays down rules and practical suggestions for the employment of the mind +and body. I have letters and verbal proofs in quantity proving the +efficiency of those rules and suggestions. + +So wonderful have been the results, so numerous the recoveries, that the +testimonials, if published, would make the fake nerve tonic manufacturer +die of envy. + +[Sidenote: The Importance of Nerves.] + +"Only your nerves." I cannot understand why the word, only, is used. It +makes it appear that nerves are of minor importance. Nerves are less +understood than anything in the human anatomy and they are harder to +understand. + +Experience has proved that nerves cannot be restored by dope, patent +medicines, tonics or prescriptions. + +The cure must come by and through the individual possessing the nerves, +and by and through the individual's power of will and mastery of the +mind. + +Get the mental equipment right. Let the mind master the body. Let the +nerve sufferer get hold of himself and fill his brain with +faith-thought instead of fear-thought, with courage instead of +cowardice, with strength instead of weakness, with hope instead of +despair, with smiles instead of frowns, with occupation instead of +sluggishness, and wonders will appear. + +The little shredded, tingling nerve-ends will then commence to +synchronize instead of fight, to harmonize instead of breaking into +discord, to build instead of destroy. + +[Sidenote: You Can "Come Back."] + +The building, or coming back to a normal state, is slow; it takes time, +patience and will power, but it can be done. I know. I have been through +the mill, and I pass the word to you and try to stir you to be up and +doing, even as I did. + +Your nerves can be steadied, your thoughts uplifted, your health +restored, your ambition re-established, your normality fixed. + +Smiles, love and content are to be yours. Poise, efficiency, peace, your +blessings. Health, happiness and hope your dividends. All these I +promise you if you will read this book from cover to cover, _think_, and +follow its plain, practical teachings. + +The curriculum is not hard; it is not my discovery. I am merely the +purveyor of facts, the gleaner of truth, and the selector of helpful +experiences, first of all for my own benefit, and having proved the +truth in my own case, for friends to whom I pass the truths and rules. + +I made bold to write books, but the writing has paid me well, not alone +in dollars, but from having done a helpful thing in writing for other +humans who have had problems, worries and nerves. + +The big books on nerves are discouraging and forbidding by their +immensity and the labyrinth of technical, scientific terms. There are +fine for teachers, but discouraging for the layman. + +The great everyday crowd is the class I want to talk to, and so I +endeavor to write in plain human, sincere style from heart to heart, +with understanding, feeling, charity and sympathy. + +I have felt the things you feel, and if I can by example, emphasis, +suggestion, rule or good intent, be a help to you, then I have done a +service. + + + + +8. + + +There are men who cannot be kept down by circumstances or obstacles. + +[Sidenote: The Men Who Do Things.] + +These men "carry on" with confidence in their hearts and smiles on their +faces. They do not lie in wait for the band wagon or favorable winds; +they make things happen. They are alert and alive to every favorable +opportunity and helpful influence that comes their way. + +These men are men of good health. They are out of doors much; they carry +their heads high and breathe in good air deeply. They greet friends with +a smile and put meaning and feeling into every hand clasp. + +Let's you and I follow their trail, for it leads out on to the big road. + +Do not fear being misunderstood; right will finally come into its own. + +We will keep our minds off our enemies, and keep our thoughts on our +purpose; we will make up our minds what we want to do. We will mark a +straight line on the log and hew to that line. + +Fear is the dope drug that kills initiative; hate the poison that +shatters clear thinking. + +Hate and fear are the iron ore in our life's vessel; they deflect the +compass and prevent us from holding to the course. + +[Sidenote: Grasp Present Opportunities.] + +There are splendid worth-while things for us to do, and with continuity +of action and singleness of purpose on our part the days will pass by as +we are seizing opportunity and making use of the things required for the +fulfillment of our desires. We are like the coral insect that takes from +the running tide the material to build a solid fortress. Our running +tide is made up of the gliding golden days. + +Let's waste no time in trying to make friends or in seeking to attach +ourselves to others. True friends are not caught by pursuit; they come +to us; they happen through circumstances we do not create. + +Self-reliance is ours, and we must first use it for our own betterment. +We will then have a surplus of energy to allow us to help others. + +Our energy hours must be devoted to our purposes and ideals. Atween +times, we must rest and relax, and repair the waste that strenuosity +makes. + +Breathe good air, bask in the sunshine, see nature, and say to yourself: +"All these treasures are for me; all these things I am part of." + +[Sidenote: The Joy of Living.] + +Do not prepare for death; prepare for life. Preparing for death brings +the end before your allotted time. Like Job of old, that which we fear +will come to us. We must not think of death, or waste time preparing for +it. It makes us miserable to-day. It makes us weak and fills us with +fear, and it draws the day of our departure nearer. + +To-day is ours. Live freely, fully to-day. Be unafraid, unhurried, and +undisturbed. + +We are building character, and the way we build it is by mental +attitude, by our acts, and by the way we employ the precious moments of +to-day. + +Put yourself in harmony with nature--realize the wonderful power of the +will--and you will be strong, a veritable king among men. + + + + +9. + + +[Sidenote: The Pessimist.] + +The calamity howler is found everywhere. In times of peace or war he is +with us. This pessimist sows seeds of discord, plants envy, generates +the anarchist spirit, and is an all-around nuisance. + +A man may spend years erecting a building; a fiend can demolish it in a +minute with a stick of dynamite. + +The calamity howler is a destroyer; he doesn't think, he spurts out +words. His words and arguments are simply parrot mimicry and void of +intellectual impulse, as are the movements of an angle worm. + +These gloom merchants talk of their rights, and they expect and demand +the same privileges and benefits that are earned by the man who uses his +head. + +The pessimist sees good in nobody. Human nature to him is a cesspool of +villainy and corruption. He will not tolerate a word of praise for a +thing well done. Disparagement is his favorite weapon. He ascribes mean +and selfish motives to public-spirited men. Every deed of kindness, +every act of generosity, is given a sinister meaning when seen in the +light of his own base soul. + +At home he is a grumbler and a grouch. His presence depresses, and +happiness fades away at his approach. + +In the community, he never reaches high office because he lacks civic +spirit and the forward-looking view. He obstructs progress instead of +promoting it. + +At his work, he lags behind where others achieve. He rails at conditions +instead of changing them, and eventually he finds himself shelfed and +shunned as a back number. + +These purveyors of panic eat into the vitals of the nation. They breed +discontent, undermine morale, and sow suspicion and distrust where +previously there had been friendliness, co-operation and the +pull-together spirit. + +Wherever men gather, you will find these ghoulish spirits. They are in +evidence in times of peace and plenty, as well as in times of war and +peril. + +It matters not that our farmers are seeing to it that our granaries are +filled to-day as never before, and that every man has a job. These +prophets of disaster have only one string to their harp, and they will +twang on that and no other. + +[Sidenote: The Danger of Pessimism.] + +In times of war, the pessimist is doubly dangerous, for he spreads his +iniquitous propaganda among people who are already under a great +emotional strain. Always a menace, when a people are in the throes of a +great life-and-death struggle, it is doubly necessary to stamp out this +destroyer of morale, with his insidious campaign of gloom and despair +and his veiled innuendos of panic and destruction. + +It is up to you and to me to denounce these breeders of discord; to hold +them up to the scorn of intelligent, thinking people. They are neither +doers nor thinkers, and the world has no need of them in these trying +times. + + + + +10. + + +This evening I rode home in a crowded street car. What an interesting +study it was to watch the faces in that car. + +Discontent, discomfort, worry, gloominess on nearly every face. Tired +faces, tired bodies drooped over from a hard day's work, mouth corners +depressed. Hopelessness stamped on the countenances. + +[Sidenote: Gloom and Cheer.] + +As the people came in the car, some of them had smiles or at least +passable expressions, but when they got crowded together and saw the +gloomy faces, the gloom spread to their faces, too. At a picnic, all are +smiling and laughing. In the street car at six o'clock, the long +procession of workers is a stream of solemn faces. Contagion, example, +surroundings, yes, that's it--contagion and example. + +At six o'clock in the cars, all is gloom, blueness and sorrow faces. At +eight o'clock many of these faces will be changed; there will be joy, +smiles, rosiness, singing and dancing. Yet the actual conditions of +finance, health, hope or prospects haven't changed since these people +were in the car at six o'clock. + +Why, then, such a change in two hours? + +[Sidenote: Good Cheer Contagious.] + +It is this: At seven o'clock these workers sat down to supper; they were +out of that gloom-reflected street car atmosphere. Now they are talking; +they are rounding-up the day's activities; they are HOME with mother, +sister, brother and the kiddies. The home ones greet them with smiles, +the appetizing supper pleases the palate, good cheer permeates, and all +around them is smiles and joy. + +Gloom spreads gloom. Joy spreads joy. Gloom is black; joy is white. One +darkens, the other brightens. + +Well, then, where's the moral? What's the benefit from this little study +of the street car passengers? + +The lesson is plain: It is that you and I are ferments of joy, or acids +of gloom. We are influences to help or to hurt. To hurt others by our +example hurts us. To help others by our example helps us. We become +happier than ever. + +In the street car, life was not worth living if you judged by the pained +faces. In two hours, by changed thought, the example of life was worth +while. + +What changes mental attitude makes! + + "When a man has spent + His very last cent, + The world looks blue, you bet; + But give him a dollar, + And loud he will holler + There's life in the old world yet." + +Next time we get on the street car, let's plant some smiles. Let's give +that lady a seat and smile when we do it. + +We can spread cheer by merely wearing a cheery face. Costs little, pays +big. Let's do it. + + + + +11. + + +Some of our richest blessings are gained by not striving for them +directly. This is so true that we accept the blessings without thinking +about how we came to get them. + +[Sidenote: Be Happy.] + +Particularly true is this in the matter of happiness. Everyone wants to +be happy, but few know how to secure this blessing. Most people have the +idea that the possession of material things is necessary to happiness, +and that idea is what keeps architects, automobile makers, jewelers, +tailors, hotels, railroads, steamships and golf courses busy. + +Do your duty well, have a worth-while ambition, be a dreamer, have an +ideal, keep your duty in mind, be occupied sincerely with your work, +keep on the road to your ideal, and happiness will cross your path all +the while. + +Happiness is an elusive prize; it's wary, timid, alert and cannot be +caught. Chase it and it escapes your grasp. + +[Sidenote: One Man's Story.] + +I read today of a friend who walked home with a workman. This is the +workman's story: He had a son who was making a record in school. He had +two daughters who helped their mother; he had a cottage, a little yard, +a few flowers, a garden. He worked hard in a garage by day, and in the +evening he cultivated his flowers, his garden, and his family. He had +health, plus contentment a-plenty. His possessions were few and the care +of them consequently a negligible effort. + +Happiness flowed in the cracks of his door. Smiles were on his lips, joy +in his heart, love in his bosom; that's the story my friend heard. + +Then came a friend in an automobile on his way home from the club. He +picked up my friend, and unfolded to him a tale of woe, misery and +discontent. + +This club man had money, automobiles, social standing, possessions, and +all the objects and material things envious persons covet--yet he was +unhappy. His whole life was spent chasing happiness, but his sixty +horsepower auto wasn't fast enough to catch it. + +The poor man I have told you about was the man who washed the club man's +auto. + +The strenuous pleasure seeker fails to get happiness; that is an +inexorable law. He develops into a pessimist with an acrid, satirical +disgust at all the simple, wholesome, worth-while, real things in life. + +This is not a new discovery of mine; it's an old truth. Read +Ecclesiastes, the pessimistic chronicle of the Bible, and you'll learn +what comes to the pleasure-chaser, and you will know about "vanity and +vexation of spirit." + +[Sidenote: Making Others Happy.] + +Do something for somebody. Engage in moves and enterprises that will be +of service to the community and help the uplift of mankind. This making +others happy is a positive insurance and guarantee of your own +happiness. + +You must keep a stiff upper lip, a stiff backbone; you must forget the +wishbone and the envious heart. + +Paul had trials, setbacks, hardships and hard labors; he had defeats and +discouragements and still the record shows he was "always rejoicing." + +Paul was a man of Pep. In the dungeon, with his feet in stocks, he sang +songs and rejoiced. Paul was happy, ever and always, not because he +strove to get happiness, but because he had dedicated his life to the +service of mankind. + +The real hero, the real man of fame, the real man of popularity, doesn't +arrive by setting out on a quest for any of these things; the result is +incidental. + +The real hero forgets self first of all; that is the essential step to +greatness. + +Washington at Valley Forge had no thought that his acts there would +furnish inspiration for a picture that would endure for generations. + +Lincoln, the care-worn, tired, noble man, in his speech at Gettysburg, +never dreamed that that speech would stamp him as a master of words and +thought, in the hearts of his country-men. He thought not of self. He +was trying to soothe wounds, cheer troubled spirits, and give courage to +those who had been so long in shadowland. + +Ever has it been that fame, glory, happiness came as rewards, not to +those who strive to capture, but to those who strive to free others from +their troubles, burdens and problems. + + + + +12. + + +I am often asked: "Are you happy ALL the time?" My answer is no. + +[Sidenote: Continuous Happiness Impossible.] + +A continuous state of happiness cannot be enjoyed by any human. There +are no plans, no habits, no methods of living that will insure unbroken +happiness. Happiness means periods or marking posts in our journey along +life's road. These high points of bliss are enjoyed because we have to +walk through the low places between times. + +Continuous sunshine, continuous warm weather, continuous rest, +continuous travel, continuous anything spells monotony. We must have +variety. + +We need the night to make us enjoy the day, winter to make us enjoy +summer, clouds to make us enjoy sunshine, sorrow to make us enjoy +happiness. + +But, dear reader, mark this: We can be philosophical, and have content, +serenity and poise between the happiness periods. + +When you get blue, or have dread or sorrow, or possess that +indescribable something that makes you feel badly; when you have worry +or trouble, then's the time to get hold of your thinking machinery and +dispel the shadows that cross your path. + +Occupation and focusing your thoughts on your blessings--these are the +methods to employ. + +As long as you dwell upon your imagined or your real sorrows, you will +be miserable and the worries will magnify like gathering clouds in +April. + +[Sidenote: Think Happiness.] + +Change your thoughts to confidence, faith, and good cheer, and busy your +hands with work. Think of the happiness periods you have had, and know +that there are further happiness dividends coming to you. Keep this sort +of thought, and with it, useful occupation, and the sunshine will dispel +your gloomy forebodings and sorrow thoughts like the sun dispels the +April showers, bringing about a more beautiful day because of the clouds +and storms just passed. + +When trouble or sorrows come, sweeten your cup with sugar remembrances +of joys that have been and joys you are to have. + +Envy no one; envy breeds worry. The person you would envy has his +sorrows and shadows, too. You see him only when the sunlight is on the +face; you don't see him when he is in shadowland. + +[Sidenote: Brace Up, Cheer Up.] + +No, dear ones, I, nor you, nor anyone on earth can have complete, +unruffled, continued happiness, but we can brace up and call our reserve +will-power, reason, and self-confidence into action when we come to the +marshy places along the road. We can pick our steps and get through the +mire, and sooner than we believe it possible, we can get on the good +solid ground; and as we travel, happiness will often come as a reward +for our poise and patience. + +My friends say: "You always seem happy," and in that saying they tell a +truth, for I am happy often--very, very often--and between times I make +myself seem to be happy. This making myself "seem to be happy" gives me +serenity, contentment, fortitude, and the very "seeming" soon blossoms +into a reality of the condition I seem to be in. + +You can be happy often, and when you are not happy, just seem to be +happy anyway; it will help you much. + + + + +13. + + +A little child is crying over a real or fancied injury to her body or to +her pride. + +So long as she keeps her mind on the subject she is miserable. + +Distract her attention, get her mind on another subject, and her tears +stop and smiles replace frowns. + +This shows how we are creatures of our thoughts. "As a man thinketh in +his heart, so is he" is a truth that has endured through the centuries. + +We are children in so far as we cry and suffer when we think of our ills +or hurts or wrongs or bad luck. + +We can smile and have peace, poise and strength if we change our +thoughts to faith, courage and confidence. + +[Sidenote: Fear-Thought and Faith-Thought.] + +Our condition is what we make it. If we think fear, worry and misery, we +will suffer. If we think faith, peace and happiness, we will enjoy life. +Every thought that comes out of our brain had to go in first. The kind +of thoughts we have afford an indication of the kind of people we are. + +If we feed our brain storehouse with trash and fear and nonsense, we +have poor material to draw from. + +[Sidenote: Thought Control.] + +The last thought we put in the brain before going to sleep is most +likely to last longest. So it is our duty to quietly relax, to slow +down, to eliminate fear-thought and self-accusation, and to substitute +some good helpful thought in closing the mental book of each day. + +Therefore read a chapter or two from a worth-while book the last thing +before going to bed. + +Say to yourself, "I am unafraid; I can, I will awake in the morning with +smiles on my face, courage in my heart, and song on my lips." + +These suggestions for closing the day will be of instant help to you. + +The great power for good--the wherewith to give you strength, progress +and efficiency--is within yourself and at the command of your will. + +You can't think faith and fear, good and bad, courage and defeat, all at +the same time. + +You can only think one thing at a time. + +Your great power is your will, and the wherewith to help yourself is +your thought habit. + +Change your thought habit as you go to bed. You can do it; it's a matter +of will determination. The more faithful you are to your purpose, the +easier your task will be. Be patient, conscientious, rational and +confident. + +You are what your thoughts picture you to be. Your will directs your +thoughts. + +Don't get discouraged if you can't suddenly change your life from shadow +to sunshine, from illness to wellness. + +Big things take time and patience. The great ship lies in the harbor +pointed North. A tug boat could make a sudden pull and break the great +chain or tow line. + +Yet you could take a half-inch rope and with your own hands turn the +great ship completely around by pulling steadily and patiently. The +movement would be slow, but it would be sure and you would finally +accomplish your purpose. + +Don't jerk and fret and be impatient with yourself. You have been for +years perhaps worrying and thinking fear-thoughts. You have put a lot of +useless and harmful material in your brain. + +You can't clean all your brain house in a day or a week, but you can do +a little cleaning each day. + +You can take the faith-rope of good purpose and start to pull gently, +and finally you will turn your whole life's character toward the port of +success. + +The great crowd worries; only the few have learned the power of the +will, and the benefits to be derived from mental control. + +Business and social duties call for strong men and woman. You can't +reach mastership if you remain a slave. + +Your first duty is to yourself, and success or failure is your reward +exactly in proportion as you exercise your will power and handle your +thought habits. + + + + +14. + + +[Sidenote: The Best Medicine.] + +The doctors are giving less medicine and doing more in the way of +suggesting diet and exercise rules, sanitation and preventive practices. +Medicine is mostly poison and its effect is to shock the organs or +glands to bring about reaction. Nature makes the cure. + +In emergency drugs are all right, but the doctor and not the individual +should settle the matter of what drug to use and the proper time to use +it. + +When there's a pain or disease, it's due to congestion of some organ, to +infection, or to improper nourishment, or improper habits. + +Ninety per cent of aches, pains and ailments can be cured by a dominant +mental attitude and by proper attention to eating and exercise. + +The habitual medicine user is not cured by the medicine but by nature; +the medicine simply serves as a means to establish mental control and to +create confidence in the sufferer that he is to get well. + +Recently I spent much time in a large hospital visiting a relative who +had been operated on. I know several members of the staff of doctors and +nurses. + +I have seen many operations, some very heroic ones, and my appreciation +of the good work of good surgeons is greatly augmented by the wonderful +helps I have seen them bring to suffering humanity. + +I have talked with scores of patients and watched the progress of their +cases. + +I have by plausible logic, mental suggestion, and good cheer to the +hospital patients, brought many a smile through a mist of tears. + +I have seen the wonderful results of mental suggestion to the +discouraged patients. + +To show the effects that faith-thought will produce, I will relate some +instances. + +[Sidenote: Mental Sickness.] + +One patient screaming for a hypodermic injection to relieve her pain was +given an injection of sterilized water and the pain vanished. Another +just could not sleep without her bromide. The nurse fixed up a powder of +sugar, salt and flour; the patient took the powder and went to sleep. +That was mind control and mental longing satisfied. + +Another patient had to take something to stop her pains; she got +capsules of magnesia. The capsule satisfied her longing, established her +faith and gave her relief; the relief was through her mind and not +through the capsule. + +[Sidenote: Changing Thought Direction.] + +I have seen several weary, despondent patients fretting and wearing +themselves out over their so-called weakness and run-down condition. I +have placed copies of "Pep" in their hands and watched courage, faith, +cheer and serenity come to them. It diverted their minds from +self-thought and self-accusation to faith-thought, confidence and +courage. + +You can think of only one thing at a time, and "Pep" or any other book +that can change the thought habit from fear to faith, from worry to +peace, is doing a service. + +I've been in shadowland in the hospital to see for myself the actual +help that mental control will bring to sufferers, and the evidence is +far above my powers to describe. + +I've seen the patient's eyes brighten up when the cheery surgeon came +with hope, smiles and confidence on his face. + +I've seen the drooping of spirits when well-meaning but poor-expressing +friends came into the patient's room and condoned and sorrowed with +him. + +Verily, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." + +Verily, good cheer and good thought are good medicines. + +And to these truths all good doctors say "Amen!" + + + + +15. + + +[Sidenote: The Pill Fiend.] + +How often we see the pill fiend. In his vest pocket he has a small +apothecary shop--a collection of round paste-board boxes and little +bottles. Every little while he dopes himself. If his stomach is on a +strike, he pops in a pill. If his head aches, he takes a tablet. If he +sneezes, he takes a cold-cure pill. + +When anyone around speaks of a pain or ache, he hands the person a pill. + +The pill eater is a hypochondriac, and very likely his doctor knows it. +His salvation is that the doctor probably gives him harmless stuff in +pill form. The patient doesn't know this, and it's like a rabbit's foot +or a piece of pork rubbed on a wart--it satisfies the mind and nature +makes the cure. + +Often, however, the pills are not innocent; the pill fiend buys the +tablets and pills direct from the druggist. The headache tablet is most +likely one of the coal tar drugs like acetanilid, and that is positively +harmful when taken too often. + +There are times to take pills--in cases of emergency, when you can shock +nature with a poison and bring a wholesome reaction. + +These times are rare, and the doctor should be the sole judge as to when +such treatment is necessary. + +Exercise, diet, correct habits of living will prevent the congestion and +clogging-up that causes illness and pain. + +[Sidenote: A Dangerous Habit.] + +The pill habit is nothing less than a drug habit, and the drug habit +positively weakens the system. The headache tablet does not cure the +headache; it only stops the pain; the evil is still there. The headache +is merely nature's signal that something is out of whack. + +Headaches are generally caused by stomach disorders, eye strain, or +neuralgia; the latter in turn is caused by too much uric acid in the +system. + +Eat fruit, drink plenty of water, and that will flush the system and +stop stomachic headache. + +See the optician if it's eyes. If you have a frequent headache in the +forehead, very likely it's the eyes, even though you do not suspect it. + +If it's neuralgia, get a corrective diet from the doctor. + +I know scores of men, and women, too, who take pills enough to kill a +person. Their systems have been educated up to it; they are saturated +with poison. + +And the worst of it is they never get well while taking the pills; it is +only a temporary deadening of the pain. + +Then, there are many who take pills to make them sleep. That's a crime. +It's self-murder by slow degrees, for they are surely shortening their +lives by this poison dope pill habit. + +[Sidenote: Nature, the Curer.] + +Mark this: Nature, and Nature alone, effects cures, and it's in very, +very few instances that a poison pill can be used to advantage. You can +keep well by getting good air, good water, good sunshine, good food, +good exercise, good rest, good cheer and good thought. That is what I +call my golden prescription, and it will do wonders for you, and every +doctor will tell you so. + +Pills kill, if you keep up the habit. There are no two ways about it. I +say positively and knowingly that this pill habit is absolutely life +shortening. + +Don't try to argue; the evidence is unshakable on this point. + +If you could have seen the derelicts in the hospitals that I have, if +you could have seen the wretched bodies, destroyed nerve systems, the +broken-down, emaciated, hopeless shells of men and women addicted to the +baneful pill habit, you would be as positive as I am that pills kill if +you keep up the habit. + +Life is sweet and precious to us all. Do not shorten it by taking pills +and tablets for every ache or pain. Try nature's way. Realize that +mental suggestion and will-power will drive away most pains or temporary +aches. + +Brace up, cheer up; chuck the pills in the garbage can. + + + + +16. + + +[Sidenote: Two Kinds of Pleasures.] + +There are two principal kinds of pleasures that man seeks; one is +material pleasures, and about ninety-nine per cent of the human family +devote themselves to these. The remainder--the one per cent--seek mental +pleasures, and this little group is the one that gets the real, lasting, +satisfying and improving pleasures out of life. + +The material pleasures are the social pleasures of eating, displaying, +possessing, and so forth. Material pleasures generate in the human the +desire for fluff, feathers, and four-flushing. + +Material pleasures accentuate the desire to possess things, and in the +strife for possession, hearts are broken, fortunes wasted, nerves +shattered, and the finer sentiments calloused. + +The homes where material pleasures abound are the ones where worry, +neurasthenia and nervous prostration abound. + +Material pleasures are merely stimulants for the time being, and there +always come the intermittent reflexes of gloom and depression. + +The desire to show off, to excite envy in others, is always present at +the homes where material pleasures are the rule. + +Material pleasures call for crowds. Mental pleasures are best enjoyed in +solitude. + +The material pleasure-seeker lives a life of convention, engagements, +routine, strain, and high tension. + +[Sidenote: Mental Pleasures Are Best.] + +The person who is so fortunate as to appreciate and follow mental +pleasures is serene, natural, happy and content. A cozy room, loved ones +around, music, books, love and social conversation--those are mental +pleasures; those are best. He who can pick up a book and read things +worth while, gets satisfaction unknown to those whose life is a round of +banquets, theaters, dances, automobiles, parties, bridge, clubs and +society doings. + +When you spend the evening playing cards, the chances are you come home +late, and when you retire, it takes perhaps an hour or so before you +fall to sleep. + +And during the night you dream of cards, of certain hands, of certain +circumstances, or certain persons who were prominent in the evening's +game. + +The reason you do not go to sleep after an exciting evening is that you +have set your nerve carburetor at high tension and have forgotten to +lower it before you go to sleep. + +[Sidenote: Good Reading.] + +On the other hand, when you have been reading a restful book, full of +good thought, you establish an equilibrium, a relaxed state of nerves, +and particularly, you have switched the current or direction of your +day's thoughts. That change spells rest, and you retire and go to sleep +easily. + +You will scarcely believe what a wondrous change for the better you will +notice in yourself if you make it a rule to have a brain clearing, +mental inventory, and nerve relaxation every night before you go to +sleep. + +Your brain works at night always; oft-times you have no remembrance of +your dreams, but if your last hour, before retiring, was an hour of +excitement, tension or unusual occupation, you will likely go over it +all again in your dreams. + +If you will let nothing prevent your evening period of soliloquy, you +will establish your mental habits into a rhythm that will give you +peace, rest and benefit. + +In the olden days, when most families had evening worship or family +prayers, the members of those households slept soundly and restfully. + +Particularly was this so because of the habit formed of getting the mind +on peaceful, helpful, comforting, soul-satisfying thoughts that remained +fresh on the brain tablets as the members of the home circle went to +sleep. + +Too often the books read in the home circle are all of the exciting, +fascinating, highly colored imaginative type. People read stories of +love, adventure or crime, and they dream these same things almost every +night. + +I have found that it pays to read two classes of literature in the same +evening. First read your novel, story, or fascinating book, but fifteen +minutes before you are ready to go to sleep, read some good, wholesome, +helpful, uplifting book, and that good stuff will be lastingly filed +away in your brain. + +[Sidenote: What to Read.] + +Finish your evening with books that are interesting, yet educational. +Such books as "Life of the Bee" by Maeterlinck, or any one of Fabre's +wonderful books on insect life; "Riddle of the Universe" by Haeckel; +Darwin's books; Drummond's "Ascent of Man;" "Walks and Talks in +Geological Fields" is a splendid mental night cap; "Power of Silence;" +"Physiology of Faith and Fear;" Emerson's "Essays;" Holmes' "Autocrat +of the Breakfast Table;" "Rubaiyat" of Omar Khayyam; Tom Moore's Poems; +"Plutarch's lives;" Seneca; Addison; Bulwer Lytton; Hugo; Carlyle's +"Sartor Resartus." This latter book will not fascinate you like +Carlyle's "French Revolution," but you will learn to love its fine +language, its fine analysis of character, of times, and of things. + +[Sidenote: What You Gain.] + +There are countless books of the good improving kind. Always save one of +them for your solid reading, after you have read light literature or +novels. If you will get the habit, you will notice great benefits and +rapid advancement in your mental equipment. You will sleep better, think +clearer; you will learn to enjoy mental pleasures more than material +pleasures. + +Fifteen minutes, then, to be yours, yours alone, in which you quiet, +soothe, strengthen and pacify yourself and add abundant resources and +assets. + +Let the last reading in the evening be something worth storing up in +that precious brain of yours, and the good, worth-while deposit will +grow and produce beautiful worth-while mental fruit. + +[Sidenote: Don't Overdo It.] + +Get the home reading habit. Don't overdo it. Call on friends; go to a +good picture show once in a while, to good concerts, to good plays, but +do not make this going-out-in-the-evening-plan a habit. Let it be merely +a dessert, or a rarity. Like candy and ice cream, it is proper and +enjoyable when it is not overdone. + +The lover of books and home can enjoy the play, because he only goes to +plays worth while, and he doesn't overdo it. + +The confirmed theater-goer is a pessimist; he roasts nearly every play, +and he is universally bored. + +When you get started reading worth-while books on science, on history, +on geography, on travel, on natural history, you tap an inexhaustible +field of pleasure and satisfaction. + +At any time, you can pick up your book and be happy. + +Waits in railway stations will be opportunities; trips on trains will be +pleasant; evenings alone will be enjoyable, if you can get into a book +you like. + +Mental pleasures are best. + +Material pleasures are merely passing shadows--to be enjoyed for the +brief moment before they disappear. + + + + +17. + + +[Sidenote: Verbomania.] + +The malady Verbomania is spreading rapidly. What's that? You have never +heard of Verbomania? Well, then, it's taken from _verbosus_, the Latin +word meaning "abounding in words," the using of more words than is +necessary. _Mania_, also Latin, means "to rage"--excessive or +unreasonable desire. Therefore, Verbomania is the excessive desire to +use more words than are necessary. + +There is too much talk nowadays and too little thinking. Some persons +start their gab carburetors, and they talk and talk mechanically, +without any effort spent in thinking. Just like walking, the motion just +goes by itself. + +Scientists have suggested that perhaps too much talking without thinking +is a disease. I don't see that there is any _perhaps_ about it. Disease +is an unnatural condition--a function of the mind or body out of its +natural order of working. + +We know we can sit down and run ideas through our brain without words, +and we can use a lot of words without ideas. + +You have read whole pages in a book without receiving an idea. One can +rattle off words and not have ideas. When the fountain of words flows in +a desert of ideas, it's Verbomania. + +[Sidenote: Think More, Talk Less.] + +People in all walks of life have the disease; they talk together too +much without any reason other than to take up time or make themselves at +ease. Pink teas, receptions and society functions are great rookeries +for these Verbomania birds to gather and indulge in their gabfest. + +The pianist through long practice is able to play a difficult +composition without thinking about it; it's automatic; it's habit in +action. + +The society dodo bird is just as dexterous in spinning words without +thought, as the pianist with his difficult piece. + +Our rapid mode of living, our conventions and customs are responsible +for much of the Verbomania. + +I should like to take my Dictophone to a fussy "afternoon" and record +the word evacuations, the footless conversation, the forced +pleasantries, the set sentences that mingle into a hum and buzz. A +wilderness of words in a barrenness of ideas. + +This abuse of the use of speech makes headaches, weariness, worry, +unrest; it saps strength, lowers pep, and lessens resistance. + +The cure for Verbomania is to keep away from these butterfly buzz bees; +put the clothes-pin of caution on your lips; spend more time alone with +your thoughts. Nourish your idea plants that have been starved; prune +your word plants. + +Don't expose yourself to the crowds where the Verbomaniacs gather. The +disease is contagious; it's easy to acquire and hard to retire. + +These are ideas put in type to convey a truth for the benefit of all who +read these lines, and it is some truth, too. + + + + +18. + + +Love builds homes, gold builds houses. The home has a mongrel dog which +is called Prince, and all the family love it. The house had a pedigreed +bull pup that is kept in the barn. + +[Sidenote: House and Home.] + +There is all the difference between the family which has a home and the +family which has a house. In houses we find broken hearts, worry, +nervous prostration, because there is idleness, artificiality and +aimlessness. In homes we find warm hearts, happiness and love, because +those in the home have natural, helpful occupation. + +In the house is cold reserve; the occupants read when compelled to stay +indoors; they grow crabbed and cross and get into a state of habitual +dumbness and selfishness. + +In the home there is unselfishness, thoughtfulness, and love expressed. +Meal time is joy time; it's the get-together period of smiling faces. + +In the house the breakfast table is merely a lunch station in the +hurried trip from the bedroom to the office. + +The sensitive wife of the house gets stinging remarks that abide with +her after the lord and master of the house has departed. + +[Sidenote: What Makes Home.] + +In the home the family gets up plenty early enough. Songs and jokes, +kisses and love pats are found; the family is on time, and there is +happiness all around. Homes are sweet, because love is present. Houses +built by gold are just hotels. + +I've noticed the difference when a friend invites me to come to his home +or to his house; the word he uses, home or house, indicates to me what I +will find when I go there. + +In the house I meet a maid or butler at the door. I see conventional +furniture, conventional rooms. I am shown into a conventional waiting +room, and I wait conventionally for the hostess to come forward with a +stiff backbone, a forced smile, and a languid handshake. + +When I go to a home built with love, I find a tidy dressed wife at the +door, rosy children, and I get a warm, old-fashioned hand clasp, and a +beaming, smiling face that spells welcome. + +And the dinner--that, too, tells the difference between the +"depend-on-the-cook" establishment and the "wife-who-is-the-boss" home. + +At the house is formality and frigidity; at the home is ease and +enjoyment. The children of the home make breaks and we love them for it; +it's natural instinct and frankness. + +In the house is worry; in the home is happiness. + +Verily, there's a difference in the atmosphere of the house built with +gold and the home built with love; one is worthless existence, the other +worth-while living. + + + + +19. + + +[Sidenote: Seven Simple Health Suggestions.] + +I haven't space in this book to give reasons or show proofs for +everything I suggest, but I want right here to give you a few definite, +short, positive, helpful rules about food, thought, habit and exercise +that will pay you the most wonderful dividends in health and happiness. + +First--Drink two or three glasses of warm, not hot, water, the first +thing when you arise in the morning. + +Second--Repeat this resolve as you are drinking the water: "I will be +pleasant this morning until ten o'clock, and the rest of the day will +take care of itself." + +Third--Walk to your office or place of business, unless it is over four +miles, in which case walk the first three miles and ride the remainder +of the distance. + +Fourth--Eat one or two apples every day, and do not insult Nature's +proper adjustment by peeling the apple. You want the skin because it has +things in it you need for your body, and especially for your brain, and +you have especial need of the roughage the skin gives. + +[Sidenote: Get Enough Sleep.] + +Fifth--Spend eight or nine hours a day in bed. I belong to the +sixty-three hour club; that means nine hours a day rest, seven days in a +week, which is sixty-three hours. If, through business, travel or other +circumstances, I stay up late one or two nights a week, I balance books +before the week is up by taking a rest on Sunday afternoon or going to +bed earlier one or two nights. + +Sixth--Don't stay in bed Sunday morning. It will make you tired, loggy, +stupid and cross. Get up Sunday, say, a half hour or an hour later than +week days. Later in the day take a nap if you wish. + +Seventh--Spend fifteen minutes just before going to bed in quiet, +relaxed solitude. This is the time to slow down your tension, relax your +muscles and soothe your nerves. + +These rules you can easily remember and if you follow them as I hope you +will, the red blood will course in your veins and joy will be in your +countenance and the halo of happiness will be around your face. + + + + +20. + + +Every once in a while the human has a negative day. Every act, thought, +or spoken sentence has a but, a don't, a can't, or some other negative +attachment to it. + +[Sidenote: The Negative Attitude.] + +The children laugh, play and cut up in the morning, and mother says: "I +don't know what I shall do with you, you are just wearing me out." This +puts a fear-thought and a weakness-germ both in mother and the kiddies. + +On Sunday afternoon the family is resting. Mother maybe gets the blues, +and says: "What's the use, I never get anywhere, go any place; it's just +grind, work and worry all the time." + +Mother worries because there's a leak in the roof and the water stained +the paper in the spare room. She worries because she lives in a rented +house, and says: "I have no heart to fix things up because this is a +rented house." + +This negative thought brings on a misery state; it's worry, and the +worry comes because you dwell on the off side of things. You rehearse +your problem, you go over your work, you count your obstacles, and you +pile up the negative and fear thoughts. + +Bless you, my dear sister, I know what this negative can't, don't, but, +and what's-the-use thought is and how it brings misery. I know how the +children get on your nerves and make you say "don't" all day to them. + +[Sidenote: Show Your Positive Side.] + +There's only one way to drive out this negative thought and that is to +switch your will power to the positive current. Next time you have a +negative day and the fear thoughts come, just start in one by one and +count your blessings of health, blessings of home, and blessings of +love. + +Nothing can hurt you. You've been through these negative days time and +time again; the clouds gathered, you were blue, lonesome, homesick and +heartsick, but next day you got busy with work, and occupation drove +away the clouds, and the sunshine came. The next Sunday you get in this +negative state, just put on your hat and go out to see some neighbor, or +go to the park, or take a walk. + +Don't sit and stew and fret over your magnified troubles. + +Let the children play and laugh; they are not hurting anyone. God bless +them. They don't have worries; their little lives are all too short. +Their example of smiles and laughter should make you happy. Soon, too +soon, they will grow up and go their ways in life and how precious will +be the memories of their carefree, golden, happy childhood days. + +Cut out envy; that's a mighty bad negative wire. It's the devil's +favorite food to make worry and discontent. + +[Sidenote: Envy Makes Worry.] + +Many of the people you envied in the past are dead and buried. Many of +the people you envy now are at heart miserable, and you wouldn't envy +them if you could look through the artificial outside and know their +real hidden thoughts and lives. + +"What's-the-use"--that's a bad thing to say; it plants worry seed. + +You are all right; you have far more blessings than sorrows. You can +never be entirely free from troubles, care or little irritations. + +Rise superior to these things; those around you are affected by and +susceptible to your influence and example. + +If you have a "but," an "if" or a "don't" tied to every command to your +children, they will recognize your uncertainty and your negative, +hurtful attitude, and they will take your threats, as well as your +promises, with a grain of salt. + +Be careful in giving commands; don't put a Spanish bit in the children's +mouths to jerk them and torture them. + +Be positive, make your promises and orders stick, and the kiddies will +soon know you mean what you say. + +[Sidenote: Exposing Your Weakness.] + +These negative "driving me crazy" attachments to your commands spell +weakness, and make you drive, cajole and spin out your orders, and the +children hesitate and are slow to obey. Let them see your positive side. +Let them learn to obey with a "yes, mamma" spirit, and your orders will +be less frequent, shorter, and they will be obeyed on the instant. + +The kiddies learn to size you up, mamma, and if they see a wobbly, +worried, despondent, unsure attitude in you, they will discount your +threats and make allowances, saying: "That's mamma's way." + +Don't show your cry side but show your smile side. + +Sunday is a great trial day for you, mamma, but don't let your negative +wires get the best of you. + +Sing as you make the beds and tidy up; let sunshine in and drive out the +gloom. + +Blue Sundays are horror days for the children; you can't expect them to +sit still like older folks. They are full of red blood and active +muscles. + +Don't make Sunday a day of punishment to your children. They get their +cue from you. Don't you be negative and cross and gloomy. It's bad +business for you and all the family. + + + + +21. + + +The benefits of walking are so quickly apparent that I hope to get you +to make the start and keep it up for two weeks. Then you will require no +further urging. + +[Sidenote: The Best Exercise.] + +In walking, there are two most important things to do in order to get +the greatest benefits: first--walk alone; second--walk your natural +gait. So many people tell me they would like to walk all, or part of the +way, between their home and office if they had company. + +Company is the very thing you don't want in walking, and there are two +reasons for this. One is, if you walk with a friend, you will hold +yourself back, or else you will be walking faster than your natural +gait. In either case it is a conscious effort, and this conscious +effort, to a large degree, will cause you to lose much of the benefit +from your walk. + +The most important reason, however, is that if you walk with a friend, +you are sure to talk, and thus you are using your nervous energy and +tiring your brain--the very thing you want to avoid. + +[Sidenote: Walk, Not Talk.] + +Walking gives you physical exercise which is absolutely necessary for +health. It is the best exercise I know of, because you do not overdo +your strength. Walking is beneficial, because when you walk alone, you +give your brain a rest. You cannot read the papers, you cannot talk, and +your mental apparatus gets complete rest. + +I recommend that you walk anywhere from three to four miles in the +morning. If your home is more than four miles from the office, walk +three or four miles of the distance and then take the car. + +Do not walk home in the evening unless the walk is a short one. In the +evening you are tired, and you should conserve your strength. In the +morning you are fresh, and the exercise comes to you at a time it is +most needed. It will give you strength and courage, and help to keep you +in a good mood all day. + +I cannot too strongly emphasize the importance of walking alone, for it +is then that you shift your nerve energy from the dry cell battery of +the brain to the magneto, which is the spinal cord. The spinal cord +works automatically and it doesn't wear itself out. The brain tires if +it uses its energy. + +In walking you use the thought and the brain impulse to start the +magneto, and then the spinal cord action is automatic. + +This automatic action of the spinal cord is a wise provision of nature +to conserve strength. + +The spinal cord energy is what you might call automatic habit. + +For instance, in dressing and undressing yourself, you will recall that +you put on or take off your clothes in regular order without giving the +matter any thought. It is just habit. + +If you wish to demonstrate the difference between the control of the +physical body by brain impulse, and the spinal cord impulse, try this +some morning: Start out for your exercise and mentally frame sentences +like this as you walk--"right step, left step, right step, left step," +and so on. Give thought to each step you have taken, and notice how +tired you will be when you have gone half a mile. + +The next morning, start to walk naturally; give no thought to walking; +keep your mind on the beauties of nature which you are passing, or +indulge in pleasant soliloquy, and you will feel no fatigue. + +There isn't a bit of theory in this chapter; it is positive, practical +sense that I have proved by my own experiences and by the experiences of +everyone to whom I have made this suggestion of walking alone. + +The moral is this--walk every morning and walk ALONE. + + + + +22. + + +The body is made up of billions of little cells. These individual cells +are in a state of perpetual activity. They exhaust, wear away, break +down with work, and rebuild on food and rest. Every process of life--the +beat of the heart, the throb of the brain in thought, the digestion of +food, the excretion of waste--all are due to the activity of groups of +highly specialized individual cells. + +[Sidenote: Body Waste.] + +Every cell uses up its own material and throws off poisonous by-products +during activity. These by-products, or wastes, are very poisonous to the +individual cell as well as to the entire organism. To get rid of this +waste is one of the first duties of the system. + +It is with the body, made up of its countless millions of individual +cells, just as it is with a city and its myriad people: the sewage of +the community must be collected and disposed of. The city forms its +poisons which we call sewage and the body its poisons, which we call +excreta (or carbonic acid, urea, uric acid, faeces, etc.). It is no +more important for a city to gather up and get ride of its poisonous +sewage than for the animal organism to collect and excrete its +cell-waste. Hence, the importance of maintaining normal and constant +elimination throughout the body. + +[Sidenote: Health's Safety-First.] + +Elimination is kept up by the alimentary tract, the kidneys, the skin, +and the lungs. These four are the great pipe-line sewerage systems, so +to speak, by which the body throws off its gaseous, liquid and solid +poisons. + +The lungs momentarily strain carbonic acid out of the blood and throw it +out in the expired air. They likewise exhale other noxious matters from +the system. + +The alimentary tract throws off faeces, made up of the waste tissue from +the whole system, especially the digestive organs, as well as +indigestible and non-nutritious portions of the food. + +The kidneys strain out urea, uric acid, and certain other poisons from +the blood and eject them through the urinary tract. + +Finally the skin likewise is an excretory organ and exhales a very +definite amount of gaseous and fluid waste in the course of each +twenty-four hours. + +The skin throws off all the way from a pint to two quarts of liquid +each day in the form of vapor. + +[Sidenote: Proper Functioning.] + +Thus, to carry on normal elimination from the body, the breathing, +digesting, urinary and cutaneous systems must be kept working normally. +To impair the work of any of these is to retard bodily drainage. To make +certain that elimination is going on naturally, it is necessary to +secure perfect functioning of lungs, bowels, kidneys and the skin. + +Any stoppage in the process of elimination means that some fault has +crept into the work of one of these excretory systems. It must be plain +now why a disorder of any one of these organs of elimination means so +much more profound disturbance to the whole organization than merely +disease in one structure. It means that waste products are retained +which ought to be thrown out of the body; so straightway every cell in +the body begins to be more or less affected. Some poisons disturb one +organ more and some another, but in the end the whole body must +inevitably be affected. + +Lack of exercise, bolting of food, eating soft, starchy things, failure +to chew properly, failure to get enough roughage, insufficient water, +insufficient fruit--these are the general causes of stoppage in the +elimination processes. + +Drink one or two glasses of warm water, not hot, the first thing in the +morning. + +Eat one or two apples, skins and all, every day. Eat toast, especially +the crust. Eat cracked wheat or whole wheat bread often. + +Exercise plenty. Keep cheerful. Eat regularly. + +Very likely you eat too much. You don't need three big meals a day +unless you work outdoors at hard physical labor. + +Your body is an engine. No use to keep the boiler red hot and two +hundred pounds of steam on if your work is light. + +Good health depends upon proper assimilation and elimination as nature +intended. + +Eat less, exercise more, you who work indoors. If you don't use this +caution, you are just slowly killing yourself. + + + + +23. + + +[Sidenote: Never Say "Can't."] + +Many have the habit of keeping their minds on their weaknesses or their +shortcomings. If they read of some one doing a great thing or making a +worth-while accomplishment, they say: "I never could do such a thing." + +These persons are always saying, "I never have luck. I can't do this. I +can't do that." + +Always knocking, always thinking "can't" instead of "can" makes for +fear, irresoluteness, uncertainty and weakness of character. + +To say, "I can't, I haven't the ability, I am unlucky" makes you weak +and knocks out all chance for doing things. + +Nothing comes out of the brain that wasn't burned in by thought. If you +disparage yourself, belittle your capacity, or drown your good impulses +with doubt and self-accusation, you are putting away a lot of bad +thought in your brain, and no wonder you will lack in initiative, +ambition, confidence and courage. + +To those who claim to be unlucky, I want to say you are not +unlucky--you simply lack pluck. + +You start at undertakings with a handicap of fear. You have made up your +mind that you can't accomplish. You are half beaten before the game +starts. In place of the will to achieve, you approach your task in fear +and trepidation. In place of confidence and courage and high +aspirations, you set out on your journey with the millstone of doubt and +irresolution around your neck. + +[Sidenote: Confidence and Success.] + +There is but one way to succeed. That is to cast fear and +self-accusation aside, and throw your full weight into the struggle with +a song on your lips and confidence in your heart. "Victory" should be +your battlecry and "Confidence" should be emblazoned on your shield. + +Many a man has been whipped in a fight, defeated in a contest, or beaten +at an undertaking, but he didn't show it or let the other fellow know +it. He just kept on with a brave front, and finally the other fellow +quit, mistaking grim determination, pluck and perseverance for strength +and victory. + +Ethan Allen with his handful of men were asked to surrender by the +British general with his superior force. By all the rights and rules of +war, Ethan was licked, but he didn't give in. He replied: "Surrender +h--ll; I've just commenced to fight." If Ethan had accused himself and +said, "I can't whip that big bunch; there's no hope," he would have been +whipped to a finish. + +Don't show the enemy or the world your weakness. Don't admit anything +impossible that is capable of accomplishment. + +It's the "I can" man who wins. No man ever won a fight if he started out +by saying, "I can't whip him, he is too much for me; I am no match for +him, but I'll try." + +No person ever made success in business if he started in with +uncertainty, lack of confidence and unbelief in his ability. Confidence +has ever been half the battle. + +[Sidenote: The World's Judgment.] + +Knock yourself, and the world will accept you at your own estimate. Show +streaks of yellow cowardice, and the mob will pounce on you like a pack +of hungry wolves. Accuse yourself, curse your luck, belittle your worth, +be afraid, and you will remain a mere bump on a log, unnoticed, +uninteresting, uninvited. + +The world welcomes men who do things. The world judges by outward +appearances. If your heart is sick, if your courage is low, don't show +it. Put up a stiff attitude and act with confidence, and that attitude +will carry you over many a pitfall and past many an obstacle. + +Show strength and the world will help you; show weakness and the world +will shun you. + +You are prejudiced when it comes to judging yourself. You compare your +weakness with your friends' strength, and this comparison is unfair; it +makes you lose confidence. + +[Sidenote: Doubt and Belief.] + +Nothing hurts one worse than doubting one's own ability, assets, and +character. When you find yourself experiencing doubt, or inability, or +hard luck, turn square around and say: "Begone, doubt; henceforth I have +belief." + +Say: "I have ability; I have pluck, and pluck means luck." + +Always express confidence, faith, courage, and cheer thoughts, whether +you feel them or not. Do this heroically and persistently, and soon the +fear shadows and weakness feelings will leave you, and you will be in +reality strong, courageous, active, and will do things you never thought +possible. + +"As a man thinketh, so is he." Always remember that. + +Get hold of your thoughts; make yourself think up, and have faith and +courage. Hold to your resolve, and the whole world will change. You +will prosper, you will have poise, and every once in a while happiness +will come as a reward. + +No man will be more surprised at your complete change of attitude and +character than yourself. + +Your problems can only be solved by yourself. Friends can advise, _I_ +can suggest, but YOU must act. + +Henceforth, never accuse yourself, never feel sorry for your condition +or position, cut out fear thoughts,--be strong. + +Think faith, courage, cheer, confidence, and strength, and by-and-by the +habit will be fixed and natural. + +This is as certain truth as I have ever experienced. I know it. I've +tried it. I've watched others and the results are always good. + +Don't be passive and forget this chapter. Start right this minute to +THINK RIGHT. + +And you will never regret and never forget this chapter on +Self-accusation. + + + + +24. + + +[Sidenote: Dare to Dream.] + +The great colleges turn out thousands of graduates each year, and the +great newspapers have much sport ridiculing them in funny pictures. +Every great man was once a boy with a dream, and that dream came true +because the boy had pep that made him stick to his ambition and kept him +from being discouraged because of ridicule or obstacles. + +Thomas Carlyle, the poor Scotch tutor, dreamed he wanted to be a great +author. His clothes were threadbare, his poverty apparent. Friends +taunted and ridiculed him until, goaded to indignation, he cried: "I +have better books in me than you have ever read." The crowd laughed +incredulously and said: "Poor fellow, he's batty." + +Carlyle stuck to his dream and the world has the "History of Frederick +the Great" and the "French Revolution" and "Sartor Resartus." When he +had finished the manuscript of the "French Revolution," a careless maid +built a fire with it. He wasn't discouraged, but went to work and wrote +it over again and very likely better than he wrote it the first time. + +Bonaparte in the garden of his military school dreamed of being a great +general. He stuck to his dream and he realized his hopes. + +Joseph Pulitzer, a poor emigrant, crawled in a cellar way in New York to +sleep, and he dreamed of owning a great newspaper. His dream came true, +and the newspaper is printed in a building erected on the spot where he +dreamed in the cellar way. + +Livingston dreamed of exploring darkest Africa; his dream came true. + +Edison dreamed of great electrical discoveries. His monument is Menlo +Park with its great laboratories. + +Ford dreamed of making an automobile for the purse-limited masses--he +was jeered; to-day the world cheers him. + +My friend, Bert Perrine, was chucked off a stage in the middle of +Idaho's great sage brush desert. He said to the driver, "Some day I'll +own that stage and I'll use it for a chicken house." + +He dreamed and schemed, and to-day the desert is the famous Twin Falls +country, blossoming like a rose. And on his beautiful ranch at Blue +Lakes, that old stage is used for a chicken house. + +Rockefeller dreamed, Lincoln dreamed--so did Garfield, Wilson, Grant, +Clay, Webster, Marshall Field, Richard W. Sears and all the other men +who have done things worth while in the world. + +The great West is the result of dreams come true. + +Dream on, my boy; hitch your wagon to a star and stay hitched. That +dream and that determination are the things that are to carry you over +obstacles, past thorny ways, and through criticism, jeers and ridicule. + +Your time will come. Dream and scheme, and make your ideals materialize +into living, pulsating realities. + + + + +25. + + +There are many persons who act and advocate ideals merely for +effect--they are hypocrites. + +Here's a little true heart story that probably passed unnoticed except +to a very few persons. + +[Sidenote: Real Charity.] + +Little Spencer Nelson, a poor boy, eight years old, recently died in a +hospital with a little bank clasped to his breast. The bank held $3.41 +in pennies which the boy had saved to buy presents for the poor children +in his city. + +The little hero had fought manfully through three months' suffering, +enduring the torture of five lacerating operations. The pain failed to +dim the spirit of unselfishness which burned brightly and clearly in his +tired, fever-racked body. + +After each operation his mind became more securely fixed on his project +to help bring cheer to poor children. + +The little savings bank was his companion, and each visitor was asked to +contribute to his fund. + +Three hours before he died, a smile beautified his thin wasted face as +the nurse dropped a dime in his bank. His last words--a message to his +mother--were in a scarcely audible whisper, asking her to remember to +use the money to make poor children happy. + +That was real charity; that boy had no hypocrisy in his heart. + +[Sidenote: Seek and You Will Find.] + +The daily paper chronicles instances of sensational charity, where men +vie with each other to see who can give most and get the most +advertising. These men overlook the wonderful opportunities at their +door--they do not realize the beautiful love and charity that would stir +in their hearts if they would but look into the out-of-the-way places +and get direct connection with pain and suffering. + +Little Spencer looked from his cot and saw the suffering of other little +children and he wanted to help them, and the very resolve and impulse +made him forget his own pain and misery. + +In the Book of Good Deeds, the name of Spencer Nelson will be recorded +as a sweeter act of charity than any million-dollar gift to a great +institution. + +What one of you who read these lines can read the story of that little +hero and not be touched by the generous love and beautiful conception of +charity he possessed. + +I don't believe much in this far-away charity idea so many have. + +[Sidenote: Do Good Here At Home.] + +I believe in helping those near where I am rather than sending money to +Siam. Poverty and destitution, unhappily, are familiar spectres at home, +as elsewhere. He who seeks to do good will not need to range afar. He +can find opportunity close at home, near by, where all of us can find it +if we only look. + +It may be a pleasurable sensation for you to contribute fifty dollars to +a missionary scheme in Siam, and get the Missionary report of the budget +made up by the committee for the foreign missionary fund. + +I know that a bucket of coal in an empty stove, a basket of bread and a +liberal hunk of round steak to the starving family around the corner +brings the donor a better sensation. + +Take a trip to the hospitals, learn about the homes of the suffering +patients in the charity ward, and you will resolve it's a better act to +send flour to the poor than flowers to the rich. + +Little Spencer Nelson had the right idea of charity: definite, +immediate help to those he could reach right where he was, rather than +sending money to sufferers far, far away. + +Let your gifts be principally flour and beef; they help those who need +help. Flowers are all right in their place, but there are more places +where flour can be used to better purpose. + +I'm keener for filling the coffee can of my suffering neighbor than +filling the coffers of the big charity five thousand miles away. + +I try to help both ways, but the home help pays the bigger dividends. +What do you think about it? + + + + +26. + + +You have found a friend who has been so much help and comfort to you. I +have such a friend too. To-night I am in the mood to think of that +friend and write him a letter like this: + +[Sidenote: What I Think of You.] + +This is to You. It is for You. It is about You. You I have in mind and +the good influence you have had on me. It is a happiness and +satisfaction to know you, and to bask in the sunshine of you. + +The world is better because of you. You have helped to raise the +average. + +You and your goodness--you do not appreciate what that means. You are so +modest, so loath to think of yourself, so thoughtful of others, so +unselfish that I must tell you of you and about you. + +You have a warm heart that throbs for others' woes and holds sympathy. +The great world is cold, selfish, and cares little for others. But you +are different; you are a great pillow of rest on which I and others who +love you may lay our tired, weary heads, and you wrap your arms of +friendship and goodness about us and feel our very heartbeats. + +[Sidenote: What I Love in You.] + +You with your great goodness, your quiet, sympathetic understanding--you +soothe our troubled spirits and make us glad of you and glad we have the +precious privilege of knowing you. + +Even now, as I am telling you how I love you, you are trying to wave me +aside and stop me, but I am in the mood and I want to express myself. +You know that it is a great sin of omission to refrain from expressing +our gratitude for goodness extended to us. + +I want to express my gratitude. I do not want to be guilty of the sin of +omission. + +So here, then, is this little message for you, to tell you that I +appreciate you and love you, and these words will last after you are +gone and after I am gone, to tell those of to-morrow about you and what +those of to-day thought about you. + +Your life, your goodness, is an everlasting plant that will flourish in +many hearts. Your influence will last beyond the calendar of time; it is +indestructible. You have a great credit in the universal bank of good +deeds, where you have deposited worth-while acts, deeds, kindnesses, +cheer, help, friendship, sympathy, courage, gratitude, and all the most +precious jewels of humanity. + +I am happy the very moment I think of you. I try to express myself but +the feelings and emotions I would describe have not words or sentences +to express them. You understand. You are so big in heart, so sensitive +in fabric of feeling, so wise in understanding, that I want you to think +and feel all the genuine, noble, lovable, appreciative thoughts you can +gather together about the one you can most appreciate. + +Think hard, sincerely, deeply, about that one, with all your resources +of beautiful thought. Think hard that way, and now you will begin to +understand my feelings about you, and how I appreciate you. + +You, my inspiration, who are so sensitized to feeling, so delicately +adjusted to read heart vibrations--you must feel this within me that I +am trying to express. Not the love between sweethearts, not the love of +kin, not the love of friends, but a great universal love I have for +you--a love which all who are fortunate enough to know you have for you. + +It is a love you cannot return to me in equal measure, because you have +not the object in me that can merit such love. That you should love me +in the way I love you even in the smallest measure is satisfaction +supreme. + +It is glorious to know you. You water the good impulses I have; you +encourage all that is noble, elevating, and bettering, in me. I shall +try to be like you--that is, so far as I can. You are my model; there is +but one _You_. Many may copy you, none may equal you. You my comfort, +you my joy. A great glorious _You_ that a little _I_ am trying to paint +a picture of. + +How futile my efforts. I might as well try to improve the deep beautiful +colors of the morning-glory, or try to retint the lily with a more +beautiful white. + +And so I bid you good-bye, happy that there is such a one as you in the +world--more happy that I know you, and most happy that I know how to +appreciate you. + +The sum of all good things I can say is, "I love you," and the word +"love" I use in its greatest, broadest sense, which covers all the good +adjectives. + +This is what I think of YOU. + + + + +27. + + +There is a time in the business man's life, between the age of 48 and +52, when he undergoes a pronounced change. + +More big men are cut off at 50 than at any other age between 45 and 60. + +From 48 to 52 most men change vitally in their physical and mental +make-up. + +[Sidenote: Dangers of Middle Life.] + +Many men--hitherto straight, moral men--go to the bad at this time, and +per contra, many men quit their immoral and health-hurting habits and +change to moral men. This danger period is when the newly-rich find +fault with the wives who have helped them to their success. They grow +tired of their wives and seek the companionship of younger women. + +The divorce courts give most interesting figures on this point. + +At this danger period, men who have been high livers, voracious eaters +and heavy drinkers find themselves victims of diabetes, Bright's disease +or other forms of kidney trouble. The country is full of prematurely +broken-down men who have failed to heed the danger signals along their +way. To persist in self-indulgence is to invite disaster. You must +deliberately set about to change your mode of living if you would avoid +these shoals on which so many men of middle age have foundered. + +Almost every man between 48 and 52 who works indoors, eats too much, +exercises too little, sleeps insufficiently. + +In this book I have made practical suggestions that have been tried in +the furnace of experience and proven adequate. They have helped me; they +will help you. They will enable you to gain pep and efficiency; they +will give you a new lease on life and make life more worth living. + +[Sidenote: The Simple Life.] + +First, live simply; eat simply. If you have in the past, eaten rich +foods, drunk fine wines, and have been what the world knows as a "good +fellow," your course is clear. You must call a halt on yourself. This +path leads inevitably to the graveyard. Follow the seven simple health +suggestions laid down in an earlier chapter, and you will feel better, +feel happier and will attack the day's work with vim and vigor. + +Avoid undue excitement. Excitement uses up nerve force. It is an energy +consumer. Your mind needs repose as well as your body. When you have +finished your day's work, leave business behind you. Do not drag it into +your home. In the evening, occupy yourself with a good, worth-while +book. Nothing is more conducive to calm and contentment. + +Let supper be your one hearty meal of the day. And after supper, play +with the kids or joke with your wife; get a smile on your face. When you +are home, interest yourself in home concerns. The "home men" are the men +who live longest. They lead healthy, regular lives, and they keep alive +the outside interests that make for peace, poise, content and happiness. + +Keep a sharp look-out for tendencies to change your habits and morals. + +At 50 you are walking on thin ice; look out, danger is near. + +After you are 55, your habits are pretty well established. If you have +lived rightly till then, you're safe thereafter and very likely are on +your way to a good ripe old age if you take reasonable care of +yourself. + + + + +28. + + +[Sidenote: Our Sons.] + +We love our own the best; maybe that's why we indulge our own too much. +Our duty to our boys; that's a subject as old as the hills, and it is as +important as it is old. It is a subject that has come to the forefront +in recent years. Multitudes of paid juvenile workers and sociological +experts throughout the country are engaged in the work of keeping the +youth of the nation healthily occupied and away from corrupting +influences. + +Modern conditions have created a "boy problem" which was unknown two +generations ago. Then there were no slums reeking with vice and squalor +and ugliness. The era of great manufacturing enterprises was just +beginning. There were no densely populated cities numbering millions of +souls. Amusements were simple. Everywhere were stretches of open +country, and boys were allowed to run wild in field and woodland and +stream. + +[Sidenote: Times Have Changed.] + +The great cities of to-day have done away with all this. The good, +old-fashioned, healthful recreations have disappeared in all but rural +communities. In their place has come the lurid "movie" with its tales of +crime and violence and passion. At every crowded street corner, vice +beckons, and glaring signs lure the curious boy into the vicious cabaret +and dance-hall. + +To-day I had the boy problem forcibly presented to me. I saw in a court +twenty-four boys who had been brought before the Judge charged with +petty crimes. Three were sent to the penitentiary, seven to the reform +school and fourteen let go temporarily on good behavior. + +A friend of mine interested in criminology tells me the great bulk of +hold-ups, thefts, burglaries and murders are committed by boys between +16 and 22 years of age. + +These twenty-four boys I mentioned were just ordinary boys, capable of +making good citizens if they had had the right kind of home treatment +and surroundings. Most of them got in trouble through their association +with the "gang" or the "bunch," or the "crowd," and this because daddy +didn't have his hand on the rein. + +That boy must have companionship; he must have a confidant with whom he +can share his joys, his sorrows, his hopes, his ambitions. If he +doesn't get this comeraderie at home, he gets it "'round the corner." + +We know where the boy is when he is at school, but how few of us know +the boy's doings between times. + +Pool halls tempt the boys, and these resorts are breeding places where +filthy stories, criminal slang and evil practices are hatched. + +Pool halls and saloons invite and fascinate the boy. He sees the lights. +There is a keen pleasure in watching the pink-shirted dude with +cigarette in his mouth making fancy shots. + +There is no one to nag him or bother him; it gets to be his "hang-out," +and soon he drifts into a crowd that knows the trail to the red-light +district. + +Painted fairies dazzle the giddy boy. It takes money to go the pace. +Crime is gilded over with slang words. Stealing is called "easy money." +Robbery is "turning a trick," and so on. + +A boy becomes what he lives on mentally and physically; that's the net +of it. + +It is a common saying, but a good one, that the boys of to-day are the +men of to-morrow. If you train a boy with care and kindness, he will +grow up to be an honest and upright citizen. But let him run a wild, +undisciplined course, leave him free to explore the crime-spots and +plague-pools of the city, and sooner or later his moral fibre is +weakened and ultimately snaps. At best he will become an indifferent +citizen; at worst a drifter or a criminal. + +There is nothing better for a boy than discipline properly administered. +And that brings up the whole matter of army life. + +[Sidenote: The Army: A Maker of Men.] + +The army is a great maker and developer of men. Boys who were headed for +perdition have found in the army a new sense of honor and respect. The +rigorous training, the idea of duty, the heroic traditions of the +service--all these are renewers and rekindlers of manhood. Many a lad +who has wasted his health, wealth and substance on the primrose path, +has "come back" gloriously in the service of the flag. + +Look at the average soldier or sailor you meet. His skin is tanned by +sun and wind to a deep brown. His eyes are crystal clear. There is youth +and strength in his tread. There he stands, clean as a whistle. No fat, +no flabbiness--just solid sinew and ruddy health. He is a living +exponent of what military training can do for every boy in the country. + +Hard work, strength-building exercises, sufficient sleep, regular +hours, simple, wholesome food, systematic training--these are the things +the army and navy offers. And these are the things that make real men. + +But no training that school or church or army can give him relieves you, +Dad, of your obligation to the boy. In the last analysis, it is _your_ +influence that will either make him or break him, for it is to you that +he looks for guidance and comradeship in his most impressionable years. + +If you are his chum, if sister shares his amusements with him, if the +family work and live on the "all for one and one for all" basis, if the +boy is kept busy and interested, he can be easily trained. + +[Sidenote: Be Worth Copying.] + +Neglect him and he will neglect you. Love him and he will love you. Meet +him half way, he's impressionable. Show him a kindness, he will respond. +Show him a good example, he will follow. You have to be with him, or +know where he is every minute. + +During his period of adolescence, say from twelve or thirteen years to +sixteen or seventeen, that boy is a mass of plaster of paris, easily +shaped while plastic, but once set, all but impossible to recast. + +That's the time, Dad, you must be on YOUR job with your boy. + +Your counsel, example, love, interest and teaching will MAKE the boy. + +Think of these things, Dad, and think hard, and think hard NOW. +To-morrow may be too late. + + + + +29. + + +[Sidenote: Our Daughters.] + +Our daughters--how much we love them! How happy we are to have their +fresh, smiling faces about us! Their girlish laughter lightens our home +hours and creates an atmosphere of joy. What would we not give if we +could but insure their happiness! Our fondest and most cherished hopes +are bound up in them as they grow up under our eyes and blossom into +womanhood. + +Girl, what a wonderful creature you can be. What a glorious success you +can make of your life if you get the right start, find the right hands +to help you, the right hearts to love you, and the right eyes to watch +you, the right thoughts to make you, and the right ideals to guide you. + +There are so many influences to spoil you--so much convention, so much +artificiality, so much snobbery, so much caste, so much foolish +frivolity. + +Then there are the wrong examples, the wrong grooming, the wrong +environments, the wrong influences surrounding you. Really, it is not +to be wondered at why so many girls lose their heads and make a fizzle +of their young lives. + +The fizzle is generally made because daddy and mama have a lot of +foolish notions about bringing up girls. Especially is this so if the +parents are wealthy. + +[Sidenote: The Wrong Way.] + +Here is the history of many a rich girl: She is born without welcome, +fed on a bottle, reared by a nurse, grows up in a nursery, becomes +estranged from her mother; later on, she is sent away to school, mixes +with a lot of other rich girls, gets lots of foolish notions, false +estimates, and prejudiced views. She graduates and comes home, and then, +to commemorate the event, there are a lot of "doings" which she attends. +Following this is the show-off, which is called a debut. + +She is exhibited like a filly at the horse show, and some high-collared +young man wins her head, although she thinks it's her heart. She +believes it is the proper time for her to marry, and he is such "a swell +fellow," he is such "good company," and he "dances so well"--these +qualities win her head. + +So the girl marries and has children; the husband goes broke, and the +girl awakens to the necessity of coming down from her pedestal, facing +stern necessity, and raising her children as her mother should have +raised her. + +That's the picture of the poor rich girl whose parents are to blame for +the nonsense she crammed into her head. + +But, you, Girl--you are going to learn your cooking on a gas range +instead of a chafing dish; you'll learn to bake bread before fudge; +you'll learn how to cook solids before you learn to make salads. + +You will combine simplicity, sentiment, sense sereneness, sweetness, +rather than envy, frills, feathers and foolishness. + +God's noblest calling for woman is the raising of children and the +founding of a home. + +[Sidenote: Cooking and Sewing.] + +To cook and sew is a higher duty and better occupation than bridge +parties and society. Not that you must cook and sew, my dear, but that +you should be able to in case the need should arise. With the ability to +cook and sew, you can properly direct the cook or seamstress, and they +will respect you for your education. + +I want you to be golden girls--girls who love home and children; girls +who love simple things, natural things. I want you to be sweet rather +than pretty, lovable rather than popular. + +Do not look upon matrimony as a means to provide food and finery for +yourself. + +Do not be ashamed of an old-fashioned mother. Do not be a "good fellow." +Do not be afraid to say, "I can't afford it." + +Help the family. Be part of it, and not apart from it. + +When you are old enough to have a beau, do not be afraid to bring him +into your home, no matter how humble it is. + +Do not esteem your boy friends for the amount of money they spend on +your entertainment. Happiness does not consist of lobster-suppers and +taxi-rides to the theatre. Ten cents will bring just as much real +happiness as ten dollars spent for mere display. + +Be modest, girls; it is your greatest asset. + +Don't gossip or belittle other girls. Find the good you can say of +others; that quality makes you more attractive. + +Watch out for candied words and flattery; these things mark the +hypocrite, and a hypocrite is an abomination. Flattery is a practiced +deceit--a dishonorable bait to catch affections. + +Do not allow any young man to relate a story in your presence that has +the slightest risque turn to it. + +Show by your words and your actions that such presumption is an insult. + +Be square with yourself; be square to the man who is after your heart. +Put yourself mentally in the place of a wife when a man gets serious. + +[Sidenote: The Right Man.] + +Don't hurry, girls; don't judge the man by his money prospects but by +his character and ambition. Have nothing to do with any young suitor who +isn't always kind, considerate and attentive to his mother. And when +real love comes to you and you decide to marry, marry a man of character +who courts you in the sweet, simple, old way. + +If a young man spends money extravagantly before marriage, hard times +will always be around during his married life. + +The most precious possessions in the world are happiness and love, and +these come from simple things, genuineness, and usefulness. + +The painted, powdered, tinsel, fluff, feathers and furbelow girl may be +a dashing creature now, and you may envy her, but you, with your quiet, +sweet, simple, sensible ways--you will win real love, real respect, real +affection, real pleasures, real satisfaction, in all the days to come; +you will make a success of your life. + +Frills and feathers may have an attraction for the girl who makes a +fizzle of her life, but sweetness and simplicity, sentiment and sense, +are precious jewels that will endure for all time. + +[Sidenote: The Road to Unhappiness.] + +The world is full of new-fashioned, slangy, dancy, fancy, foolish girls +who marry for style, stunts and society, and their married life is +failure, worry and regret. They do not realize, poor things, until it is +too late, that money and luxury are not enough to bring happiness. When +this truth comes home to them, there is nothing left but disillusion, +heartache and sorrow. + +Be the golden, pure, old-fashioned, sweet, simple, quiet, modest girl +who knows things, rather than one who is a show-off girl. + +When the right young man comes along, he will recognize the kind of girl +you are when he meets you. He will see in you a girl of pure gold; a +sweet, natural, sensible girl, who will be a helpmate to him and not a +drawback. + +So then, here is the hope that you, girl, will start right, keep right, +and end right. I want you to think of sense, sentiment, and simplicity +rather than dances, dollars, duds and doings. + +I want your life to be one of poise, happiness and serenity instead of +noise, worry and nerves. + +This little message is all for you--GIRL. + + + + +30. + + +Many churches to-day are running to extremes in one way or another. + +On the one hand, they are conducted along the lines of form, ceremony +and ritualism; the other extreme results in excitement, ecstasy and +fanaticism. + +The church of forms, rituals and ceremonies attracts the passive who are +willing to let the priest or pastor or prelate take charge of the +religious work while they, the attendants or worshippers, sit quietly by +and say "amen" and join in the responses. + +[Sidenote: Real Religion.] + +Paul said, "Away with those forms." Christ, in ministering to humanity, +gave no forms and made no set sentences for his followers. The Lord's +Prayer was given with the admonition, "After this manner pray ye," and +certainly not with the command, "Pray ye with these words." + +Form, ceremony and ritual are much like most associated charities--a +sort of convention. Forms cannot express the deep emotions, the natural +longings, or the human desires; they are echoes, hollow and +unsatisfying. + +For those who do not feel, for those who do not act, for those who +belong to churches because of convention, or for social reasons, forms +and frills fill the bill. + +Form is an exterior religion, an outward show. Form doesn't touch the +heart or awaken the soul. Form in religion is like a formal dinner. It +is a gaudy display rather than a plan to satisfy human heart hunger. + +[Sidenote: "Scare-You-to-Death" Method.] + +Opposite to formal religion is the frenzied "scare-you-to-death" +excitement method, which relies upon mental intoxication to stir the +people. Like other forms of intoxication, the effect soon wears off. + +I have little patience or sympathy for the business men who hire +professional evangelists to come to town to start revivals. The +sensational revivalists have too acute an appreciation of the dollar to +convince me of their sincerity in their work. + +A laborer is worthy of his hire, and a preacher, teacher or benefactor +of any sort should be well paid. But when I see these big guns taking +away from ten to one hundred thousand dollars in cold cash for a three +weeks' campaign converting the poor suffering people, the thought comes +to me that if the evangelist were sincere, he would buy a lot of bread, +coal and underwear, and hire a lot of trained nurses with a big part of +that money. + +Christ and his Apostles were of the people; they worked with and among +the people; they had no committees, no guarantees and no business men's +subscription lists. + +It's mighty hard to read about these sensational evangelists taking in +thousands of dollars for a couple of weeks' revival meetings, and +harmonize that religion with the religion of Christ, the carpenter, and +his Apostles, who were fishermen and workmen. + +[Sidenote: How They Do It.] + +The exciting, intoxicating, frenzied revival method is pretty much the +same in its working wherever it is practised. The evangelist starts in +with the song, "Where is My Wandering Boy To-night;" then follows the +picture of mother, which is painted with sobs of blood. Then follows +mother's death-bed scene until the audience is in tears. Gesticulation, +mimicry, acting, sensationalism, slang and weepy stories follow, until +the ferment of excitement is developed to a high pitch, and droves flock +down the sawdust trail to be made over on the instant into sanctified +beings. + +The evangelist stays until his engagement is up, and then departs with a +pocket full of nice fat bank drafts. + +[Sidenote: An Old-Time Method.] + +But there is nothing new about this method. It is as old as humanity. It +is the same method that is practised in the more remote and uncivilized +portions of the world to-day, where garishly painted savages congregate +and render homage to their gods in an orgy of yelling, whooping and +beating of the tom-tom. + +It is a sad commentary on the established profession of the ministry +that sensational professionals are called in and paid fabulous prices to +convert the people in their community. + +I do not take much stock in either the frigid form-and-ceremonial method +with its frills, or the frenzied fire-and-brimstone, scare-you-to-it +extreme. + +Somewhere between these extremes is the rational, natural, sane road to +travel--the religion of brotherly love; of cheers, not tears; of hope, +not fear; of courage, not weakness; of joy, not sorrow; of help, not +hindrance. + +[Sidenote: The Religion of Love.] + +The religion that makes us love one another here--not the kind that says +we shall know each other there; the religion that has to do with human +passions, human trials, human needs, instead of the frigid form or the +fevered frenzy; the religion that avoids the extremes of heat and +cold--that's the kind the world needs most. + +Christ taught love, kindness, charity. He spoke not of beautiful +churches and opera-singing choirs. He spoke not of robes, vestments, +forms or rituals. + +One of the most beautiful things in the Bible is the story of the good +Samaritan with his simple, unostentatious aid to a wounded man--a man +whom the Samaritan knew as an enemy of his people, but who was none the +less a brother. And you will remember how the priest of the temple--the +man who taught charity and love--drew up his skirts and passed the +wounded man by. + + + + +31. + + +[Sidenote: Love of Country.] + +Patriotism--one's love for one's country--is a natural and a beautiful +sentiment. With the spirit of idealism behind it, it becomes one of the +noblest sentiments that has been developed in the course of humanity's +long upward march to civilization. + +To-day, on Europe's battlefields, millions of men are hazarding their +lives. They do so gladly, willingly, with a firm and reasoned conviction +in the justice of the cause for which they fight. That is intelligent +patriotism--the kind of patriotism that is based on understanding and +knowledge. + +But the world to-day is conscious that there is another kind of +patriotism--a false patriotism that is fostered and fomented by +ambitious governments for purposes of aggression and aggrandizement. + +This false patriotism is not a free or voluntary thing. It is the blind, +instinctive feeling of sheep-like men who have been bred beneath the +yoke of servility and obedience and are like clay in the hands of their +overlords. They know not why they fight, but through fear or +intimidation or force, they slavishly submit to the will of their Kaiser +or Emperor and his minions. + +This great war, and most every great war of the past, was made possible +by a distorted understanding of patriotism. This false patriotism is one +of the narrowest and most cruel forces in the world, and when linked +with militarism, it becomes the most dangerous. It causes wars, waste +and desolation. It creates jealousies, inspires jingoism and +braggadocio, keeps alive the fight spirit, and menaces the peace and +security of nations. + +[Sidenote: Militarism.] + +Militaristic rulers, fired by selfish egotism, know full well what a +powerful force patriotism is, and they nurse the babes with fatherland +stuff and give them tin soldiers to play with and tin helmets to wear. + +Patriotism, when it reflects love of the place of one's nativity, when +it is based on home ties and associations, is a beautiful and touching +thing. But when unscrupulous autocrats utilize this sentiment for their +own aggressive purposes, it becomes a menace that must be put down if +other nations are to enjoy the blessings of peace and liberty. + +[Sidenote: False Patriotism a Menace.] + +To keep this false patriotism alive, wars must be made, so that human +blood can be secured to keep the monster from famishing. And so, on +slight pretexts, or no pretexts at all, the war lords and imperial +autocrats rattle their swords in their scabbards and let loose the +avalanche of war on the world. + +Such patriotism is failure and worse than failure. It is a reversion to +the brute age of mankind. It flings a moral challenge to the world that +the world must either accept or perish. + +So much for this monstrous perversion of Right and Reason that has +turned Europe into a shambles, and has banded the civilized nations of +the world together in a mighty struggle for freedom and democracy. + +True patriotism is one of the world's constructive forces. It overleaps +national frontiers, and is inspired by the ideals of international +peace, good-will and amity. It looks forward to the time when national +barriers will be let down, and the brotherhood of man will be recognized +the world over. + +Such patriotism is the patriotism of Right Makes Might--not Might Makes +Right. It is the kind of patriotism that prevails only among the free, +democratic, peace-loving peoples of the world who are fighting to-day +for the preservation of free institutions and the rights of humanity. + +The opposite sort of patriotism is the autocratic, militaristic kind +that has furnished the world with an example of savage ferocity and +vindictive cruelty that it will not soon forget. + +In this great struggle, we see Democracy ranged against Autocracy, Right +against Might, True Patriotism against False Patriotism. The Right will +triumph, as it always has, when pitted against the forces of hate, greed +and reaction. + + + + +32. + + +[Sidenote: The Happy Medium.] + +Danger lies in extremes. Too much of anything is bad for the human +being's health. There is a certain comfortable proportion of exercise +and rest which, when mixed together, will give bodily efficiency. Too +much exercise is bad, too little is bad. + +Until recent years, our vocations and the habit of going to or from our +places of business gave us a well-balanced amount of exercise, rest, +work and pleasure, and all went well. + +Lately, we hear much about worry, neurasthenia, nervous prostration and +the like. There are several contributing causes to the mental and +physical ills which are caused by "nerves." + +First of all, we have an epidemic of labor-saving devices. The principal +argument used by the manufacturer of a labor-saving device is, "It makes +money and saves work." Making money and getting soft snaps seem to be +the objectives of most human beings. + +The labor-saving devices take away exercise. The machine does the work. +The artisan simply feeds the hopper, puts in a new roll, or drops in +the material. He sits down and watches the wheels go around, likely +smoking a cigarette in the meanwhile, and more than likely reading the +sporting sheet of a yellow newspaper. + +[Sidenote: Changed Conditions of Work.] + +Possibly few of my readers have given the matter serious thought, and +they will be astounded at the changed conditions of work which have come +into our modern life. It will be interesting to note here some of these +changes. + +Men used to live within walking distance of their work. Now the electric +street railway and the speedy automobile have eliminated the necessity +for much walking. + +Men used to climb stairs. The elevator has now so accustomed us to the +conveniences that stairs are taboo. + +Machines have replaced muscles. The old printer walked from case to case +and got exercise. To-day he sits in an easy backed chair and uses a +linotype. + +Telephoning is quicker than traveling. No one "runs for a doctor." + +Our houses have electric washers, electric irons and many other +labor-saving devices. + +Even the farmer has his telephone, his auto, his riding plow, his +milking machine and his cream separator. + +In the stores, the cash boy has disappeared. The cash carrier takes the +money to a girl who sits in the office, a machine makes the change, and +another machine does her mathematics. + +[Sidenote: Perils of Inactivity.] + +The modern idea of efficiency puts a premium on the sedentary feature of +occupations, and employees are frequently automatons that sit. The +business man sits at his desk, sits in a comfortable automobile as he +goes home, sits at the dinner table and sits all evening at the theater, +or at the card table. It is sit, sit, sit until he gets a big abdomen, a +puffy skin and a bad liver. + +He tries to counteract this with forced exercise in a gymnasium or a +couple of hours golfing a week. Very likely, his golfing is more +interesting because of the side bets than because of the exercise. + +We are losing out on the natural, pleasurable, and practical exercises, +mixed in the right proportions to promote physical poise and health. +Things are too easy, luxury and comfort too teasing, for the ordinary +mortal to resist, and the great mob sits or rides hundreds of times when +they should stand or walk. + +When my objective point is five or six blocks, I walk, and I think on +the way. I probably get in from two to four miles of walking every day, +which my friends would save by riding in the street cars or autos. + +I walk to my office every morning--a distance of nearly four miles. + +I walk alone, so that I may relax and not expend conscious effort as is +the case when I walk with another. + +That morning walk prevents me from reading slush and worthless news, and +relieves me of the necessity of talking and using up nerve energy. + +I get the worth-while news from my paper by the headlines and by trained +ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. + +[Sidenote: Four Great Body-Builders.] + +I just feel fine all the time, and it's because I get to bed early, +sleep plenty, exercise naturally, think properly and get the four great +body-builders in plenty: air, water, sunshine, food; and the other four +great health-builders, which are: good thought, good exercise, good +rest, and good cheer. + +The great crowd aims at ease, and so the business man sits and loses out +on the exercise his body and mind must have. And therefore the great +crowd pays tribute to doctors, sanitariums, rest cures, fake tonics, +worthless medicines, freakish diet fads, and crazy cults, isms, and +discoveries that claim to bring health by the easy, lazy, comfortable +sitting route. + +Believe me, dear reader, it is not in the cards to play the game of +health that way. "There ain't no sich animal" said the ruben as he saw +the giraffe in the circus, and likewise, there "aint no sich thing" as +health and happiness for the man who persistently antagonizes Nature, +and hunts ease where exercise is demanded. + +The law of compensation is inexorable in its demand that you have to pay +for what you get and that you can't get worth-while things by worthless +plans. + +You must exercise enough to balance things, to clear the system, to +preserve your strength; it doesn't take much time. + + + + +33. + + +This afternoon I am sitting on a glacial rock in the forest at the foot +of Mount Shasta. A beautiful spot in which to rest and a glorious page +from the book of nature to read. + +[Sidenote: Back to Nature.] + +A canopy of deepest blue sky above, with sunshine unstopped by clouds. +The rays of old Sol pulsate themselves into an endless variety of +flowers, plants and vegetable life which Mother Earth has given birth +to. Glorious trees of magnificent size reach up into the blue and give +us shade. Ozone sweeps gently through the forest, impregnated with the +perfume of fir, balsam, cedar, pine and flowers. + +In this spot, nature has thrown up mountains of volcanic rock, which +hold the winter's snow in everlasting supply to quench the thirst of +plant, of animal, and of the millions of humans in the lower country. + +The whole hillside around me is a community of springs of crystal water +laden with iron and precious salts. It is the breast of Mother Earth +which nurses her offspring. + +Here are no noises of the street; the newsboy's cry of "extra" is not +heard. The raucous voice of the peddler, the din of trucks, the honk of +automobiles, the clatter of the city--all these are absent. + +There is no noise here--just the sweet music of falling water, and the +aeolian lullaby made by the breeze playing on the pine needles. + +My eyes take in a panorama of beautiful nature in colors and contrasts +that would give stage fright to any artist who tried to paint the scenes +on canvas. + +[Sidenote: Gaining Pep.] + +I am getting pep. This is my treatment for tired nerves; 'tis the +"medcin' of the hills;" 'tis nature's cure, and how it brings the pill +box and the bottle of tonic into contempt! I'm letting down the high +tension voltage and getting the calm, natural pulsation that nature +intended the human machine to have. + +So quiet, so peaceful, so natural is the view that I drink in +inspiration of a worth-while kind. No war news to read, no records of +tragedy, no degrading chronicles of man's passions, of man's meanness +and man's selfishness. + +A little chipmunk sits upright on a rock before me wondering at the +movements of my yellow pencil and the black mark it makes on the paper. + +A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, and a saucy "camp +robber," or mutton bird, wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man +animal brother. A big beetle is getting his provisions for the winter. I +recognize his occupation, for I've read about him in Fabre's wonderful +books on insect life. + +[Sidenote: Nature's Lodge.] + +Here, in the sanctum sanctorum of the forest, I am made a member of +Nature's lodge, and the ants and bugs and beetles and flowers and plants +and trees are initiating me and telling me the secrets of the order. I +can only tell you, who are in the great busy world outside, the lessons +and morals. The real secrets I must not tell; you will receive them when +you, too, come to the hills and forests, and sit down on a rock alone +and go through the initiation. + +You are invited to come in; your application is approved, and you are +eligible to membership. + +Come to Nature's lodge-meeting and clear away the cobwebs from your +weary brain; get inspiration and be a man again. + +Come--soothe and rest and build up those shredded, weakened, tired, +weary nerves. Let the sun put its coat of health on you, and let the +ozone put the red blood of strength in your veins. + +[Sidenote: Rest and Recreate.] + +Come and get perfect brain and body-resting sleep. Come to this +wonderful, happy, helpful lodge and get a store of energy, and an +abundance of vital ammunition with which to make the fight, when you go +back to your factory or office. The doctor can lance the carbuncle, but +Nature's outdoor medicine will prevent your having a carbuncle. + +The doctor can stop a pain with a poison drug, but Nature's outdoor +medicine will prevent your having the disorder which makes the pain. + +No, brother, you can't get health out of a bottle or a pill box. But you +_can_ get it from Mother Nature's laboratory, where she compounds air, +water, sunshine, beauty, music, thought; where she gives you exercise +and rest, health, happiness, all summed up into cashable assets for the +human in the shape of poise, efficiency and peace. + + + + +34. + + +[Sidenote: Mother.] + +Mother, you are the one person in all the world whose kindness was never +the preface to a request. That's the sweetest tribute we can pay you, +and the most truthful one. It covers devotion, love, sentiment, +motherhood, and all the noble attributes that go to make the word +"Mother" the most hallowed, most sacred, most beautiful word in the +English language. + +There are not words or sentences that can express to you what we think +of you or convey our appreciation of you. + +You want our love; you have it. You should be told of our love; we tell +you. Appreciation and gratitude are payments on account, but with all +our appreciation and with our whole life's gratitude, the debt we are +under can never be paid. + + "We have careful words for the stranger, + And smiles for the some-time guest-- + But oft to our own the bitter tone, + Though we love our own the best." + +We've hurt you, Mother, many times, by our thoughtlessness and by the +resentment we felt over your plans and your views about the things we +did, and you have had heartaches because of such actions of ours. + +[Sidenote: The Mother Love.] + +Forgive us, Mother, we're sorry. And there you are, dear; the moment we +ask your forgiveness, your great, tender, loving heart has forgiven us +and erased the marks of transgression. Always thinking of us, always +excusing us, always doing for us, always watching us and always loving +us in the most unselfish way. + +We love you, Mother; we appreciate you. We are going to show our +appreciation and love so much more from now on. We have just come to our +senses and realized what a wonderful, necessary, helpful being you are. + +Your sweetness, your gentleness, your goodness, your love, are parts of +you. They all go to make up that word "Mother." + +Your life, your acts, your example, your Motherhood, have all helped the +world so much more than you will ever know. + +In the everlasting record of good deeds, your name is in gold. + +In the everlasting memory of those who appreciate you, your face, your +life, is a sacred, helpful picture that grows more beautiful as the days +pass. + +In tenderness, in appreciation, in love, let us dedicate these thoughts +and voice these expressions to Mother, who gives her life by inches, and +who would give it all on the instant for her children, if necessity +called for the sacrifice. + +How feeble are words when we try to describe Mother! + + + + +35. + + +This is your inning, Dad. + +[Sidenote: Just Dad.] + +There have been so many beautiful things written about Mother and all +the rest of the family that it is high time we should tell you how much +we love you and how much we appreciate you. + +You've worked so hard; you've been so ambitious to do things for your +loved ones, and they have accepted your sacrifice and work and +watchfulness as matter of fact. + +You've had dreams of a some day when you would relax and play and enjoy, +but you have set that some day too far ahead. You consider yourself only +after all your loved ones are comfortable and happy, and time is +passing, Dad. + +You are too unselfish, too much centered in that some day. Let's change +things a bit, Dad. Sometimes the "some day" doesn't come. + +You are entitled to happiness and pleasure and health and joy right +here, now, to-day. It's your duty to have them. + +Your loved ones do not want you to spend your health in getting wealth. +They don't want to see you worn-out, tired, weary and unhappy, in the +evening of your life. Besides it's your duty to let them share the +responsibility, and work out their own problems. They will be better +equipped for life after you are gone if you let them gain knowledge by +practical experience. + +[Sidenote: Keep Alive the Spirit of Youth.] + +Come on, Dad; get in the group and enjoy things now and you will live +longer, and get more out of life, and give more pleasure to your loved +ones. Get in the game, Dad; let's see the old light and twinkle in your +eyes; let's have the sunshine on your face; the love-light on your lips, +and the happiness in your heart. + +Leave your cares at the office; prepare your mind for play, and you will +feel so much better and stronger and so much more successful in your +business. + +We don't want to hear any more sh-h-h--sh-h-h--or whispers when you come +home. We don't want to feel that uncomfortable feeling of restraint; +let's laugh and sing and love and play--let's make your home-coming a +joyous event. + +We all love you, Dad, but you haven't made it as comfortable as you +might for us when we try to express our love. You've been too tired, +too busy, too much occupied with those business thoughts. + +Don't you see how we love you and how we appreciate you? Don't you know +that there is no one in the world who can take the place of Dad? + +Keep your heart young, Dad; we will help if you only say, "Come on." We +are waiting for the signal. Let's start the new schedule tonight. Come +on, Dad, what do you say? + + + + +36. + + +[Sidenote: What Our Bodies are Composed Of.] + +We speak of the three kingdoms: the animal, the vegetable and the +mineral kingdoms, and every substance is classified into one of these. +The exact truth is there is but one kingdom, which is the mineral. The +vegetable substances and animal combinations are made of mineral +elements. + +In a rough way we distinguish the mineral kingdom as those substances +called elements, such as iron, sulphur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, sodium +and the like. + +These elements are unchangeable in themselves; they do not grow. The +animal is made of mineral elements associated in certain proportions, +such as albumin, carbon, lime, water, salt and the like. The vegetable +kingdom also consists of these various chemical combinations. + +Seed, when planted, extracts the minerals from the air and the earth and +combines them into a plant, which grows and has for its object the +making of seeds to reproduce and perpetuate itself. + +The plant has life, but it has no spiritual or mental equipment, and +therein vegetable life differs from the animal life. The animal eats +vegetable and animal flesh. Through the vegetable he gets the mineral +matter necessary for body-building. He also gets a plentiful supply of +mineral from the flesh he eats, which flesh was first built up through +the vegetables the animal ate. + +These are definite facts. + +The human body may be analyzed and separated into something like a dozen +substances, among which are water, which is three-fourths of the body's +structure, carbon, lime, phosphorus, iron, potassium, salt and so on. + +By reading a book on anatomy you can learn just exactly the proportions +of the substances in the human body. + +All these chemicals are formed in the shape of little cells, myriads of +which are in the body. These cells are constantly being destroyed and +new ones made to take their place. + +Parts of the body are replaced every twenty-four hours; other parts less +often. + +[Sidenote: What Our Bodies Need.] + +Scientists tell us that the whole body is replaced every seven years. +Every move you make destroys cells which nature has to replace. Isn't it +reasonable then to conclude that if a man should fail to eat enough +lime for his body-building, his bones would suffer? If he does not get +enough iron, his blood will suffer, and so on. I am convinced that most +physical ailments are caused by a deficiency of the mineral elements in +the body. + +Phosphorus and potash are necessary to human welfare. These elements are +in the husk of the wheat, and when the husk is taken off in making +flour, the resulting product is mostly starch. The person who lives +mostly on white bread will suffer from lack of phosphorus and potash. + +Nothing could be better for the health of the American people than the +nation-wide food campaigns the government is conducting. The educational +value of these campaigns is enormous. + +Eat less wheat! White bread is unessential. Bran, or whole wheat bread, +is far more healthful and nourishing, and contains more of the elements +the human body needs. + +Eat more fruit. People do not eat enough fruit. Every year thousands of +bushels of peaches and grapes and other fruit go to waste because the +demand is not great enough to ship the entire output to the great +consuming centers. + +Study your body's needs. Health is maintained at its proper level only +so long as you eat carefully and wisely. + + + + +37. + + +The practice of medicine in the past has been directed towards the +curing of disease and physical ailments already developed. The practice +of medicine in the future is to be along preventive lines. Science is +showing us how to prevent infection. Science is fighting the deadly +microbe which comes to us in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and +the food we eat, and the infected things we touch. + +[Sidenote: The "Why" of Disease.] + +Nature has supplied the human body with a home guard of necessary +bacteria, and in the circulation system are phagocytes which fight the +invading microbes and generally destroy them. When the system is +weakened through disease, through lack of exercise, or through improper +food, disease has an easy time. + +I want you to remember this golden prescription. It is composed of the +following: Good Air, Good Water, Good Sunshine, Good Food, Good +Exercise, Good Cheer, Good Rest and Good Thought. If you take this +golden prescription, you will make of yourself a giant in brain and +brawn strength. + +You can't get health out of a bottle. You can't get the system to absorb +iron if you take it in the form of tincture of iron. You can eat a pound +of rust, which is oxide of iron, and none of that iron will be absorbed +in the system. + +[Sidenote: What to Eat.] + +As I have explained in another chapter, you must take the mineral in the +system through the vegetable route. You will get iron that will be +assimilated when you eat beefsteak. Beefsteak has blood; the blood has +iron. You will also get iron when you eat spinach. + +Every element necessary for your body is found in some vegetable or +animal food; therefore, you should refrain from confining yourself to a +very few articles of food. + +[Sidenote: Fads, Cults, Isms.] + +Don't pay any attention to the faddist who gives you a rigorous diet or +unpalatable food. You simply make yourself miserable, and you generate +more worry and unhappiness by your discipline than the good you get from +these freak fads. There are a thousand different fads and cults and +isms, each one claiming to be right. Probably each one contains a small +portion of right. But it is a sure thing that The Right is too big a +thing to be confined within narrow formulae and creeds. + +We all eat too much meat, but that a strict vegetarian diet is the +necessary thing for good health I deny. The sheep, the cow, and horse +are vegetarians, and they are short lived. The eagle, the lion, the man, +eat animal food, and they are long lived. + +I may be prejudiced, but it does seem to me that the strict vegetarians +are a skinny, sallow-looking lot of humans, speaking generally. I do +find that the healthier specimens of vegetarians are those who eat +plenty of eggs and drink plenty of milk, both of which are animal food, +and both of which have nearly all the elements necessary to sustain +life. + +I don't like fads in the matter of eating. The amount a person consumes +should be in exact accord with the body's requirements--neither more nor +less. + +The human body is a machine from a food standpoint. It is an engine that +has work to do, and accordingly the amount of fuel necessary for the +engine should be in proportion to the amount of work that the engine is +called on to perform. + +[Sidenote: Eat Less, Exercise More.] + +The majority of city-dwelling people eat too much. This is especially +true of men in sedentary occupations, and women whose household +duties are light. If your engine needs twenty pounds of steam, +how foolish it is to keep up a hundred pounds pressure! If you had +five-horsepower work to perform, how foolish it would be to install +a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound engine! + +Eat less of everything. Fat and flabbiness and over-feeding is a +national vice with us. The fashionable cafés and restaurants are +thronged with puffy, heavy-jowled men and women, eating and drinking. +Hotels and food-purveyors are constantly inventing new palate-tickling +dishes to tempt your appetite. Orchestras and dramatic troupes are +engaged to entertain and amuse you while you overload your stomach, take +on fat, and lay the foundation for future cases of indigestion or +dyspepsia. + +There is no escaping a day of reckoning for such mistreatment of +yourself. If you would keep yourself fit, it is important that you eat +only what is necessary to maintain yourself at normal weight and +strength. + +You do not often find dyspepsia or indigestion among men or women who +work hard physically. Isn't it reasonable to suppose that this is +because they work hard? + +You who work indoors, with little physical exercise, will find wonderful +benefits if you will cut down the fuel. + +Much of the physical trouble comes from filling up the boiler too much. + +Cut down the food and you will feel better. + + + + +38. + + +Anger and revenge are great pull-backs to health. + +Anger makes the blood rush to the head, weakens the body, and distorts +the vision. + +When a woman gets angry, she quarrels with her lover, her husband or her +children. Any one of these things is a calamity. + +When a man gets angry, he is a wild man. His eyes glitter, his mouth is +cruel, his fists clinch, his body trembles, his blood veins strain, and +he does more harm to his system in five minutes of anger than nature can +repair in a day. + +[Sidenote: Anger and Poise.] + +Anger makes weak stomachs, dizzy heads, poor judgment, lost friends, +despair and sickness, and if the habit becomes confirmed, will likely +lead to apoplexy. When two men have differences, watch the cool man +finish victor; the angry man always loses. Keep your head; let the other +fellow fret and fume. + +He will tie himself up in a knot, and when the gong is rung, he will be +the loser. + +Serenity is one of God's blessings. Fortunate is the man who can hold +his serenity. + +When you get a letter that stirs you to anger, don't answer that letter +for forty-eight hours, then write a moderately vitriolic letter--and +then tear it up. + +[Sidenote: The Futility of Revenge.] + +I know you are tempted and goaded, and your limit of endurance is +sometimes reached. But I know that revenge is sweet only in +anticipation. I know that revenge by anger and by the cruel "eye for an +eye" measure is never, never sweet. + +I have been the victim of imposition, ingratitude and insincerity, and +advantage has been taken of me because I kept my poise and serenity. + +I have been called easy, and soft, and friends have shown me where I was +imposed upon, but I was stooping to conquer. I kept my reserve, my +resistance, and my power ready until time, place, and preparedness let +me spring my coup, and then I cashed in beautifully in principal and +interest for those acts and hurts. + +I have power now in my hands to make others suffer keenly and deeply for +wrongs they have done me. Yet I do not exercise that power to revenge. + +I have been misjudged and misunderstood, because cowardly persons have +lied and villified me, and have accused me of motives and acts of which +I was innocent. + +I am well hated now by one person in particular, who blames me for +things another is guilty of. A word from me would clear myself, but it +would bring gloom and despair to that person and would not make me any +more cognizant of my innocence. + +[Sidenote: Time, the Arbiter.] + +Time somehow will bring out the truth; the cowardly, guilty individual +who basks in the favor of the one who is angry at me will surely pay for +his wrong. This I know, and I am satisfied with the ultimate result. + +My former friend, who is angry at me, would simply switch the anger +current to the guilty one if I told the facts; the guilty person +couldn't stand that anger like I can. My act would break up a home and +bring misery. The satisfaction I would receive would not equal the +sorrow my act would cause to others. + +I am far removed from the location where these people live, and I can +stand the anger of the one who puts the blame on me by accepting the +lies of another as truth. + +I have the documents in black and white, yet I don't use them because I +have poise and the consciousness of knowing I am right, and those who +are dear to me know it, too. + +I've tried both plans, the plan of anger and the plan of poise, and I +like poise better. + +I believe I hear more birds, I believe I get more pleasure out of life +and living than the man who gets angry and loves revenge. + +Anyway, I think so, and "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." + + + + +39. + + +Sleeping, like breathing and digesting, is controlled by the +subconscious brain centers. Natural sleep requires no positive mental +impulse; it's just relaxing, and nature takes care of the process. + +[Sidenote: Can't Sleep.] + +That is natural sleep, but when you start your dry cell battery, the +brain, and commence to worry and fear, you are going to stay awake. Then +the conscious mind dominates the subconscious mind, and you banish the +very comforter you seek to woo. + +Business men who work under high tension all day on business matters, +and high tension all evening in threshing over again the business of the +day, are almost sure to suffer from insomnia. + +The continuance of this habit of thinking of business day and night +brings on the insomnia habit and that, in turn, gives rise to the +delusion that you are fighting for your natural sleep. This produces +worry, the demon that kills and maims. + +To have an occasional wakeful night is natural; it is an evidence of +intelligence: the mental dullard never has wakeful nights. + +Unless the fear of sleeplessness becomes a full grown phobia, no anxiety +need be felt. The fear of insomnia, the over-anxiety to go to sleep, is +to be more dreaded than insomnia itself. + +[Sidenote: To Get Results.] + +To get refreshing sleep you must put yourself in a state of actual +physical tiredness. Take exercise. Walk in one direction until the first +symptoms of becoming tired appear, then walk home. Take a hot bath, then +sponge with cold or cool water. Put a cold cloth at the head, and rub +the backbone with cold water. + +Open your windows wide, then relax. Don't worry; you are going to sleep. + +Lie on your back, open your eyes wide, look up as if you were trying to +see your eyebrows, hold your eyes open this way ten to twenty seconds, +then close them slowly. Repeat this several times. + +Sleep will have descended on you before you realize it. + +Or occupy your mind with auto-suggestions like this: "I am going to +sleep--sound, heavy, restful, peaceful sleep. My eyelids are getting +heavy--heavy. I am going to close them and go to sleep." + +Don't try to count imaginary sheep jumping over fence rails. Don't +count numbers. It is a bad habit. + +If these suggestions do not help you the first night, say: "All right, +my brain was too active; to-morrow I will let down a bit." + +Next night eat one or two dry crackers; chew them slowly, masticate them +thoroughly until you can swallow easily. + +This little food will draw the blood pressure from the brain and help +you to go to sleep. + +Drive out business and worry thoughts. Think faith and courage +thoughts. + + + + +40. + + +To live down the past and erase the errors, live the present boldly. + +Do not chastise or condemn yourself for mistakes you have made. You are +not alone; everyone has made missteps--has hurt others or wronged +himself. + +[Sidenote: Making Mistakes.] + +Everyone has had reverses and met trouble and misfortune. It's the plan +of things. It is by undergoing trials like these that we gain in +experience and wisdom. We are enabled to correct our future acts by +utilizing the lessons which our mistakes have taught us. + +Yesterday is dead; forget it. Face about. Live to-day; be busy, be +active, be intent on doing right and accomplishing things worth while. + +The world's memory is short. A misdeed, an error, a wrongful act on your +part may set busy tongues wagging to-day, and you may suffer from +calumny and criticism. Of course, your errors will be magnified and your +wrongs enlarged beyond the truth; that's the penalty you pay for your +transgressions. + +Lies are always added to truth in telling of one's misdeeds. Be brave. +Weather the storm; it will soon blow over. To-morrow the world will +forget. + +You've suffered in your own conscience; that's all the debt you can pay +on the old score. + +[Sidenote: Worrying Won't Help.] + +Now, then, get busy with the glorious opportunity that today presents. +Don't make the same mistake again. There are no eyes in the back of your +head; look forward. Don't worry by envying the other fellow and +comparing his good deeds with your mistakes; you only see his good. He +has had troubles and made mistakes, too, but you and the world have +forgotten them. + +If every man's sins were printed on his forehead, the crowds that pass +by would all wear their hats over their eyes. + +I'm trying to comfort you, and slap you on the back, and tell you that +you are just human, and all humans make false steps. + +The patriarchs in the Bible made mistakes, but they got in the fold. +History has perpetuated their names. Their lives, on the whole, were +worth while. It's the sum total of acts that count. + + + + +41. + + +[Sidenote: To-day and To-morrow.] + +One man says the present is everything, that eternity is nothing. The +other man says eternity is everything, that the present is nothing. I +believe the real truth is that both are man's chief concern, and neither +view comprehends all truth. In this matter, the general rule I have so +often pointed out will harmoniously apply. That rule is: Avoid extremes. + +Those who believe that the Now, the Present, is the all-important thing +in man's life have the fashionable or favorite point of view. + +Man has much definite information about the present, he knows much about +life. He is in the midst of life--it pulsates all around him and in him. + +We know positively that the law of compensation is inexorable in its +demand for right and positive in its punishment of wrong. + +We know that on this earth kindness, love, occupation, help, truth, +honor and sympathy are investments which bring happiness to-day. You +get your pay instantly when you have done a helpful act, and you get +your punishment instantly when you have done a hurtful act. + +[Sidenote: The Hereafter.] + +That there is a future most of us agree, because good sense and logic +point to that sane and reasonable conclusion. So be it. With a belief in +the future estate, it is reasonable to assume that our acts and lives in +the present will have influence on our future estate. + +We know positively of to-day; we know the happiness we can get from good +deeds done to-day. We come to this knowledge by experience. + +If we will have power in the future to look back on to-day's acts, well +and good if to-day's acts are worth while. + +The other view, that Eternity is everything and the present is nothing, +is the antiquated view, the narrow view--the, I might say, illiterate +view. + +That view warps the present life; it calls for present +self-chastisement, present gloom, present sorrow and present misery. + +It takes the tangible definite to-day, calls it nothing, and accepts the +intangible unknown eternity as everything. + +[Sidenote: A Cheerless Philosophy.] + +It trades the definite for the indefinite. It calls life a bubble, a +vapor, a shadow. In fact, it throws a pall over to-day's sunshine, and +regards our earthly life as a sort of purgatory--a dismal unhappy +punishment ante-chamber where man exists and waits, peeping out of his +cell windows for a little imagined view of eternity. + +He waits and endures the unpleasant interval, steeled against the +definite pleasures of to-day, his whole outlook colored by a fanatical +and intoxicated belief in the expected happiness of the undefined +future. + +He refuses to think of the definite life of to-day that we all know, and +spoils the thought of those who do. + +He is a blockade to progress, a disagreeable part of life's picture. + +He gets no happiness in the to-day which is in his hands; he loses his +opportunity to be of service here, and lives in the hope of a vague and +nebulous future state which has no connection with the realities of +every-day life. + +Both theories as ultimate beliefs are wrong, yet each has some truth in +its conclusion. + +By taking the words "Eternity" and "Present" and saying that both mean +everything, we avoid extremes and form a truth that is rational, and +harmonious to good reason. + +The man who says that the present is all, does so because he is an +utilitarian. He reasons from the definite and the seeable, and refuses +to believe in the abstract. Anything that is outside the sphere of his +vision and action is of little concern to him. + +The man who says eternity is all, wastes a golden opportunity and warps +himself into a miserable hermit. + +Life is irrevocable. Every act in our life is placed, set, and fixed. + +Every act goes in the record book of yesterday, and it cannot be +changed. + +Acts that hurt others will rebound and hurt us. Deeds that help others +will rebound and help us. This much is certain. + +There is a future, I believe that. There is a God, I believe that. + +Just what the future is, and just what God is, I do not know in perfect +detail. + +Reward for good and punishment for evil is part of God's plan, and I am +conscious of this truth. + +I know that justice prevails in this life, and this life is what I am +living now. + +[Sidenote: The Good That Lies at Hand.] + +If I live and act to-day in accordance with what I sincerely believe is +in tune with God's purpose, I shall, in my future estate, benefit by +those acts. If I live and act to-day in disregard of all around me, +selfishly catering to my personal desires and believing that eternity is +everything and the present nothing, I am neglecting the opportunity to +do good now in the hope of a future personal reward, the very nature of +which is unknowable. I shall therefore strive to do, and to be, +right--to be kind, helpful, cheery and smiling now, for the reward such +acts bring now. + +And I shall doubtless have as good a record and passport to the future +as the man who suffers now and lives only upon his selfish hope of the +future. + +His is the faith of fear, mine the faith of reason in the all-wise, +all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing Ruler of the universe, who gave me +my life, my brain, my reason, which I am trying to use, as well as my +limitations will permit, in helping myself and helping others to smile, +to be happy, to be serene, to be confident, to be competent, to be +useful. + +Everything lives and dies in accordance with the plan of the Creator of +the Universe, and you are an atom and I am an atom in that Universe, +which is governed by a power too big and too great for us to +comprehend. + +Verily we presume when we say: "We have all the truth; think as we do or +you are lost." + +The old world has not told its full story. The Universe of which this +world is a part is still a deep, unfathomable mystery. + +We shall not know all truth until the great revealing time. + +[Sidenote: The Use of To-day.] + +We cannot change the pages of the millions of years gone by. We can do +every little to change the pages of the millions of years to come. What +little we can do, we can only do TO-DAY. To-day is yours and mine; let's +do the best we can with our possession in act and thought and word. + +The sun goes down behind the sky-line on the West as it has done for +millions of years. I lay aside my pen with a bigger view, a deeper +appreciation of the Creator, and a profounder faith in His wisdom and +works than ever. + +God made. God rules. God plans. And verily, we are weaklings and foolish +who presume by selfish prayer to suggest to Him what He shall do. + +Let us strive to be appreciative of Him; let us try to lift ourselves to +the sublime plane of realizing that we are part of Him and His plan, and +that failure is impossible to us, if we keep up and on, doing good, +speaking softly, dealing gently, showing kindness to-day, and living in +accordance with the big, broad, generous, charitable plan instead of in +the little, bigoted, narrow, selfish, conceited idea that we are sole +possessors of truth and that the man who differs with us in belief is in +error. + +This chapter is about big things, and in it is a big moral for all who +are big enough to grasp it. + + + + +42. + + +"I believe in him because he is so sincere." + +[Sidenote: Sincerity and Truth.] + +You've heard that, haven't you? I never could understand how a sensible +person could use such logic. Sincerity is no evidence of truth. The +Hindu mother is sincere when she throws her babe to the crocodiles, but +her sincerity is no proof that by this sacrifice she is sure of her +salvation. + +The Christian Scientist is sincere in the belief that medicines do not +cure diseases. The doctor is equally sincere in his belief that +medicines do cure disease. + +The Theosophist is sincere, the Atheist, the Agnostic, the Christian, +the Pagan, the Mohammedan, the Buddhist, the Sunworshipper, the +Republican, the Democrat, the Progressive, the Prohibitionist, the +Brewer, all these are sincere in their beliefs. And as these beliefs are +different, it is common sense to say that no one creed, sect, belief, +branch, dogma or system includes or embodies all truth. + +[Sidenote: No Monopoly on Truth.] + +It is true that every channel or avenue we meet in life's travel has +some truth, but it is not for you or me to assume that we are the sole +possessors of wisdom and the real discoverers of all truth. We must not +take the conclusions we arrive at and expect to force the world to +accept without protest our rules for conduct, our methods for living, +our practices for morals, or our beliefs for their guidance. + +Converts to new doctrines, new issues, new cults, and to the old ones, +too, are made largely because the ambassadors or proselyters seem so +fervid and sincere in expounding what they claim is the definite truth. + +The believers in a cult or code of ethics are auto-hypnotized; their +visions are narrowed. + +By focusing their thought on their special belief, they bring together +sophistry, argument, example and so-called proof that gives them +facility in arguing the case or expounding their doctrine. + +[Sidenote: Christian Science.] + +You can make no gain in trying to argue with a Christian Scientist. You +ask for concrete rules, definite answers and proofs other than their +flat statements, and you are told you have not the understanding--you do +not view the subject from the right plane, and that the truth cannot be +shown you. You are told to have faith and belief, to eliminate +antagonism, and to study "Science and Health," and you will receive the +divine spirit and see the light. + +The Scientist is sincere; he shows you "Science and Health" with a lot +of testimonials in the back to prove that Christian Science cures +disease. Every patent medicine, every science, every system of healing +has testimonials by the hundreds. + +Scientists say there is no disease, no material--that we are only spirit +or soul or thought--that we are not matter but mind. Health, they tell +us, is truth and disease is error. They deny disease, yet "Science and +Health" and the midweek experience meetings have testimonials of disease +cured by Christian Science. + +There is much truth in Christian Science. People are helped by it; +people are sincere in their belief in it, but that Christian Science is +all truth, all-powerful, all-right, all-sufficient, cannot be proven. + +What about the people who have gone hence before Christian Science was +ever heard of? + +The theological religion of to-day differs radically in practice and +belief from what it was fifty years ago. + +If the Protestant religion be all truth, what became of our religious +ancestors who died before Martin Luther found the truth? + +[Sidenote: The Spirit of Tolerance.] + +I have no quarrel with the Christian Scientist, the Protestant, the +Roman Catholic, the Buddhist or the Mohammedan. I must be generous and +broad enough to admit that others have the right to think and be +sincere. All sciences have truth, but no science, sect, cult, dogma or +creed is ALL truth. + +Sincerity is evidence of honest conviction, but that your sincerity in +your belief must be accepted by me as proof that I should believe as you +do, is, I believe, the place where I have the undoubted right to say: "I +reserve the right to my own conclusions, and I would be unjust to myself +if I should force myself to accept your viewpoint without fully +satisfying myself that you were right." + +So, because a person is sincere in a conviction that is contrary to your +conscientious belief, do not be disturbed. There is no need to swerve +from your own common sense analysis of the matter, or be convinced +against your better judgment. + +No one possesses all the truth. It is for you and me to do our plain +duty as we see it--to do the best we can each day in act and thought and +word. + +We can pretty much agree on the simple essential truths which are +proven. That is--being honest, truthful, kind, lovable, sympathetic, +cheerful; doing good, helping one another, and doing things worth while. + +[Sidenote: Unprofitable Speculation.] + +If we agree on these things, and do useful work, and think helpful +thoughts, we are doing our duty. Theories, arguments and studying too +deeply on bootless systems, codes, beliefs, cults, isms and doctrines, +is a waste of time. When we can, here and now, derive definite benefits +from doing the simple and helpful things, and acting and thinking the +simple, practical cheer thoughts, it is neither necessary nor helpful +for us to waste time on spiritualism or theoretical beliefs that cannot +be proven to our own satisfaction. + +We are asked to believe these strange, impractical, unnatural beliefs +because of the sincerity of others. It's better to believe and to credit +the things we can ourselves measure, understand and sincerely adopt. + +There are hundreds of strange beliefs and spiritual systems, each +claiming to be all-powerful, all-right. If any one is all truth, then +all the others are all wrong. + +The bigot who assumes he is the sole possessor of truth--the cult, +sect, ism, or science that claims to possess all truth and presumes to +lay down the exact rules for the world to obey--should be classed with +those misguided religions and institutions of the dark past which burned +human beings who dared to doubt their claim to the possession of all +truth and knowledge. + +God never gave his approval to any one man-made religious sect. + +God is the universal good power. Man often tries to dwarf God's idea to +the narrow dimensions of his own small soul. + + + + +43. + + +[Sidenote: Whiskey and Fake Medicines.] + +Whiskey must go. It is written on the pages of the record book of man's +progress. Likewise must the quack doctor and the fake medicine go. They +have had their day. The quack doctor has already breathed his last in +many parts of the country. The fake medicine schemes are still with us, +but they are becoming increasingly difficult to put over. That they are +doomed to extinction, there can be no doubt. + +The side-whiskered advertising doctor who magnifies symptoms and +proclaims them to be grave forerunners of awful, debilitating disease, +is nothing short of a criminal. He is one of the worst of criminals, +because he imposes upon the credulity of the ignorant, excites their +fear by means of sensational scarehead advertising, and then when he has +finally lured them into his spider-web, fleeces them unmercifully. These +charlatans are really more contemptible than any thief, for the thief +does not pretend to be anything else but what he is, while the quack +doctor swindles and exploits you under the guise of being your +benefactor. + +As I have repeatedly explained, illness, feeling "out of sorts," local +pains and sickness, unless of the contagious or infectious kind, are +largely conditions of the mind. + +Most of the temporary ailments are caused by constipation, wrong diet or +lack of exercise. The doctor gives a laxative, nature re-asserts +herself, and the patient is cured. + +Chronic ailments require long treatments--making long bills and many +visits for the quack doctor. + +[Sidenote: Your Family Physician.] + +Your health and happiness are things largely in your own control. +However, when you feel you must have a doctor, go to your family +physician and not to a strange doctor who advertises. His advertisement +is merely a spiderweb to catch and hold you while he robs you. + +It is a hopeful sign of the brighter future toward which man is +progressing, that the respectable papers will not lend their aid to +swindling doctors. The best papers will not carry these quack doctor or +fake medicine ads. + +Before long the government will pass laws abolishing this baneful, +shameful, quack advertising. Quack doctoring, gambling, liquor +selling--these are all swindling methods to get money, and in the +getting, the ghouls and parasites who practise these "professions" are +killing men, ruining homes, destroying happiness, holding back progress. + +The one object of the quack doctor is to size you up and see what you +"are good for." "Good for" means how much money can he get from you, and +how long can he keep you as a patient to contribute to his coffers. + +Let every reader of this book enroll as an opponent to quack doctors and +quack medicines, and by word and influence help to hasten the day when +such pernicious swindlers and swindling schemes are things of the past. + + + + +44. + + +No two minds can see the same picture in the same way, nor can two +persons, armed and equipped with logic, come to the same definite +conclusions on religion. + +The old Scripture said: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." +The new Scripture teaches us to "turn the other cheek" and "love our +enemies." + +[Sidenote: Religion, Old and New.] + +Two hundred years ago witchcraft was practised and miserable human +beings were burned at the stake. Thirty years ago the preacher who took +exception to the universal belief of a hell of fire and brimstone was +thrown out of the church. To-day no preacher believes in such a hell. + +Present day religion is really a Sunday religion. One and a half hours a +week the members of the church join in singing, "We shall know each +other there." The remainder of the week they make it a point to keep +from knowing each other here. + +[Sidenote: Sectarianism.] + +The Protestant church divides itself into numerous sects, each one +built on some particular ordinance or practice. Each one, in matters of +doctrine, will swallow a camel but will strain at a gnat. One sect +insists that baptism shall be by immersion because the disciples +baptized that way. They believe in following custom literally, yet in +the cities they immerse the members in a big tub under the pulpit, which +practice is entirely different from the method employed by John the +Baptist. + +Another sect insists upon having a communion every Sunday because the +Bible says, "As often as you do this," etc. To be literal in the matter +of communion, the Lord's Supper should be served at night, as the +original was, and it should be supper and not a few pieces of broken +crackers. + +The sect that insists on following the Scriptures in the matter of +baptism by immersion fails to follow the Scriptures in the matter of +washing the feet or anointing the head. + +Many years ago, churches considered it a sacrilege to use an organ. +To-day they have orchestras and hire operatic singers. + +So it seems that the church is broadening out. Thinking men refuse to +believe that religion should any longer be a matter of self-chastisement +and worry, sobs and misery. Because so much of this sort of teaching is +prevalent, the church is not making the gains it should. The church is +largely supported by nice little women--many of them maiden ladies who +have little to do and know little of the great problems of the busy +world. + +[Sidenote: A Live Religion.] + +I am thoroughly convinced that the church must recognize that a great +evolution is taking place--that we must be more charitable, more broad +in our views, less technical in our tenets and more practical in our +work. We will have to cut down the fences between the sects and get +together in the great field for a common cause, rather than try to +maintain little independent vineyards. + +Religion must teach smiles and joy, courage and brotherly love, instead +of frowns, dejection, fear and worry. + +It must teach us how to be and how to get good out of our to-day on +earth. If we are good and do good here, we certainly need have no fear +for our future prospects. + +[Sidenote: The Universal Church.] + +Day by day we are progressing from narrowness, bigotry, selfishness and +envy, to broadness, reason, brotherly love and contentment, and we shall +progress from the narrow confines of obstinate orthodoxy or +bulldogmatics, by breaking down sect and cult barriers until we are +joined together in a universal church in which all can put their hearts +and beliefs--in which all can find full range for their spiritual belief +and expression. That big, broad, right church will be in harmony with +God's purpose. + +The Creator made all men, and He doesn't confine His love or His +interest to any one little man-made, narrow sect or creed. + +"God is love." "Love thy neighbor." "Help the weak; cheer the grief +stricken." Those are the commands and purposes we find everywhere in the +Scriptures. + +"He that believeth in me shall be saved." That's a definite promise, and +it is not qualified by a lot of creed paragraphs and beliefs. That +promise doesn't have any "buts" or "ifs." It doesn't say we shall be +saved if we be Methodists or Catholics, Baptists or Presbyterians. Those +names are man-made, and the creeds of those churches are man-made, too. + +At the congress of religions in the World's Fair at Chicago, over three +hundred religions and sects were represented by delegates from all over +the world, and every one of these delegates, with hearty accord, sang, +"Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" and "Rock of Ages." Those +hymns were universal; they fitted all creeds and sects. + +Big men in the church are intensely interested in the get-together +universal church, and each year will mark a definite progress toward +amalgamation of sects and divisions. + +There should be no Methodist Church North and Methodist Church South. + +There should not be churches like the Congregational and Presbyterian, +whose creeds are identical, the difference being only in the officers. + +The country village of 1,000 population has five churches; it should +have only one. The country is full of half-starved preachers and weak, +struggling congregations. + +The get-together movement will help religion, and it's going to happen +surely. + + + + +45. + + +Every year the business man goes over his stock, tools, fixtures, and +accounts, and prepares a statement of assets and liabilities so as to +get a fairly accurate understanding of his profit and loss. + +If he didn't take this inventory, his net worth would be a matter of +guess work. + +This inventory, which deals with money, materials, etc., and things +which are mixed more or less with the human element, is affected by +conditions of trade, crops, competition, supply and demand. + +The business man takes all these conditions into consideration in +preparing for the coming year. He red flags the mistakes and green flags +the good plans. + +[Sidenote: Self Inventory. Listing the Liabilities.] + +The business man should carry the inventory further. Every month or so +he should take a careful inventory of himself, putting down his assets +of health, initiative, patience, ability to work, smiles, honesty, +sincerity, and the like. So also he should put down on the debit side +in the list of liabilities the pull-backs, hindrances and other +business-killers. These items are untruth, unfairness, sharp practice, +grouchiness, impatience, worry, ill-health, gloom, meanness, broken +word, unfilled promises and the like. + +In making up the inventory, pay particular attention to your habits: +smoking, drinking, over-eating, useless display, useless social +functions, and other useless things that pull on your nerves and your +pocket book. + +Then check up department A, which is your family. How have you dealt +with your family and children? + +Department B is friends. How do you stand in your treatment of them? + +Department C includes all other persons. Did you lie to, steal from, +cheat or defraud any one? How much cash profit did you make? How much +less a man did the act make you? + +Go over your self-respect account. Does it show profit or loss? + +Check up your employees' account. What has your stewardship shown? Have +you drawn the employees closer, or have you driven them further from +you? + +Analyze your spiritual account. Is your religious belief a sham or a +conviction? Do you sing on Sunday, "We shall know each other there," or +do you make it a point to know and love your brother here, seven days a +week? + +[Sidenote: Balancing the Statement.] + +Be fair in your inventory. Write down the facts in the two columns +designated "good" and "bad," then go over the list and put a red danger +flag on the bad. Keep the list until next inventory and see whether you +have made a gain or loss in your net moral standing. + +Don't read this and say, "A good idea." Do the thing literally. + +Take a clean sheet of paper and write your personal assets and +liabilities down in the two columns marked "good" and "bad." + +If this inventory doesn't help, then you may call me a false prophet. + +I know the plan is a good one. I know it will help you. If it helps you, +you will thank me. There can be no harm in trying, because it's a +worth-while thing to test. + +The business man who never takes inventory is likely to bump some day. + + + + +46. + + +The ego is in us. It is a good thing to have, but egotism needs the soft +pedal when we speak or do things. + +Many people are unconscious of their egotism, yet their conversation +carries the suggestion, "Even I, who am superior to the herd, would do +this or that." + +[Sidenote: The Personal Pronoun.] + +For instance, two persons were arguing about the merits of an +inexpensive automobile. Parenthetically, I may say that one belonged to +the Ford class, and the other to the can't-afford class. A can't-afford +snob came to the rescue of the Ford champion by saying, "That's a good +car; why, I wouldn't mind owning one of them myself," and he beamed at +the party with the consciousness of having settled the matter and +removed the stigma from the Ford car. + +This egotism often crops out when one shows a group picture in which he +appears. He doesn't wait for you to find him; he pokes his arm over your +shoulder and says, "That's me." + +To each of us, in the very nature of things, the "I" is the center of +our world. We see things always through our I's. + +If we wish to get along without friction, we must remember that the +other fellow has his I's also, and when we try to make him see things +through out I's, it makes trouble. + +[Sidenote: Good Breeding.] + +The hall mark of education, refinement and character, in the broad +sense, is the ability to exclude the personal so far as possible from +our conversation. And be big enough to grant to others their undoubted +right to see and think from their own standpoint. + +Argument develops egotism more than almost anything else will. + +How often have you convinced another in an argument? + +How often have you been convinced in an argument? + +The world is big; there are millions of others in it, and our job is a +big one if we 'tend pretty well to our own knittin'. + + + + +47. + + +Four hundred and twenty-six years ago Christopher Columbus landed on an +island which he thought was India. + +Chris was mighty happy as he put his foot on good old Mother Earth, not +so much because he had discovered a new way to India, as he thought, but +because his foot touched land. + +Two days before he landed on San Salvador, his crew pitched into him and +threatened to throw him in the sea and turn back with the ship to Spain. + +[Sidenote: The Last Step Counts.] + +If Chris had shown the white feather, 1492 would not be the date of the +first line in the geography, announcing the "Discovery of America." +Chris had perseverance--the stuff that makes men successful. He started +to find India by sailing westward. He didn't succeed in his purpose, but +his determination was rewarded just the same, for he found a new +country, and that was worth while. + +Before he started, he was promised ten per cent of the revenue from any +lands he might discover. Just imagine what that would mean to-day. + +Columbus had perseverance and pep, and his unwavering fidelity to his +cause brought him success in his efforts. + +The world has improved since 1492, but the percentage of men who would +keep everlastingly at it like Columbus did, has not increased, perhaps. + +Columbus sailed with three ships, the largest sixty-six feet long. He +steered in the direction of the setting sun. His crew was 120 men. None +of them were enthusiastic at the start; all of them disgusted, +discouraged and ready to mutiny toward the last. + +[Sidenote: Keeping Everlastingly at It.] + +But Christopher kept the ships pointed West, through rain and shine, +through drifting, breezeless days and through wild stormy nights. He +kept on and on and on, and he brought home the bacon, which, being +interpreted, means that success crowned his efforts. + +Perseverance and pep--when all is said and done, these are the factors +without which no great achievement is possible. + +It was the mileage made on October 12th, 1492, that counted. + +It is the last step in a race that counts. + +It is the last stroke on the nail that counts. + +The moral is that many a prize has been lost just when it was ready to +be plucked. + +Perseverance--patience--pluck--pep--these are magic words. They are the +"Open Sesame" of modern life. They open the door to opportunity, and +will bring you prosperity, peace and plenty. + + + + +48. + + +The man who ridicules everything is on the toboggan slide, and he will +end up by becoming an out-and-out grouch. + +You and I know men who never have a pleasant word to say of anyone, or a +serious commendation of anything. + +[Sidenote: Ridicule and Humor.] + +Ridicule and sarcasm are often coated with would-be humor, and are +sometimes decked out as puns. By and by, however, this bias toward +ridicule and sarcasm gets to be a habit, and the coat of humor becomes +threadbare. + +Just at this time friends depart, for the grouch phase of the disease +has started. + +Sarcasm and ridicule are powerful weapons when used adroitly and for +good purposes. But when sarcasm and ridicule are used constantly as a +means to generate fun, or as vehicles for humor, then the evil +commences. The fun disappears; the sting remains. + +People will listen to you for awhile if you good-naturedly ridicule a +thing, but when you are known to have the habit, that is when friends +give you the go-by. + +Sarcasm and ridicule wound deeply; they are hot pokers jabbed in +quivering flesh. + +[Sidenote: A Dangerous Weapon.] + +Don't juggle with ridicule or sarcasm, for people look beneath the +veneer nowadays. They remember and repeat the axiom, "There's many a +true word spoken in jest." There are so many beautiful things to say, so +many kind expressions to utter, so many helpful hints to give, that we +should be ashamed to say or do things even jokingly that may hurt +another. + +When you ridicule a thing or a person, you may ridicule the tender heart +of one you should cheer and help. + +Ridicule is the negative approach to a subject anyway; the only good it +can accomplish is by reflex action or rebound force. + +Ridicule is mistakenly conceived, by many, as humor. It is used because +it can so easily be employed, in a seemingly clever way, to create a +laugh. + +Humor of the clean sort is a rare gift. Humor may easily descend to low +comedy through the use of ridicule, and often the audience does not +differentiate between low comedy and rare humor. + +The masses will laugh when the comedian on the stage hits his friend +with a club; that sort of fun-making satisfies adults who have +children's brains, and people of similar brain-construction will also +laugh at jokes which ride on ridicule. But you who read these lines are +worthy of better things; that's why you are reading this book. If, in my +audience, there are those who have the ridicule habit, I want to arouse +you to a better sense of humor than is possible through the employment +of ridicule and sarcasm. + +I don't want you to descend to the level of the grouch. The slide-down +is so easy; the climbing back is so very hard. + +Ridicule and sarcasm are cheap, slap-stick methods to produce fun. They +leave a sting many times when you are not aware of it. + +[Sidenote: When You Can Go the Limit.] + +When fighting whiskey, sin, corruption or organized evil, then use +burning ridicule and caustic sarcasm to sizzle and destroy the things +that need to be destroyed. Next time you find yourself using ridicule or +sarcasm to provoke mirth, remember you are toying with a habit-forming +practice that is likely to get the best of you unless you stop and stop +now. + + + + +49. + + +[Sidenote: Your Wife and Partner.] + +A wife is either a partner or an employee. If a partner, she has a +right to the fifty-fifty split on profits; if an employee, she is +entitled to her wages. A thrifty husband is commendable, but a +show-me-what-you-did-with-that-money husband should be punished by +being sentenced to attend pink teas, afternoon receptions, and to +match samples at the dry goods store. + +Married folks must be on a partnership basis, or there's sand in the +gear box. + +Give the wife the check-book; let her pay the bills. Play fair with her; +show her what your income is; give her all you can afford and what +economic and wise administration warrants. She'll cut the cloth to fit +the garment. + +When the husband questions every turn, every move, and doles out every +cent, the wife feels like a prisoner or a slave. Wives will do good team +work when they are broken to double harness with their husbands. + +Women are generally raised without being required to economize. They +have probably been petted and humored, and are used to preening and +smoothing their plumage and looking pretty. + +[Sidenote: Fine Feathers.] + +It's the female instinct in the human. In the animal world, the male has +the plumage and does the strutting and fascinating; but in the human +animal, the female is the bird with the bright plumage. + +You can't expect her to know much about the economic side of the home +the moment you slip the ring on her finger. + +But she'll shop better than her husband if he takes an interest in her +shopping and encourages her in the economical administration of the +household budget. + +She wants a word of appreciation once in a while. She chills under the +surveillance and parsimony of an eagle-eyed, meddlesome husband. + +She's a sweet bird, and sweet birds and hawks don't nest well together. + +Where the hawk and the dove are in the same cage, the feathers will fly. + +As I came through the park this morning, I saw a pair of robins who had +the right idea. They shared home responsibilities and did fine team +work. I think they were mighty happy, too; daddy red breast looked +mighty proud as he hustled worms for the family breakfast. + +Mama Robin looked down with loving eyes at her hubby, and the little +baby robins sang a chorus of joy at the very privilege of living in such +a home. + +Worry will fly out of the window the moment the husband and wife lay +their cards on the table and play the open hand. The moment one or the +other keeps a few cards up their sleeve, then worry and trouble come +back. + +The moral of this is, husbands and wives: live together, get together, +stay together, play together, save together, grow together, share +together. Travel the same road; don't take different paths. + + + + +50. + + +To-night I am in the Ozarks, and old Mother Earth is passing through the +belt of meteoric dust--that great mysterious sea in the universe through +which we pass every year about the middle of November. + +[Sidenote: The Stars.] + +I look out into the night and marvel at the countless stars in the +infinite black void, and wonder how closely those stars may be connected +with humanity. That they are connected, I have no doubt, for truly, "the +sun, the moon, the stars, and endless space as well, are parts, are +things, like me, that cometh from and runneth by one grand power of +which I am in truth a part, an atom though I be." + +How many stars are there? Well, let's get ready to appreciate number. I +can see about 3,000; with opera glasses I could see 30,000. + +Franklin Adams some years ago photographed the whole canopy with 206 +exposures. He counted the stars by mathematical plans, and published his +finding that there were 1,600,000,000 stars. That number is just about +the number of humans on this earth. So, then, there is one star for each +of us. + +[Sidenote: Finite and Infinite.] + +Each of those stars, practically speaking, is larger than the earth. It +is thought that many of them may have human beings who think and reason +like we do. Multiply the 1,600,000,000 population on this earth by any +portion of the 1,600,000,000 stars that may have thinking creatures on +them; multiply that total by the millions of years and millions of +generations that have passed out of existence. + +Think of these numbers and limitless boundaries, and then tell me, if +you can, that one little man on one little star we call Earth has a +strangle-hold on truth, and that his viewpoint, his ism, his little +dogma, his narrow creed, is all-sufficient, all-right, all-inclusive. + +Verily, little protoplasm, you have another guess. We can, by experience +and tests, prove two and two make four. We can by practice and +experience prove that love, kindness, help, gentleness, sympathy, cheer +and courage bring happiness. + +[Sidenote: The Sense of Proportion.] + +These are tangible things that fall within the province of human +experience. But when one wee Willie with sober face tells you and me +and others that he has the truth about the definite, full workings of +God's plans and purposes, I think of the greatness of 1,600,000,000 +stars, each with 1,600,000,000 humans, and of the unnumbered generations +gone by, and say that verily, we must live TO-DAY and do the best we can +to-day in act and thought and word. + +Yesterday is dead; to-morrow is unknown. Where we have been, where we +will be, we know not. Where we are to-day, we know, and only God in His +omniscience knows the final answer as to our future estate. + +He will take us and hold us and place us in His keeping and according to +His purpose, even though we do not or cannot follow or believe any one +of the little man-formed creeds, isms or cults as the measure and rule +for our beliefs. + +Those stars testify to the certainty of God, and I believe in Him. + + + + +51. + + +[Sidenote: Success and Envy.] + +When a man by his brains, or by a fortunate combination of +circumstances, rises to a position of prominence, he becomes a target +for the envious and a pattern for the imitator. Emulation and envy are +ever alert in trying to steal the fruits of the leader or the doer of +things. + +The man who makes a name gets both reward and punishment. The reward is +his satisfaction in being a producer, a help to the world, and the glory +that comes from widespread recognition and publicity of his +accomplishment. The punishment is the slurs, the enmity, the envy and +the detraction, to say nothing of the downright lies which are told +about him. + +When a man writes a great book, builds a great machine, discovers a +great truth or invents a useful article, he becomes a target for the +envious many. + +If he does a mediocre thing, he is unnoticed; if his work is a +masterpiece, jealousy wags its tongue and untruth uses its sting. + +Wagner was jeered. Whistler was called a mere charlatan. Langley was +pronounced crazy. Fulton and Stephenson were pitied. Columbus faced +mutiny on his ship on the very eve of his discovery of land. Millet +starved in his attic. Time has passed, and the backbiters are all in +unmarked graves. The world, until the end of time, will enjoy Wagner's +music. Whistler and Millet's paintings attract artists from all over the +world, and inventors reverence the names of Fulton and Stephenson. + +[Sidenote: The Price of Greatness.] + +The leader is assailed because he has done a thing worth while; the +slanderers are trying to equal his feat, but their imitations serve to +prove his greatness. Because jealous ones cannot equal the leader, they +seek to belittle him. But the truly worth-while man wins his laurels and +he remains a leader. He has made his genius count, and has given the +creature of his brain and imagination to the world. + +Above the clamor and noise, above the din of the rocks thrown at him, +his masterpiece and his fame endure. + +And compensation, the salve to the sore, makes the great man deaf to the +noise and immune to the attacks of the knockers. + +In his own heart he knows he has done a thing worth while; his own +conscience is clear, and he cares not for the estimate of the world. + +His own character is his chief concern, and he is content in the +knowledge that time will bring its reward. + +If you have high ideals in business, if you achieve success on a big +scale, mark well, you will be a subject of attacks, of lies, of malice, +of envy, of disreputable competition. There is no way out of it. + +[Sidenote: Compensation.] + +But you will be repaid. The lover of fair play, the grateful, true, +honest, worth-while people will flock to your standard; the riff-raff +will skulk behind bushes and throw rocks and mud, but their acts will +prove to the great mass of the people that your purposes, practices and +policies are right. + +Therefore, courage is to be your chief asset; patience, pride, +perseverance, your lieutenants. + +Be not weary, grow not discouraged when your progress is hampered by +obstacles. Every truly great man of the past has had his backbiters and +detractors. + + + + +52. + + +There are three periods in our lives: the youthful, or prospective +period, the adult, or introspective period, and the old age, or +retrospective period. + +[Sidenote: Growing Old.] + +Too many there are who look forward to old age with fear or dread. But +old age has its joys and pleasures as well as middle age and youth, and +these pleasures are the keener if the first and second periods of life +were lived sanely, worthily and properly. Numerous are the great men of +the past who have extolled the old-age period of human life with its +wisdom and wealth of worldly experience. + +If the middle period is spent in getting dollars only, then old age will +be days of empty nothingness. + +Youth is the planning time--the time for ideals and ambitions; middle +age the building time, and old age the dividend time. + +With many, old age is spent in reading the book of the past--with +sadness as the reader recognizes that the ideals, plans and hopes were +shattered. As age turns the page in the book of the past, he reads one +hope after another vanished in smoke. + +Anticipation is seldom realized, and this is as it should be, for in +time, men will learn to live each day for each day's good and each day's +happiness. + +Let us perform our duty to-day; let us lay away a kindly act, a smile, a +word of cheer in the bank of good deeds. + +Each of us has a share in this world's work. It matters little whether +our actual share is what we had guessed or wished it to be. + +[Sidenote: The Value of Ideals.] + +Vicissitudes will cross our path here and there; so-called misfortune or +bad luck will strike us when least expected. The failure of our dreams +should not grieve us. We cannot reach up and grasp the stars, but like +the pilot at the wheel at sea, we can steer by those stars that help us +on our way. + +Our ideal may not be realized, but the journey to it may still be a +pleasant one. + +Our ideals, plans and hopes had a real purpose, a real service; they +gave us courage and made us work, and thus they were well worth while. + +We must not, in the old age period, condemn ourselves because our plans +failed or our castles were shattered. + +There is no hard luck except incurable disease or death. It is not for +us to mourn the past or weep for the flowers that are gone. + +In our active days, we should realize that we are putting memories away +in our brains that will come back to us in old age. + +Only that which we put in our brains can we take out. + +So then, Mr. Avarice, I warn you: If gold is your God, it's cold comfort +you will get in your sunset days. + +Build up loving ties, appreciation and the worth-while riches of good +deeds, and in your evening of life, you will be welcome wherever you go. + +[Sidenote: Put Not Your Faith in Gold.] + +If your life was sold for gold, your evening of life will be short and +miserable; legatees will grudge you your every breath; they will endure +you simply because they are checking off the days from Time's calendar +until the day of your passing, and the dollars you sold your soul and +heart and life for, will be lavishly spent by cold-blooded heirs who +cared nothing for you. + +Leave a legacy of love, example and character, and if, with these, +there are a few dollars, they simply prove your frugality, economy and +independence. + +A few dollars left to heirs will help. Many dollars will hurt. Dollars +in old age will give you pleasure by helping in tight corners. They will +enable you to help your loved ones over the bumps in the road. + +Use the dollars to help those you love to help themselves, and your old +age will be a busy, happy one, and you won't be in the way. + +To prepare for that happy period of your life, the foundation must be +built in the active to-day period. + +Carry smiles into your old age; they will keep the heart young, the +digestion good, and life will be worth while. + + + + +53. + + +I have traveled horseback over the great arid plains of the West, and +have read the story of the ages gone before. + +[Sidenote: The Remote Past.] + +In Arizona and New Mexico there are ancient ruins of forts and cities +built by people we know not of. Chalcedony Park with its petrified +forest of mammoth trees silently testifies to a period when vegetation +was rampant on what is now a desert. + +In Wyoming there is coal enough to furnish fuel for the United States +for several centuries. + +Coal is carbon made from decayed trees and vegetation, which became +covered with earth and rock, and was subjected to tremendous pressure +throughout the thousands of years required to effect the transformation. + +Oceans and floods gradually covered millions of acres of trees and +plants with ooze and soil and sand. Ages turned some of these deposits +to stone. + +There in bleak Wyoming is testimony and evidence of changes that time +only can bring about. + +"A thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years." Thus +wrote the scribe of old. So, then, we must consider this estimate of +time in reading the first chapter of Genesis which describes the order +of the world's creation. + +First took place the dividing of light from darkness, thus bringing +about the rotation of day and night. + +Then, the separating of land and water; then, the birth of vegetation on +the land, the creation of fish and reptiles in the sea, the fowls of the +air, the beasts of the field, and finally, the higher animal, man. + +[Sidenote: The Measure of Time.] + +The pages of the earth's surface carry in their stratification indelible +records harmonizing with this scriptural account of the evolution of the +earth from its chaotic misty past to its concrete definite present. Yes, +this earth of ours is old, so old that mere man cannot contemplate or +accurately estimate its wondrous age. + +The fossils of the mammoth reptiles and beasts which lived before the +appearance of man on this planet are numerous in the fascinating West I +know so well. + +In those arid desert hills are bones of the ancient rhinoceros--parent +of our horse--and there are shells, and fossils of fish, and bones of +animals imbedded in the strata of rock. + +Man reads these pages and he is lost in bewilderment, impoverished in +thought, dumb for words, paralyzed by his inability to co-ordinate this +evidence with any measure of time that will fall within the range of +human comprehension. + +[Sidenote: Age of the Earth.] + +Historians say the world was 4,004 years old before the Christian era, +and 1918 years have passed since then, making the age to date 5,922 +years. It is not surprising that through the dark ages, dates and facts +were lost. We have not a complete history in written language, but we +have some very definite history in the rocks and hills and lands and +seas. + +The world certainly is more than 5,922 years old. Read the record of +time so plainly visible at Niagara Falls. + +Niagara Falls eats away about two feet of rock in a century; the gorge +is a good many miles long. At the present rate of erosion, it takes +2,640 years to eat away a mile. Multiply that by the distance between +the falls and Lake Ontario and you have an idea of how many years +Niagara Falls has been at work. + +Before Niagara Falls was in existence, the country round about was +under the sea; before that, under glaciers; before that, in the tropics, +and I don't know how many times it has swung on its pendulum between +Frigid, Temperate and Torrid Zones. + +We are certain to become lost in a labyrinth of mystery when we take +these known facts concerning the earth's age, and try to specify any +particular number of millions of years as the old world's age. + + + + +54. + + +And now my pleasant occupation of writing this book draws to an end. I +sincerely hope you have received some definite suggestions that will be +helpful to you. + +To get you to think--that has been my aim. To get you to analyze +yourself--to take stock of yourself--to know yourself--that has been the +task I set before me. + +[Sidenote: How to Think.] + +Think vital thoughts of courage, faith and hope. Then will your days +pass joyfully, and your path be one of peace, happiness and contentment. +If you fill your mind with gloom and sorrow thoughts, your surroundings +will reflect your mental attitude and will accentuate your misery and +dejection. Do not give way to this weak, gloomy, pernicious thinking. +You can be strong, you will be strong if you learn to control your +thought habits. + +Can you face disagreeable facts without wavering? Can you meet adversity +with courage in your heart and a smile on your lips? You can, if you +have read this book carefully, calmly, thoughtfully, and put into +practice the rules I have laid down. + +Do not think that you can go through life without your share of pain, +disillusion and disappointment. It can't be done. No man has ever done +it. Clouds will come, but they can be dispelled. Obstacles will arise, +but they can be surmounted. Troubles will visit you, but meet them +boldly and courageously and do not show the white feather. + +To the thinking man or woman, life is a great arena wherein good and +bad, joy and sorrow, faith and disillusion, happiness and unhappiness, +success and failure are inextricably intermingled. The joy and +happiness, accept gratefully; the sorrow and disillusion, bear with +fortitude. And remember, although it is not possible to enjoy an +absolute and continued state of happiness, it always lies within your +power to have serenity, poise, peace and contentment. + +When you are in the dumps--when that feeling of the hopelessness and +un-worth-whileness of life comes over you, then, more than ever, +_think_. Do not give way to fear and despondency. Think cheerful +thoughts; think of the good things that life has given you, not the +least of them being life itself. Think of the ringing words that Milton +put into the mouth of Lucifer, the fallen angel, in "Paradise Lost": + + "The mind is its own place, and in itself + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." + +[Sidenote: Life's Ever-Newness.] + +To the person who thinks, life is ever-new, ever-interesting. If you +have lost your grip on reality--if you have dwelt too long in the +shadowland of doubt, fear and despondency--the thing to do is to correct +your thinking. Let your mind soar in contemplation of the beautiful +things of nature. Steel yourself against petty pull-backs and recognize +them for what they really are--trifling annoyances that serve no purpose +except to distract you from the pursuit of the great and glorious goal +that lies ahead. + +Only to the thinking man is it given to see life and see it whole. He +only has the true sense of proportion. He keeps his eye on the main +objective, secure in the realization that he is master of himself and +captain of his own soul. He is self-sufficient, for he knows that no +matter what befalls, he carries happiness and contentment within himself +wherever he goes. + +The practice of thinking is a tower of strength. If you are a thinker, +life's little troubles serve but to reinforce your spirit of resistance +and make you stronger. + +So then, let this be my last word to you--_think!_--for it is by +thinking that man has risen to his present high estate in the world. It +is by thinking that the future joy and happiness and peace of the world +must be increased. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Think, by Col. Wm. C. 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Wm. C. Hunter. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .sidenote {width: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-right: 1em; + float: left; clear: left; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; width: 400px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + .u {text-decoration: underline; text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left; text-indent: 0em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Think, by Col. Wm. C. Hunter + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Think + A Book for To-day + +Author: Col. Wm. C. Hunter + +Release Date: July 25, 2011 [EBook #36849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THINK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 695px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="695" height="1024" alt="Wm C Hunter" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<h1>THINK</h1> + +<h3>A Book for To-day</h3> + +<h5>By</h5> +<h3>COL. WM. C. HUNTER</h3> + +<h5>Author of<br /> +Pep, Dollars and Sense, Brass Tacks, etc.</h5> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 295px;"> +<img src="images/illus003.jpg" width="295" height="149" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>The Reilly & Lee Co.<br /> +<small>Chicago</small></h3> +</div> + + +<p> </p> + +<p class="u"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></p> + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1918<br /> +by<br /> +The Reilly & Britton Co.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Made in U. S. A.</i></p> + +<p class="center">Published September 24, 1918<br /> +Second Printing—October 1, 1918<br /> +Third Printing—June 15, 1919<br /> +Fourth Printing—June 1, 1920<br /> +Fifth Printing—April 3, 1922<br /> +Sixth Printing—February 27, 1925<br /> +Seventh Printing—October 25, 1926<br /> +Eighth Printing—October 5, 1927</p> + +<h4><i>Think</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PUBLISHER'S NOTE</h2> + + +<p>When Colonel Hunter wrote PEP in 1914 and +offered it to The Reilly & Britton Company, we +immediately accepted the manuscript for publication. +So highly did we regard the work that +the president of this company, over his signature, +contributed an introductory note of endorsement, +citing his own experience in following the +rules and principles laid down in PEP for the +attainment of "poise, efficiency and peace."</p> + +<p>Our confidence and belief in PEP were amply +justified. Eight large editions were printed in +four years. Over 70,000 copies have been sold.</p> + +<p>THINK—the last book that Colonel Hunter +wrote—is now published for the first time. It +is especially important, coming, as it does, at a +time when commonsense thinking, good health, +good cheer, optimism and rational methods of +living are more necessary than ever before.</p> + +<p>In this trenchantly written volume, Colonel +Hunter has given some golden advice to the man +or woman who is facing the big problems of +to-day in a wavering or hopeless spirit. Correct +your thinking. Get a grip on yourself. Colonel +Hunter tells you how.</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h1>THINK</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<h2>1.</h2> + + +<p>We all enter the world with an abundance of +nerve energy, and by conserving that energy we +can adapt and adjust our nerve equipment to +keep pace with the progress and evolution of +our times.</p> + +<p>The way to preserve and conserve nerve equilibrium +and power is to rest and relax the nerves +each day.</p> + +<p>You may rest them by a change of the thought +habit each day, by relaxation, by sleep, and by +the suggestions made in this book.</p> + +<p>There are but few advance danger signals +shown by the nervous system, and in this there is +a marked difference between the nerves and the +organic system.</p> + +<p>If you abuse your stomach, head, heart, lungs, +liver, kidneys or eyes, you have distress and pain.</p> + +<p>The nervous energy is like a barrel of water—you +can draw water from the faucet at the bot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>tom +until you have almost exhausted the contents.</p> + +<p>Nature mends ordinary nerve waste each day, +like the rains replenish the cistern.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Conserve +Your +Energy.</div> + +<p>A reasonable use of your nerve force, like a +reasonable use of the rainwater, means you can +maintain a permanent supply. But +you must be reasonable; you must +give the cistern a chance to refill and +replace that which you have drawn out.</p> + +<p>You, who have shattered and tattered your +nerves, are not hopeless. You can come back, +but it must be done by complete change of the +acts that brought on the condition.</p> + +<p>Get more sleep. Eliminate the useless, harmful +fads, fancies and functions which disturbed +and prevented you from living a sane, rational +life.</p> + +<p>Avoid extremes, cultivate rhythm and regularity +in your business and your home life. Keep +away from excitement. Read really good books. +Walk more, talk less.</p> + +<p>Eat less heat-making foods and more apples. +Follow the diet, exercise and thought rules suggested +in "Pep."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">No Need +to Despair.</div> + +<p>Maybe these lines are being read by a discouraged +one who is "all nerves," which means<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +lost nerve force. To you I say there +is hope and cheer and strength and +courage if, right here, now, you resolve +to cut the actions, habits and stunts that +knocked you out and follow my suggestions.</p> + +<p>I know, my friend, for I've trotted the heat, +danced the measure, and been through the mill.</p> + +<p>Now I am fearless, calm and prepared. I can +stand any calamity, meet any issue, endure any +sorrow.</p> + +<p>I can do prodigious work in an emergency, go +without rest or eating when required, because I +have poise, efficiency—peace.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Steer a +Middle +Course.</div> + +<p>I realize nothing is as bad as it is painted. +Nothing is as good as its boosters claim. I go +in the middle of the road, avoiding +extremes. I have confidence in my +heart. Courage, hope, happiness, and +content attend me on my way.</p> + +<p>I've buried envy in a deep pit and covered +it with quick lime.</p> + +<p>I am keeping worry out by keeping faith, hope +and cheer thoughts in my brain-room, and these +are antiseptics against the ravages of the worry +microbe.</p> + +<p>I have my petty troubles and little make-believe +worries, just enough of them to make me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +realize I have them licked, and to remind me I +must not let up on my mastery of them.</p> + +<p>Worry growls once in a while just to make +me grab tighter the handle of my whip.</p> + +<p>And you may enjoy this serene state, too. +There is no secret about it. I will gladly give +you the rules of the game in this book. Just +prepare to receive some practical, helpful suggestions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>2.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">How to +Use Your +Assets.</div> + +<p>You are a busy person, so am I. Busy persons +are the ones who do things. The architect +is a busy man, but he has learned that +the effort spent in preparing his +plans is the most important part of +his work. The plans enable him to do his work +systematically and lay down rules and methods +to get the highest efficiency and accomplishment +from those who do the work of erecting the building.</p> + +<p>If the architect would order lumber, stone and +hardware, without system, and start to erect the +building without carefully prepared plans, the +building would lack symmetry and strength, and +it would be most expensive.</p> + +<p>The planning time therefor was time well spent.</p> + +<p>Few persons have the ability to control and +conserve their talents so as to produce the highest +efficiency. Men rush along thinking their +busyness means business. Really, it means +double energy and extra moves to produce a +given effect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">Unnecessary +Moves.</div> + +<p>The elimination of unnecessary moves means +operating along lines of least resistance, and any +plan or method that will help to do +away with unnecessary moves and +make the necessary moves more +potential will be received with welcome, I am +sure.</p> + +<p>With the object of conserving energy and +strengthening your force, this book is written.</p> + +<p>It shall not be a book of ultimate definiteness +or a book of exact science. There are no definite +or exact rules that will apply, without exception, +to any science except mathematics.</p> + +<p>But we shall learn many helpful truths, nevertheless, +and if I err, or disagree with your conclusions, +just eliminate those lines and take the +helps you find.</p> + +<p>I particularly emphasize the importance of +taking a few minutes each evening and using +the time for sizing up things, by inventory, analysis, +speculation, comparison and hypothesis. +Many of the great captains of industry who are +noted for their energy in accomplishing things +worth while, have learned the value of this daily +habit.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Know +Thyself.</div> + +<p>I want to help YOU to form the habit of +thinking over each day's activities in the quiet, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>relaxed, uncolored, unprejudiced, secluded +environment of your home. +When the day's work is over, spend +fifteen or twenty minutes each evening in seclusion, +and with closed eyes, size yourself up. +Think over your daily round and the work you +are doing. Are you getting the best out of yourself? +Or are you plodding along aimlessly, scattering +your energy in a haphazard, hit-or-miss +fashion that benefits nobody? Are you growing, +or are you standing still? In these fifteen-minute +sizing-up sessions, you will come to grips with +yourself. You will see yourself as you really are, +and will discover your weaknesses, your strength, +your real worth.</p> + +<p>I have chosen the evening as the time for our +little talks. In the evening we can be cozy, +comfy and communicative. The bank is closed. +We met the note and got through the day. We +are alive and well; we can open our hearts. +There is no office boy to disturb us, and the life +insurance agent is away at his club.</p> + +<p>Yes, we can be alone and tranquilly let down +the tension, lower the speed and with normal +heartbeats play the low tones, the soft strains, +the quieting music, and soothe our nerves.</p> + +<p>All day we've heard the band with its drums<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +and trombones and shrieky music. The day with +its busy whirl kept our analyzing mental think-tank +occupied with thoughts of gain and game +and fame.</p> + +<p>In the evening we have time to study logic and +to reason, to analyze and to take inventory, to +thresh out problems.</p> + +<p>So let us relax and reflect in the evening quiet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>3.</h2> + + +<p>Man's nature makes it imperative for him to +be interested in something.</p> + +<p>That interest is to his help or hurt, according +as he directs it.</p> + +<p>There is much worry and misery in the world +because so many are astatic, like a compass that +has lost its loadstone.</p> + +<p>Man is definitely the result of the materials the +body and the mind feed upon.</p> + +<p>Character is the result of a determined purpose +to be and to do right—to one's self and to +one's fellows.</p> + +<p>The man of character focuses his attention on +truth, and on fact.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Theory and +Fact.</div> + +<p>He uses theories with fact, to aid his progress, +but he recognizes that theorizing, without fact +as a safety ballast, is a useless expenditure. +Theories without fact +leave man in a rudderless boat; he +gets nowhere, he merely drifts.</p> + +<p>Theory often helps to get at fact, but the better +way is to get at fact by proven experience,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +of which there is an inexhaustible abundance in +the world.</p> + +<p>Facts are based on natural laws. The study of +natural laws is beneficial. We shall strive in our +studies to keep close to fact with just enough +speculation to enliven the interest in facts.</p> + +<p>Living the artificial life makes for worry, illness +and failure.</p> + +<p>Living in harmony with the great natural laws +is the helpful way to live.</p> + +<p>To abide by the law is safety; to violate the +law brings punishment.</p> + +<p>Every man is better if he follows scientific +methods and habits of thought and living.</p> + +<p>The loafing or astatic mind will fall into morbid +tendencies.</p> + +<p>The employed, truth-seeking, idealistic, hopeful +mind is never dependent on people or things +for its pleasure.</p> + +<p>The acquiring of helpful knowledge, the seeking +of worth-while truth, are ever profitable employments, +paying present and future dividends, +and meanwhile those acts positively divert the +thought from morbid tendencies.</p> + +<p>I shall strive to bring helpful knowledge, good +cheer and interesting facts for your present occupation +and benefit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>If I succeed in accomplishing my purpose, even +in part, my time has been well spent.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Thought +Never Stops.</div> + +<p>We have an unchallenged fact to rest our feet +on, a fact that shall follow us through all the +pages of this book, and that is: Our +thoughts never stop, our brains never +sleep. So then, we must consider that +thought current, and reckon with it.</p> + +<p>The motive power is turned on, and we must +grasp the helm if we sail the sea of life successfully, +baffling storms and avoiding rocks.</p> + +<p>Scientific books are usually dry, uninviting +reading; they lack the human interest. They are +generally bloodless skeletons.</p> + +<p>We shall try to weave science into new patterns +and paint interesting pictures, so that science +will attract and not repel.</p> + +<p>This book is different in its suggestions, in +its prescriptions, in its language, but it is universal +with all scientific books, in that its aim +is helpful truth.</p> + +<p>We go by different routes, but our objective +point is the same.</p> + +<p>We will avoid technical names and symbols, +and will speak the common language that the +multitude understands.</p> + +<p>We shall deal with problems and aspirations<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +that come to us all in this busy workaday world.</p> + +<p>We shall try to cut the underbrush in the +swamp and blaze a plain trail out on to the big +high road.</p> + +<p>We shall keep in step to the drum-beats of +truth, we will rest and recreate in cool shady +places, and then up and on to our purpose with +smiles on our faces, courage in our hearts, and +song on our lips.</p> + +<p>Every moment of our journey will be worth +while and positively helpful if we take the trip +with conscientious application and continuity of +purpose.</p> + +<p>Our path is strewn with roses and thorns; we +must enjoy the roses and escape the thorns.</p> + +<p>We welcome you, the neophyte, who have +joined us in our pilgrimage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>4.</h2> + + +<p>Let's be personal; that's a good way to establish +a good idea in place of a bad one.</p> + +<p>Are YOU pleasant to live with? Keep this +personal question before you, even if you are +cocksure that you can answer, yes.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Be +Pleasant.</div> + +<p>Maybe there are some little jars, rattles, gratings, +you are not aware of. Few of us are honest +when looking for our own faults. +There may be some sand in your gear +box. It won't hurt you to keep the +personal question alive for a few days,—"Am I +pleasant to live with?"</p> + +<p>I love the pleasant people whether they are +fat, lean, tall, short, red heads, brown heads, +homely, handsome, republicans or democrats, +business men or artisans.</p> + +<p>The complaining, unpleasant grouch is like a +bear with a toothache. Miserable himself and +spreading misery all around.</p> + +<p>A freckle-faced, red-headed, cross-eyed man +with a healthy funny bone will spread more cheerfulness +and sunshine than a bench full of sad and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +solemn justices of the supreme court, or a religious +conference.</p> + +<p>What a different story would be written of +Job, if he had only possessed a servant who could +dance a double shuffle and whistle "Dixie" while +cooking breakfast.</p> + +<p>David was a man after my own heart; he +brought gladsome songs into the world. He said, +"Live the way of pleasantness."</p> + +<p>You can pray, sing, play, work, think, rest, +hope; you can be well or ill, rich or poor and still +be pleasant to live with.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Pleasantness +a Tonic +Quality.</div> + +<p>Being pleasant helps you to be strong in body +and mind, and it keeps you young a long time. +It's good medicine; I know it. My +little motto, "Be pleasant every +morning until ten o'clock, the rest of +the day will take care of itself," has brought sunshine +into many homes.</p> + +<p>If you frown it will soon get to be a habit—and +give you a heavy heart. If you smile your +face will be attractive, no matter how unlucky +you were in the lottery of beauty.</p> + +<p>Be pleasant and you will never feel old. The +pleasant disposition is a sure route to happy land +and happy homes.</p> + +<p>Old Ponce de Leon lost out in searching for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +fountain of youth. If he had been pleasant, he +would have kept the smiles on his wife's face and +there would have been no excuse to leave her to +find the mythical fountain.</p> + +<p>Hoe cake, bacon and smiles beat lobster, champagne +and frowns.</p> + +<p>Our land is thrice blessed with its peaceful, +happy homes—for "happy homes are the +strength of a nation."</p> + +<p>Be pleasant in your home. Make the children +feel home is the pleasantest place in the world.</p> + +<p>Every act and example is written in the child's +memory tablet. Let your hours with the children +be loving, laughing, living hours. Pat them on +the head, joke with them, whisper affection, express +love to them. Those acts will be remembered +in all their years to come, for you are planting +everlasting plants that may pass on to a hundred +generations and make children happy a thousand +years from now.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cheerfulness +Its Own +Reward.</div> + +<p>Be pleasant to live with and you will have +more pleasant things to live for. There will be +kindnesses, kisses, beauty, health, +peace, fun, happiness and content +coming your way all along the +great big road of life you are traveling.</p> + +<p>Be pleasant to live with and the people will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +turn to you as you pass and reflect your cheerfulness +like the sunflowers turn to face the sun.</p> + +<p>Be pleasant; don't be cross and crabbed because +someone else in the household is not pleasant. +Do your part; you will likely thereby cure +the frown habit on the face of the unfortunate +disturber of your peace.</p> + +<p>Make yourself right before you criticise your +life partner. Answer this question, "Am I pleasant +to live with?"</p> + +<p>Don't fool yourself in the matter. Get right +down to brass tacks with yourself, watch your +moves and acts and attitude for ten days carefully +before answering the question.</p> + +<p>If your answer is no, now is your time to +change your attitude and try the pleasant plan, +and here is my blessing and good wishes in such +an event.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>5.</h2> + + +<p>There is fun and interest and diversion all +around us. All we need is keen observation and +we will see much that passes unnoticed to the +preoccupied person.</p> + +<p>What an interesting thing is the great round +world we live in! The people are as interesting +as fish in an aquarium.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sitting on +the Side +Lines.</div> + +<p>See the rushing, surging crowd. Man pushes +along searching for necessary things to be done; +he builds cities, harnesses rivers, +makes ships to sail the seas to the +uttermost parts of the earth. Man +goes to war, he builds death-dealing devices that +destroy in a few minutes a beautiful cathedral +which has taken centuries to build.</p> + +<p>Man makes the desert blossom like a rose.</p> + +<p>Here is the scientist in his laboratory, trying +to unite certain elements to produce new substance. +Here is the beauty in her silken nest; +here the lover; there the musician; yonder the +peanut man, and in the office building is the captain +of industry—all busy bees deeply absorbed +in their respective interests, and intoxicated in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +the belief that they are important and greatly +necessary.</p> + +<p>Yet in the broad measure of ages they are mere +ripples on the sea of time, faint bubbles on the +eternal deep, and grains of sand at the mountain +foot.</p> + +<p>Great man by his own measure—minute man +by the great measure of time. Mammoths to the +near-sighted—mites to the far-sighted. Hustle +and bustle, crowd and push. They tramp down +the weaker brothers in the mad race after the +golden shekels, which are only measures of the +ability to buy and own material things; symbols +of power to make others serve you. These golden +shekels which men fret, sweat and fight for, can +only buy physical and material things.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A Great +Truth.</div> + +<p>Away from the crowd is the little group who +have learned a great truth, which is that happiness +is not to be bought with gold. +This little minority knows that mental +pleasures are best, and that mental +pleasures cannot be found on the great highway +of material conquest.</p> + +<p>The puffy, corn-fed millionaire pities the man +who is content to live with small means and +enjoy what he has to the full extent.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Real +Happiness.</div> + +<p>The wise man is he who gets fullness out of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>life—happiness, respect, content, freedom from +worry; who is busy doing useful +things—busy helping his brother, +busy training his children, busy +spreading sunshine and love and the close-together +feeling in his home circle.</p> + +<p>The corn-fed, hardened, senseless, money-mad, +dollar-worshipper knows not peace. Smiles seldom +linger on his lips. Peace never rests in +his bosom, cheer never lights his face. He is +simply a fighting machine, miserable in solitude, +suffering when inactive and sick when resting.</p> + +<p>The money-chaser is up and doing, working +like a Trojan, because occupation takes his mind +off the painful picture of his misspent opportunity +and his destroyed natural instinct. When +fighting for gold he forgets his appalling poverty +in the really worth-while things in the world.</p> + +<p>Like the drunkard in his cups, the intoxication +makes him forget, and he is negatively happy.</p> + +<p>Money received as reward for doing things +worth-while is laudable.</p> + +<p>We cannot sit idly by and neglect to earn +money to provide food, shelter and education for +our loved ones, but between times we should +seek the wealth that comes from right mental +employment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>The millionaire thinks, dreams and gets dollars, +and that is all.</p> + +<p>The worth-while man thinks kindness, usefulness, +self-improvement, brotherhood, love and he +gets happiness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Doing for +Others.</div> + +<p>The man who discovers means to help his +fellow man, does a good act, but is the man +with the dollars in front of his eyes +who commercializes the discovery +and invention. In the end, the man +that helped mankind fares better than the man +who made the millions.</p> + +<p>It's a great crowd surging by, and very few +have the good sense to learn the value of TO-DAY. +That great crowd I see below my window +thinks ever of to-morrow and forgets the +wondrous opportunities that to-day holds out.</p> + +<p>Those who think always of to-morrow will +never get the beauties and joys from life that +comes to the little group of To-day, who appreciates +and enjoys the real Now, rather than the +pictured To-morrow that never comes.</p> + +<p>It's mighty interesting to sit on the side lines +and watch the crowds go by and speculate on +their movements.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Road +to Disillusionment.</div> + +<p>Save up your pennies, measure everything by +the dollar standard, think dollars, dream dollars, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>work, slave, push for the dollars +and you will build a fortune. You +will never have peace or recreation +or joy; you will live only in hope of a some day +when you will retire. That's the way the millionaires +travel life's highway.</p> + +<p>Some day the paper will announce the death +of those millionaires, and then the dollars will +be blown in by reckless heirs, and so the grinding +wheels roll on.</p> + +<p>Surely there are many ways of looking at +things. Surely there is much of interest in the +crowd. Surely there is an unending amount of +thought and speculation possible about that +crowd way down on the street below my window.</p> + +<p>What passions, what hopes, what joys, what +sorrows, are in the hearts of that hurrying, worrying +crowd.</p> + +<p>What noise this din of traffic makes; what activity +man has stirred up.</p> + +<p>A picture, a drama, a tragedy, a comedy—all +these I see in the human ants that run along below +the hive where I sit and write these lines.</p> + +<p>The phone rings and my little Nancy Lou's +voice says, "Daddy, will you please bring me +a pencil and a tablet with lines on it."</p> + +<p>So I must needs stop this, whatever you may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +call it, and push through the crowd to get that +tablet with "lines on it" for my Nancy Lou; and +there is some feeling of happiness and content +and peace in Daddy's heart as he lays down his +pen, for Daddy is going Home, and that word +means a lot in his little family, where they all +say "Daddy" instead of Papa or Father.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>6.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Wasted +Energy.</div> + +<p>It is hard enough to do duty once, but doubly +hard when you anticipate mentally everything +you have to do to-morrow. This +doing things twice is a habit easily +acquired if you don't watch out, +and it means wasted energy.</p> + +<p>I have just read the experience of a housewife +who was resting on a couch and reading. Her eye +caught sight of a book lying on the floor across +the room.</p> + +<p>Instantly her mindometer, if I may coin a word, +registered, "When you get up, pick up that +book."</p> + +<p>She went on reading, but her mind was not +on the magazine she held, but on that book on +the floor.</p> + +<p>So obsessed did she become that she was miserable +until she got up and picked up the book.</p> + +<p>I was talking with a woman who was resting +on her porch. Her day's work was over. She +was dressed for the afternoon. Everything in the +home was neat, sweet, clean and tidy. All was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +serene but her face, and that was the window +through which I saw worry working overtime.</p> + +<p>By strategy I learned the trouble, and here is +her story: "To-morrow a lot of fruit will be +ready to preserve. I am worrying where I shall +put it. My fruit closet is full."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Doing +Things +Twice.</div> + +<p>The woman had every reason to say to herself, +"Sufficient unto the day," yet she was doing +the preserving mentally to-day and +to-morrow she would do the work +physically. A tired mind is harder +to rest than a tired body, so we must nip this +advance mental work in the bud.</p> + +<p>We have all been mentally obsessed with +worrying about the things we were going to take +on our trip; then worrying over the routine of +our work when we should return from our trip.</p> + +<p>If the housewife looks over her week's work +and washes the dishes, makes the beds, cooks the +meals, dresses the children, mends the clothes, +and does all these things in her imagination before +she does them in reality, she is indeed a hard +working woman.</p> + +<p>It's all right to plan your work; that's economy +in mental expenditure, for it simplifies, systematizes, +and saves work.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Planning is +Efficiency.</div> + +<p>Plan your work in advance, but do not keep +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>your mind on the plans until the work is done. +When you have planned, then close +the mental book of to-morrow's +duty, and turn to pleasures, rest, +relaxation and enjoyment of to-day.</p> + +<p>It is to get a definite, different thought habit +fixed that I ask you to give me these few minutes +each day, so that we may consider various phases +of life, science, pleasure, morals and mental refreshment.</p> + +<p>True, we can only have a fleeting look at things, +but we'll get enough, I hope, to freshen your +minds, change the humdrum, and elicit interest +in things. Maybe these heart-to-heart, confidential +chats will help us and keep us from going +through the mental motions of to-morrow's +physical work.</p> + +<p>If these evening talks interest you, help clear +your vision, help cheer you, help rest you, then +they are good for you, and because they help you, +they certainly benefit me and make me very +happy, because happiness comes from doing +something for others.</p> + +<p>I write as the mood strikes me, or as a phase +of life comes before me, or as an idea strikes in +and just won't let go until I grasp my pen and +let the words flow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> + +<p>I mean this book to be human, and not a studied +literary effort.</p> + +<p>I want to reach you right there alone in the +room where you are reading this, and I want the +suggestions, the good, the help, to soak in, and +I want you to pass the good you get to your +brother; you won't lose a bit by doing so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>7.</h2> + + +<p>"She is all right—her only trouble is her +NERVES." How often we hear that and how +little does the person with steady nerves appreciate +the tortures of "nerves."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">About +Nerves.</div> + +<p>A cut, a bruise, a headache, or any of the physical +ailments can be quickly cured. Nature will +mend the break, but tired, worn, +stretched, abused nerves take time +to restore. These nerve ailments +call for most vigorous mental treatment.</p> + +<p>Neurasthenia means debilitated or prostrated +nerves and it shows itself first of all by worry. +Worry means the inability to relax the attention +from a definite fear or fancied hard luck. Worry +leads to many physical and mental disorders.</p> + +<p>Left alone this worry stage develops into an +acute state and brings with it nervous prostration, +and sometimes a complete collapse of the +will power.</p> + +<p>Before the acute stage of neurasthenia is +reached, there is noticed "brain fag," and brain +fag is nature's warning signal calling upon you +to take notice and change your mental habits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>Worry sometimes develops into hysteria; again +it takes the form of hypochondria or chronic +blues. The hypochondriac has a chronic, morbid +anxiety about personal health and personal welfare. +Frequently this state is accompanied by +melancholia.</p> + +<p>Melancholia is the fork in the road. One turning +leads to incurable insanity, the other to curable +melancholia.</p> + +<p>Right here is where heroic action is needed +by the sufferer.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cure the +Worry +Habit.</div> + +<p>Here is where the sufferer must exert his maximum +will power, and change completely his mental +and physical habits and his surroundings. +Occupation, changed +habits, taking in of confidence, faith +and courage thoughts—these changes are necessary +to the victim of melancholia, or he will shatter +his health on the danger rocks and go to +pieces.</p> + +<p>Melancholia is an ailment that offers a good +chance for Christian Science. Mental suggestion, +the powerful personality of a friend, and the personal +help such a friend can give by counsel, +example and suggestion, are all helps.</p> + +<p>I have abundant evidence that melancholia sufferers +can be restored to peace, efficiency and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +poise, by proper thought direction, and by proper +physical employment.</p> + +<p>"Pep," which has principally to do with mental +efficiency, definitely lays down rules and practical +suggestions for the employment of the mind +and body. I have letters and verbal proofs in +quantity proving the efficiency of those rules and +suggestions.</p> + +<p>So wonderful have been the results, so numerous +the recoveries, that the testimonials, if published, +would make the fake nerve tonic manufacturer +die of envy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Importance +of +Nerves.</div> + +<p>"Only your nerves." I cannot understand +why the word, only, is used. It makes it appear +that nerves are of minor importance. +Nerves are less understood +than anything in the human anatomy +and they are harder to understand.</p> + +<p>Experience has proved that nerves cannot be +restored by dope, patent medicines, tonics or +prescriptions.</p> + +<p>The cure must come by and through the individual +possessing the nerves, and by and through +the individual's power of will and mastery of the +mind.</p> + +<p>Get the mental equipment right. Let the mind +master the body. Let the nerve sufferer get hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +of himself and fill his brain with faith-thought +instead of fear-thought, with courage instead of +cowardice, with strength instead of weakness, +with hope instead of despair, with smiles instead +of frowns, with occupation instead of sluggishness, +and wonders will appear.</p> + +<p>The little shredded, tingling nerve-ends will +then commence to synchronize instead of fight, +to harmonize instead of breaking into discord, to +build instead of destroy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">You Can +"Come +Back."</div> + +<p>The building, or coming back to a normal state, +is slow; it takes time, patience and will power, +but it can be done. I know. I +have been through the mill, and I +pass the word to you and try to +stir you to be up and doing, even as I did.</p> + +<p>Your nerves can be steadied, your thoughts +uplifted, your health restored, your ambition re-established, +your normality fixed.</p> + +<p>Smiles, love and content are to be yours. Poise, +efficiency, peace, your blessings. Health, happiness +and hope your dividends. All these I promise +you if you will read this book from cover to +cover, <i>think</i>, and follow its plain, practical teachings.</p> + +<p>The curriculum is not hard; it is not my discovery. +I am merely the purveyor of facts, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +gleaner of truth, and the selector of helpful experiences, +first of all for my own benefit, and +having proved the truth in my own case, for +friends to whom I pass the truths and rules.</p> + +<p>I made bold to write books, but the writing has +paid me well, not alone in dollars, but from having +done a helpful thing in writing for other +humans who have had problems, worries and +nerves.</p> + +<p>The big books on nerves are discouraging and +forbidding by their immensity and the labyrinth +of technical, scientific terms. There are fine for +teachers, but discouraging for the layman.</p> + +<p>The great everyday crowd is the class I want +to talk to, and so I endeavor to write in plain +human, sincere style from heart to heart, with +understanding, feeling, charity and sympathy.</p> + +<p>I have felt the things you feel, and if I can +by example, emphasis, suggestion, rule or good +intent, be a help to you, then I have done a +service.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>8.</h2> + + +<p>There are men who cannot be kept down by +circumstances or obstacles.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Men +Who Do +Things.</div> + +<p>These men "carry on" with confidence in their +hearts and smiles on their faces. They do not +lie in wait for the band wagon or +favorable winds; they make things +happen. They are alert and alive +to every favorable opportunity and helpful influence +that comes their way.</p> + +<p>These men are men of good health. They are +out of doors much; they carry their heads high +and breathe in good air deeply. They greet +friends with a smile and put meaning and feeling +into every hand clasp.</p> + +<p>Let's you and I follow their trail, for it leads +out on to the big road.</p> + +<p>Do not fear being misunderstood; right will +finally come into its own.</p> + +<p>We will keep our minds off our enemies, and +keep our thoughts on our purpose; we will make +up our minds what we want to do. We will mark +a straight line on the log and hew to that line.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>Fear is the dope drug that kills initiative; hate +the poison that shatters clear thinking.</p> + +<p>Hate and fear are the iron ore in our life's vessel; +they deflect the compass and prevent us from +holding to the course.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Grasp +Present +Opportunities.</div> + +<p>There are splendid worth-while things for us +to do, and with continuity of action and singleness +of purpose on our part the +days will pass by as we are seizing +opportunity and making use of the +things required for the fulfillment of our desires. +We are like the coral insect that takes from the +running tide the material to build a solid fortress. +Our running tide is made up of the gliding golden +days.</p> + +<p>Let's waste no time in trying to make friends +or in seeking to attach ourselves to others. True +friends are not caught by pursuit; they come to +us; they happen through circumstances we do +not create.</p> + +<p>Self-reliance is ours, and we must first use it +for our own betterment. We will then have a +surplus of energy to allow us to help others.</p> + +<p>Our energy hours must be devoted to our purposes +and ideals. Atween times, we must rest +and relax, and repair the waste that strenuosity +makes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>Breathe good air, bask in the sunshine, see +nature, and say to yourself: "All these treasures +are for me; all these things I am part of."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Joy +of Living.</div> + +<p>Do not prepare for death; prepare for life. Preparing +for death brings the end before your allotted +time. Like Job of old, that +which we fear will come to us. We +must not think of death, or waste +time preparing for it. It makes us miserable +to-day. It makes us weak and fills us with fear, +and it draws the day of our departure nearer.</p> + +<p>To-day is ours. Live freely, fully to-day. Be +unafraid, unhurried, and undisturbed.</p> + +<p>We are building character, and the way we +build it is by mental attitude, by our acts, and +by the way we employ the precious moments of +to-day.</p> + +<p>Put yourself in harmony with nature—realize +the wonderful power of the will—and you will +be strong, a veritable king among men.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>9.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">The +Pessimist.</div> + +<p>The calamity howler is found everywhere. In +times of peace or war he is with us. This pessimist +sows seeds of discord, plants +envy, generates the anarchist spirit, +and is an all-around nuisance.</p> + +<p>A man may spend years erecting a building; +a fiend can demolish it in a minute with a stick +of dynamite.</p> + +<p>The calamity howler is a destroyer; he doesn't +think, he spurts out words. His words and arguments +are simply parrot mimicry and void of +intellectual impulse, as are the movements of +an angle worm.</p> + +<p>These gloom merchants talk of their rights, +and they expect and demand the same privileges +and benefits that are earned by the man who +uses his head.</p> + +<p>The pessimist sees good in nobody. Human +nature to him is a cesspool of villainy and corruption. +He will not tolerate a word of praise +for a thing well done. Disparagement is his +favorite weapon. He ascribes mean and selfish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +motives to public-spirited men. Every deed of +kindness, every act of generosity, is given a sinister +meaning when seen in the light of his own +base soul.</p> + +<p>At home he is a grumbler and a grouch. His +presence depresses, and happiness fades away +at his approach.</p> + +<p>In the community, he never reaches high office +because he lacks civic spirit and the forward-looking +view. He obstructs progress instead of +promoting it.</p> + +<p>At his work, he lags behind where others +achieve. He rails at conditions instead of changing +them, and eventually he finds himself shelfed +and shunned as a back number.</p> + +<p>These purveyors of panic eat into the vitals of +the nation. They breed discontent, undermine +morale, and sow suspicion and distrust where +previously there had been friendliness, co-operation +and the pull-together spirit.</p> + +<p>Wherever men gather, you will find these +ghoulish spirits. They are in evidence in times +of peace and plenty, as well as in times of war +and peril.</p> + +<p>It matters not that our farmers are seeing to +it that our granaries are filled to-day as never +before, and that every man has a job. These<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +prophets of disaster have only one string to their +harp, and they will twang on that and no other.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Danger +of Pessimism.</div> + +<p>In times of war, the pessimist is doubly dangerous, +for he spreads his iniquitous propaganda +among people who are already +under a great emotional strain. +Always a menace, when a people +are in the throes of a great life-and-death struggle, +it is doubly necessary to stamp out this destroyer +of morale, with his insidious campaign +of gloom and despair and his veiled innuendos +of panic and destruction.</p> + +<p>It is up to you and to me to denounce these +breeders of discord; to hold them up to the scorn +of intelligent, thinking people. They are neither +doers nor thinkers, and the world has no need +of them in these trying times.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>10.</h2> + + +<p>This evening I rode home in a crowded street +car. What an interesting study it was to watch +the faces in that car.</p> + +<p>Discontent, discomfort, worry, gloominess on +nearly every face. Tired faces, tired bodies +drooped over from a hard day's work, mouth corners +depressed. Hopelessness stamped on the +countenances.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Gloom +and Cheer.</div> + +<p>As the people came in the car, some of them +had smiles or at least passable expressions, but +when they got crowded together +and saw the gloomy faces, the +gloom spread to their faces, too. +At a picnic, all are smiling and laughing. In +the street car at six o'clock, the long procession +of workers is a stream of solemn faces. Contagion, +example, surroundings, yes, that's it—contagion +and example.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock in the cars, all is gloom, blueness +and sorrow faces. At eight o'clock many of +these faces will be changed; there will be joy, +smiles, rosiness, singing and dancing. Yet the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +actual conditions of finance, health, hope or prospects +haven't changed since these people were in +the car at six o'clock.</p> + +<p>Why, then, such a change in two hours?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Good Cheer +Contagious.</div> + +<p>It is this: At seven o'clock these workers sat +down to supper; they were out of that gloom-reflected +street car atmosphere. +Now they are talking; they are +rounding-up the day's activities; +they are HOME with mother, sister, brother and +the kiddies. The home ones greet them with +smiles, the appetizing supper pleases the palate, +good cheer permeates, and all around them is +smiles and joy.</p> + +<p>Gloom spreads gloom. Joy spreads joy. Gloom +is black; joy is white. One darkens, the other +brightens.</p> + +<p>Well, then, where's the moral? What's the +benefit from this little study of the street car +passengers?</p> + +<p>The lesson is plain: It is that you and I are +ferments of joy, or acids of gloom. We are influences +to help or to hurt. To hurt others by +our example hurts us. To help others by our +example helps us. We become happier than ever.</p> + +<p>In the street car, life was not worth living if +you judged by the pained faces. In two hours,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +by changed thought, the example of life was +worth while.</p> + +<p>What changes mental attitude makes!</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"When a man has spent<br /> +His very last cent,<br /> +The world looks blue, you bet;<br /> +But give him a dollar,<br /> +And loud he will holler<br /> +There's life in the old world yet."<br /> +</p> + +<p>Next time we get on the street car, let's plant +some smiles. Let's give that lady a seat and +smile when we do it.</p> + +<p>We can spread cheer by merely wearing a +cheery face. Costs little, pays big. Let's do it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>11.</h2> + + +<p>Some of our richest blessings are gained by +not striving for them directly. This is so true +that we accept the blessings without thinking +about how we came to get them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Be +Happy.</div> + +<p>Particularly true is this in the matter of happiness. +Everyone wants to be happy, but few know +how to secure this blessing. Most +people have the idea that the possession +of material things is necessary +to happiness, and that idea is what keeps +architects, automobile makers, jewelers, tailors, +hotels, railroads, steamships and golf courses +busy.</p> + +<p>Do your duty well, have a worth-while ambition, +be a dreamer, have an ideal, keep your duty +in mind, be occupied sincerely with your work, +keep on the road to your ideal, and happiness +will cross your path all the while.</p> + +<p>Happiness is an elusive prize; it's wary, timid, +alert and cannot be caught. Chase it and it escapes +your grasp.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">One Man's +Story.</div> + +<p>I read today of a friend who walked home with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>a workman. This is the workman's story: He +had a son who was making a record +in school. He had two daughters +who helped their mother; he +had a cottage, a little yard, a few flowers, a garden. +He worked hard in a garage by day, and +in the evening he cultivated his flowers, his garden, +and his family. He had health, plus contentment +a-plenty. His possessions were few and +the care of them consequently a negligible effort.</p> + +<p>Happiness flowed in the cracks of his door. +Smiles were on his lips, joy in his heart, love +in his bosom; that's the story my friend heard.</p> + +<p>Then came a friend in an automobile on his +way home from the club. He picked up my +friend, and unfolded to him a tale of woe, misery +and discontent.</p> + +<p>This club man had money, automobiles, social +standing, possessions, and all the objects and material +things envious persons covet—yet he was +unhappy. His whole life was spent chasing happiness, +but his sixty horsepower auto wasn't fast +enough to catch it.</p> + +<p>The poor man I have told you about was the +man who washed the club man's auto.</p> + +<p>The strenuous pleasure seeker fails to get happiness; +that is an inexorable law. He develops<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +into a pessimist with an acrid, satirical disgust at +all the simple, wholesome, worth-while, real +things in life.</p> + +<p>This is not a new discovery of mine; it's an old +truth. Read Ecclesiastes, the pessimistic chronicle +of the Bible, and you'll learn what comes to +the pleasure-chaser, and you will know about +"vanity and vexation of spirit."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Making +Others +Happy.</div> + +<p>Do something for somebody. Engage in moves +and enterprises that will be of service to the community +and help the uplift of mankind. +This making others happy +is a positive insurance and guarantee +of your own happiness.</p> + +<p>You must keep a stiff upper lip, a stiff backbone; +you must forget the wishbone and the envious +heart.</p> + +<p>Paul had trials, setbacks, hardships and hard +labors; he had defeats and discouragements and +still the record shows he was "always rejoicing."</p> + +<p>Paul was a man of Pep. In the dungeon, with +his feet in stocks, he sang songs and rejoiced. +Paul was happy, ever and always, not because he +strove to get happiness, but because he had dedicated +his life to the service of mankind.</p> + +<p>The real hero, the real man of fame, the real +man of popularity, doesn't arrive by setting out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +on a quest for any of these things; the result is +incidental.</p> + +<p>The real hero forgets self first of all; that is +the essential step to greatness.</p> + +<p>Washington at Valley Forge had no thought +that his acts there would furnish inspiration for +a picture that would endure for generations.</p> + +<p>Lincoln, the care-worn, tired, noble man, in +his speech at Gettysburg, never dreamed that +that speech would stamp him as a master of +words and thought, in the hearts of his country-men. +He thought not of self. He was trying to +soothe wounds, cheer troubled spirits, and give +courage to those who had been so long in shadowland.</p> + +<p>Ever has it been that fame, glory, happiness +came as rewards, not to those who strive to +capture, but to those who strive to free others +from their troubles, burdens and problems.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>12.</h2> + + +<p>I am often asked: "Are you happy ALL the +time?" My answer is no.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Continuous +Happiness +Impossible.</div> + +<p>A continuous state of happiness cannot be enjoyed +by any human. There are no plans, no +habits, no methods of living that +will insure unbroken happiness. +Happiness means periods or marking +posts in our journey along life's road. These +high points of bliss are enjoyed because we have +to walk through the low places between times.</p> + +<p>Continuous sunshine, continuous warm weather, +continuous rest, continuous travel, continuous +anything spells monotony. We must have +variety.</p> + +<p>We need the night to make us enjoy the day, +winter to make us enjoy summer, clouds to make +us enjoy sunshine, sorrow to make us enjoy happiness.</p> + +<p>But, dear reader, mark this: We can be philosophical, +and have content, serenity and poise +between the happiness periods.</p> + +<p>When you get blue, or have dread or sorrow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +or possess that indescribable something that +makes you feel badly; when you have worry or +trouble, then's the time to get hold of your thinking +machinery and dispel the shadows that cross +your path.</p> + +<p>Occupation and focusing your thoughts on +your blessings—these are the methods to employ.</p> + +<p>As long as you dwell upon your imagined or +your real sorrows, you will be miserable and the +worries will magnify like gathering clouds in +April.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Think +Happiness.</div> + +<p>Change your thoughts to confidence, faith, and +good cheer, and busy your hands with work. +Think of the happiness periods you +have had, and know that there are +further happiness dividends coming +to you. Keep this sort of thought, and with +it, useful occupation, and the sunshine will dispel +your gloomy forebodings and sorrow thoughts +like the sun dispels the April showers, bringing +about a more beautiful day because of the clouds +and storms just passed.</p> + +<p>When trouble or sorrows come, sweeten your +cup with sugar remembrances of joys that have +been and joys you are to have.</p> + +<p>Envy no one; envy breeds worry. The person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +you would envy has his sorrows and shadows, +too. You see him only when the sunlight is on +the face; you don't see him when he is in shadowland.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Brace Up, +Cheer Up.</div> + +<p>No, dear ones, I, nor you, nor anyone on earth +can have complete, unruffled, continued happiness, +but we can brace up and call +our reserve will-power, reason, and +self-confidence into action when we +come to the marshy places along the road. We +can pick our steps and get through the mire, and +sooner than we believe it possible, we can get on +the good solid ground; and as we travel, happiness +will often come as a reward for our poise +and patience.</p> + +<p>My friends say: "You always seem happy," +and in that saying they tell a truth, for I am +happy often—very, very often—and between +times I make myself seem to be happy. This +making myself "seem to be happy" gives me +serenity, contentment, fortitude, and the very +"seeming" soon blossoms into a reality of the +condition I seem to be in.</p> + +<p>You can be happy often, and when you are +not happy, just seem to be happy anyway; it will +help you much.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>13.</h2> + + +<p>A little child is crying over a real or fancied +injury to her body or to her pride.</p> + +<p>So long as she keeps her mind on the subject +she is miserable.</p> + +<p>Distract her attention, get her mind on another +subject, and her tears stop and smiles replace +frowns.</p> + +<p>This shows how we are creatures of our +thoughts. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so +is he" is a truth that has endured through the +centuries.</p> + +<p>We are children in so far as we cry and suffer +when we think of our ills or hurts or wrongs or +bad luck.</p> + +<p>We can smile and have peace, poise and +strength if we change our thoughts to faith, courage +and confidence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fear-Thought +and Faith-Thought.</div> + +<p>Our condition is what we make it. If we think +fear, worry and misery, we will suffer. If we +think faith, peace and happiness, +we will enjoy life. Every thought +that comes out of our brain had to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +go in first. The kind of thoughts we have afford +an indication of the kind of people we are.</p> + +<p>If we feed our brain storehouse with trash and +fear and nonsense, we have poor material to +draw from.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Thought +Control.</div> + +<p>The last thought we put in the brain before +going to sleep is most likely to last longest. So +it is our duty to quietly relax, to +slow down, to eliminate fear-thought +and self-accusation, and to +substitute some good helpful thought in closing +the mental book of each day.</p> + +<p>Therefore read a chapter or two from a worth-while +book the last thing before going to bed.</p> + +<p>Say to yourself, "I am unafraid; I can, I will +awake in the morning with smiles on my face, +courage in my heart, and song on my lips."</p> + +<p>These suggestions for closing the day will be +of instant help to you.</p> + +<p>The great power for good—the wherewith to +give you strength, progress and efficiency—is +within yourself and at the command of your will.</p> + +<p>You can't think faith and fear, good and bad, +courage and defeat, all at the same time.</p> + +<p>You can only think one thing at a time.</p> + +<p>Your great power is your will, and the wherewith +to help yourself is your thought habit.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Change your thought habit as you go to bed. +You can do it; it's a matter of will determination. +The more faithful you are to your purpose, +the easier your task will be. Be patient, conscientious, +rational and confident.</p> + +<p>You are what your thoughts picture you to +be. Your will directs your thoughts.</p> + +<p>Don't get discouraged if you can't suddenly +change your life from shadow to sunshine, from +illness to wellness.</p> + +<p>Big things take time and patience. The great +ship lies in the harbor pointed North. A tug boat +could make a sudden pull and break the great +chain or tow line.</p> + +<p>Yet you could take a half-inch rope and with +your own hands turn the great ship completely +around by pulling steadily and patiently. The +movement would be slow, but it would be sure +and you would finally accomplish your purpose.</p> + +<p>Don't jerk and fret and be impatient with yourself. +You have been for years perhaps worrying +and thinking fear-thoughts. You have put a lot +of useless and harmful material in your brain.</p> + +<p>You can't clean all your brain house in a day +or a week, but you can do a little cleaning each +day.</p> + +<p>You can take the faith-rope of good purpose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +and start to pull gently, and finally you will turn +your whole life's character toward the port of +success.</p> + +<p>The great crowd worries; only the few have +learned the power of the will, and the benefits to +be derived from mental control.</p> + +<p>Business and social duties call for strong men +and woman. You can't reach mastership if you +remain a slave.</p> + +<p>Your first duty is to yourself, and success or +failure is your reward exactly in proportion as +you exercise your will power and handle your +thought habits.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>14.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">The Best +Medicine.</div> + +<p>The doctors are giving less medicine and doing +more in the way of suggesting diet and exercise +rules, sanitation and preventive +practices. Medicine is mostly poison +and its effect is to shock the +organs or glands to bring about reaction. Nature +makes the cure.</p> + +<p>In emergency drugs are all right, but the doctor +and not the individual should settle the matter +of what drug to use and the proper time to +use it.</p> + +<p>When there's a pain or disease, it's due to congestion +of some organ, to infection, or to improper +nourishment, or improper habits.</p> + +<p>Ninety per cent of aches, pains and ailments +can be cured by a dominant mental attitude and +by proper attention to eating and exercise.</p> + +<p>The habitual medicine user is not cured by +the medicine but by nature; the medicine simply +serves as a means to establish mental control and +to create confidence in the sufferer that he is to +get well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>Recently I spent much time in a large hospital +visiting a relative who had been operated on. I +know several members of the staff of doctors and +nurses.</p> + +<p>I have seen many operations, some very heroic +ones, and my appreciation of the good work of +good surgeons is greatly augmented by the wonderful +helps I have seen them bring to suffering +humanity.</p> + +<p>I have talked with scores of patients and +watched the progress of their cases.</p> + +<p>I have by plausible logic, mental suggestion, +and good cheer to the hospital patients, brought +many a smile through a mist of tears.</p> + +<p>I have seen the wonderful results of mental +suggestion to the discouraged patients.</p> + +<p>To show the effects that faith-thought will +produce, I will relate some instances.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mental +Sickness.</div> + +<p>One patient screaming for a hypodermic injection +to relieve her pain was given an injection +of sterilized water and the pain vanished. +Another just could not sleep +without her bromide. The nurse +fixed up a powder of sugar, salt and flour; +the patient took the powder and went to +sleep. That was mind control and mental +longing satisfied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another patient had to take something to stop +her pains; she got capsules of magnesia. The +capsule satisfied her longing, established her faith +and gave her relief; the relief was through her +mind and not through the capsule.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Changing +Thought +Direction.</div> + +<p>I have seen several weary, despondent patients +fretting and wearing themselves out over their +so-called weakness and run-down +condition. I have placed copies of +"Pep" in their hands and watched +courage, faith, cheer and serenity come to them. +It diverted their minds from self-thought and +self-accusation to faith-thought, confidence and +courage.</p> + +<p>You can think of only one thing at a time, and +"Pep" or any other book that can change the +thought habit from fear to faith, from worry to +peace, is doing a service.</p> + +<p>I've been in shadowland in the hospital to see +for myself the actual help that mental control +will bring to sufferers, and the evidence is far +above my powers to describe.</p> + +<p>I've seen the patient's eyes brighten up when +the cheery surgeon came with hope, smiles and +confidence on his face.</p> + +<p>I've seen the drooping of spirits when well-meaning +but poor-expressing friends came into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +the patient's room and condoned and sorrowed +with him.</p> + +<p>Verily, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is +he."</p> + +<p>Verily, good cheer and good thought are good +medicines.</p> + +<p>And to these truths all good doctors say +"Amen!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>15.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">The Pill +Fiend.</div> + +<p>How often we see the pill fiend. In his vest +pocket he has a small apothecary shop—a collection +of round paste-board boxes +and little bottles. Every little while +he dopes himself. If his stomach +is on a strike, he pops in a pill. If his head aches, +he takes a tablet. If he sneezes, he takes a cold-cure +pill.</p> + +<p>When anyone around speaks of a pain or ache, +he hands the person a pill.</p> + +<p>The pill eater is a hypochondriac, and very +likely his doctor knows it. His salvation is that +the doctor probably gives him harmless stuff in +pill form. The patient doesn't know this, and +it's like a rabbit's foot or a piece of pork rubbed +on a wart—it satisfies the mind and nature +makes the cure.</p> + +<p>Often, however, the pills are not innocent; the +pill fiend buys the tablets and pills direct from +the druggist. The headache tablet is most likely +one of the coal tar drugs like acetanilid, and that +is positively harmful when taken too often.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<p>There are times to take pills—in cases of +emergency, when you can shock nature with a +poison and bring a wholesome reaction.</p> + +<p>These times are rare, and the doctor should +be the sole judge as to when such treatment is +necessary.</p> + +<p>Exercise, diet, correct habits of living will prevent +the congestion and clogging-up that causes +illness and pain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A Dangerous +Habit.</div> + +<p>The pill habit is nothing less than a drug habit, +and the drug habit positively weakens the system. +The headache tablet does not +cure the headache; it only stops the +pain; the evil is still there. The +headache is merely nature's signal that something +is out of whack.</p> + +<p>Headaches are generally caused by stomach +disorders, eye strain, or neuralgia; the latter in +turn is caused by too much uric acid in the system.</p> + +<p>Eat fruit, drink plenty of water, and that will +flush the system and stop stomachic headache.</p> + +<p>See the optician if it's eyes. If you have a frequent +headache in the forehead, very likely it's +the eyes, even though you do not suspect it.</p> + +<p>If it's neuralgia, get a corrective diet from the +doctor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>I know scores of men, and women, too, who +take pills enough to kill a person. Their systems +have been educated up to it; they are saturated +with poison.</p> + +<p>And the worst of it is they never get well while +taking the pills; it is only a temporary deadening +of the pain.</p> + +<p>Then, there are many who take pills to make +them sleep. That's a crime. It's self-murder by +slow degrees, for they are surely shortening their +lives by this poison dope pill habit.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Nature, +the Curer.</div> + +<p>Mark this: Nature, and Nature alone, effects +cures, and it's in very, very few instances that +a poison pill can be used to advantage. +You can keep well by +getting good air, good water, good +sunshine, good food, good exercise, good rest, +good cheer and good thought. That is what I +call my golden prescription, and it will do wonders +for you, and every doctor will tell you so.</p> + +<p>Pills kill, if you keep up the habit. There are +no two ways about it. I say positively and +knowingly that this pill habit is absolutely life +shortening.</p> + +<p>Don't try to argue; the evidence is unshakable +on this point.</p> + +<p>If you could have seen the derelicts in the hos<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>pitals +that I have, if you could have seen the +wretched bodies, destroyed nerve systems, the +broken-down, emaciated, hopeless shells of men +and women addicted to the baneful pill habit, +you would be as positive as I am that pills kill +if you keep up the habit.</p> + +<p>Life is sweet and precious to us all. Do not +shorten it by taking pills and tablets for every +ache or pain. Try nature's way. Realize that +mental suggestion and will-power will drive away +most pains or temporary aches.</p> + +<p>Brace up, cheer up; chuck the pills in the garbage +can.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>16.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Two Kinds +of Pleasures.</div> + +<p>There are two principal kinds of pleasures that +man seeks; one is material pleasures, and about +ninety-nine per cent of the human +family devote themselves to these. +The remainder—the one per cent—seek +mental pleasures, and this little group is +the one that gets the real, lasting, satisfying and +improving pleasures out of life.</p> + +<p>The material pleasures are the social pleasures +of eating, displaying, possessing, and so forth. +Material pleasures generate in the human the desire +for fluff, feathers, and four-flushing.</p> + +<p>Material pleasures accentuate the desire to possess +things, and in the strife for possession, hearts +are broken, fortunes wasted, nerves shattered, +and the finer sentiments calloused.</p> + +<p>The homes where material pleasures abound +are the ones where worry, neurasthenia and nervous +prostration abound.</p> + +<p>Material pleasures are merely stimulants for +the time being, and there always come the intermittent +reflexes of gloom and depression.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>The desire to show off, to excite envy in others, +is always present at the homes where material +pleasures are the rule.</p> + +<p>Material pleasures call for crowds. Mental +pleasures are best enjoyed in solitude.</p> + +<p>The material pleasure-seeker lives a life of convention, +engagements, routine, strain, and high +tension.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Mental +Pleasures +Are Best.</div> + +<p>The person who is so fortunate as to appreciate +and follow mental pleasures is serene, natural, +happy and content. A cozy room, +loved ones around, music, books, +love and social conversation—those +are mental pleasures; those are best. He +who can pick up a book and read things worth +while, gets satisfaction unknown to those whose +life is a round of banquets, theaters, dances, automobiles, +parties, bridge, clubs and society doings.</p> + +<p>When you spend the evening playing cards, +the chances are you come home late, and when +you retire, it takes perhaps an hour or so before +you fall to sleep.</p> + +<p>And during the night you dream of cards, of +certain hands, of certain circumstances, or certain +persons who were prominent in the evening's +game.</p> + +<p>The reason you do not go to sleep after an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +exciting evening is that you have set your nerve +carburetor at high tension and have forgotten to +lower it before you go to sleep.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Good +Reading.</div> + +<p>On the other hand, when you have been reading +a restful book, full of good thought, you establish +an equilibrium, a relaxed +state of nerves, and particularly, +you have switched the current or +direction of your day's thoughts. That change +spells rest, and you retire and go to sleep easily.</p> + +<p>You will scarcely believe what a wondrous +change for the better you will notice in yourself +if you make it a rule to have a brain clearing, +mental inventory, and nerve relaxation every +night before you go to sleep.</p> + +<p>Your brain works at night always; oft-times +you have no remembrance of your dreams, but +if your last hour, before retiring, was an hour +of excitement, tension or unusual occupation, you +will likely go over it all again in your dreams.</p> + +<p>If you will let nothing prevent your evening +period of soliloquy, you will establish your mental +habits into a rhythm that will give you peace, +rest and benefit.</p> + +<p>In the olden days, when most families had +evening worship or family prayers, the members +of those households slept soundly and restfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Particularly was this so because of the habit +formed of getting the mind on peaceful, helpful, +comforting, soul-satisfying thoughts that remained +fresh on the brain tablets as the members +of the home circle went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Too often the books read in the home circle +are all of the exciting, fascinating, highly colored +imaginative type. People read stories of love, +adventure or crime, and they dream these same +things almost every night.</p> + +<p>I have found that it pays to read two classes +of literature in the same evening. First read +your novel, story, or fascinating book, but fifteen +minutes before you are ready to go to sleep, +read some good, wholesome, helpful, uplifting +book, and that good stuff will be lastingly filed +away in your brain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What to +Read.</div> + +<p>Finish your evening with books that are interesting, +yet educational. Such books as "Life of +the Bee" by Maeterlinck, or any +one of Fabre's wonderful books on +insect life; "Riddle of the Universe" +by Haeckel; Darwin's books; Drummond's +"Ascent of Man;" "Walks and Talks in +Geological Fields" is a splendid mental night +cap; "Power of Silence;" "Physiology of Faith +and Fear;" Emerson's "Essays;" Holmes'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +"Autocrat of the Breakfast Table;" "Rubaiyat" +of Omar Khayyam; Tom Moore's Poems; "Plutarch's +lives;" Seneca; Addison; Bulwer Lytton; +Hugo; Carlyle's "Sartor Resartus." This latter +book will not fascinate you like Carlyle's "French +Revolution," but you will learn to love its fine +language, its fine analysis of character, of times, +and of things.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What You +Gain.</div> + +<p>There are countless books of the good improving +kind. Always save one of them for your solid +reading, after you have read light literature +or novels. If you will get +the habit, you will notice great benefits +and rapid advancement in your mental equipment. +You will sleep better, think clearer; +you will learn to enjoy mental pleasures more +than material pleasures.</p> + +<p>Fifteen minutes, then, to be yours, yours alone, +in which you quiet, soothe, strengthen and pacify +yourself and add abundant resources and assets.</p> + +<p>Let the last reading in the evening be something +worth storing up in that precious brain of +yours, and the good, worth-while deposit will +grow and produce beautiful worth-while mental +fruit.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Don't +Overdo It.</div> + +<p>Get the home reading habit. Don't overdo it. +Call on friends; go to a good picture show once +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>in a while, to good concerts, to good +plays, but do not make this going-out-in-the-evening-plan +a habit. Let it be merely a dessert, or a rarity. Like candy and +ice cream, it is proper and enjoyable when it is +not overdone.</p> + +<p>The lover of books and home can enjoy the +play, because he only goes to plays worth while, +and he doesn't overdo it.</p> + +<p>The confirmed theater-goer is a pessimist; he +roasts nearly every play, and he is universally +bored.</p> + +<p>When you get started reading worth-while +books on science, on history, on geography, on +travel, on natural history, you tap an inexhaustible +field of pleasure and satisfaction.</p> + +<p>At any time, you can pick up your book and +be happy.</p> + +<p>Waits in railway stations will be opportunities; +trips on trains will be pleasant; evenings alone +will be enjoyable, if you can get into a book you +like.</p> + +<p>Mental pleasures are best.</p> + +<p>Material pleasures are merely passing shadows—to +be enjoyed for the brief moment before +they disappear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>17.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Verbomania.</div> + +<p>The malady Verbomania is spreading rapidly. +What's that? You have never heard of Verbomania? +Well, then, it's taken from +<i>verbosus</i>, the Latin word meaning +"abounding in words," the using of more words +than is necessary. <i>Mania</i>, also Latin, means "to +rage"—excessive or unreasonable desire. Therefore, +Verbomania is the excessive desire to use +more words than are necessary.</p> + +<p>There is too much talk nowadays and too little +thinking. Some persons start their gab carburetors, +and they talk and talk mechanically, without +any effort spent in thinking. Just like walking, +the motion just goes by itself.</p> + +<p>Scientists have suggested that perhaps too +much talking without thinking is a disease. I +don't see that there is any <i>perhaps</i> about it. Disease +is an unnatural condition—a function of the +mind or body out of its natural order of working.</p> + +<p>We know we can sit down and run ideas +through our brain without words, and we can +use a lot of words without ideas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>You have read whole pages in a book without +receiving an idea. One can rattle off words and +not have ideas. When the fountain of words +flows in a desert of ideas, it's Verbomania.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Think More, +Talk Less.</div> + +<p>People in all walks of life have the disease; +they talk together too much without any reason +other than to take up time or make +themselves at ease. Pink teas, receptions +and society functions are +great rookeries for these Verbomania birds to +gather and indulge in their gabfest.</p> + +<p>The pianist through long practice is able to +play a difficult composition without thinking +about it; it's automatic; it's habit in action.</p> + +<p>The society dodo bird is just as dexterous in +spinning words without thought, as the pianist +with his difficult piece.</p> + +<p>Our rapid mode of living, our conventions and +customs are responsible for much of the Verbomania.</p> + +<p>I should like to take my Dictophone to a fussy +"afternoon" and record the word evacuations, +the footless conversation, the forced pleasantries, +the set sentences that mingle into a hum and +buzz. A wilderness of words in a barrenness of +ideas.</p> + +<p>This abuse of the use of speech makes head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>aches, +weariness, worry, unrest; it saps strength, +lowers pep, and lessens resistance.</p> + +<p>The cure for Verbomania is to keep away from +these butterfly buzz bees; put the clothes-pin of +caution on your lips; spend more time alone +with your thoughts. Nourish your idea plants +that have been starved; prune your word plants.</p> + +<p>Don't expose yourself to the crowds where the +Verbomaniacs gather. The disease is contagious; +it's easy to acquire and hard to retire.</p> + +<p>These are ideas put in type to convey a truth +for the benefit of all who read these lines, and +it is some truth, too.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>18.</h2> + + +<p>Love builds homes, gold builds houses. The +home has a mongrel dog which is called Prince, +and all the family love it. The house had a pedigreed +bull pup that is kept in the barn.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">House and +Home.</div> + +<p>There is all the difference between the family +which has a home and the family which has a +house. In houses we find broken +hearts, worry, nervous prostration, +because there is idleness, artificiality +and aimlessness. In homes we find warm +hearts, happiness and love, because those in the +home have natural, helpful occupation.</p> + +<p>In the house is cold reserve; the occupants read +when compelled to stay indoors; they grow +crabbed and cross and get into a state of habitual +dumbness and selfishness.</p> + +<p>In the home there is unselfishness, thoughtfulness, +and love expressed. Meal time is joy time; +it's the get-together period of smiling faces.</p> + +<p>In the house the breakfast table is merely a +lunch station in the hurried trip from the bedroom +to the office.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sensitive wife of the house gets stinging +remarks that abide with her after the lord and +master of the house has departed.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What Makes +Home.</div> + +<p>In the home the family gets up plenty early +enough. Songs and jokes, kisses and love pats +are found; the family is on time, +and there is happiness all around. +Homes are sweet, because love is +present. Houses built by gold are just hotels.</p> + +<p>I've noticed the difference when a friend invites +me to come to his home or to his house; +the word he uses, home or house, indicates to +me what I will find when I go there.</p> + +<p>In the house I meet a maid or butler at the +door. I see conventional furniture, conventional +rooms. I am shown into a conventional waiting +room, and I wait conventionally for the hostess to +come forward with a stiff backbone, a forced +smile, and a languid handshake.</p> + +<p>When I go to a home built with love, I find a +tidy dressed wife at the door, rosy children, and +I get a warm, old-fashioned hand clasp, and a +beaming, smiling face that spells welcome.</p> + +<p>And the dinner—that, too, tells the difference +between the "depend-on-the-cook" establishment +and the "wife-who-is-the-boss" home.</p> + +<p>At the house is formality and frigidity; at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +home is ease and enjoyment. The children of +the home make breaks and we love them for +it; it's natural instinct and frankness.</p> + +<p>In the house is worry; in the home is happiness.</p> + +<p>Verily, there's a difference in the atmosphere +of the house built with gold and the home built +with love; one is worthless existence, the other +worth-while living.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>19.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Seven Simple +Health +Suggestions.</div> + +<p>I haven't space in this book to give reasons or +show proofs for everything I suggest, but I want +right here to give you a few definite, +short, positive, helpful rules +about food, thought, habit and exercise +that will pay you the most wonderful dividends +in health and happiness.</p> + +<p>First—Drink two or three glasses of warm, +not hot, water, the first thing when you arise in +the morning.</p> + +<p>Second—Repeat this resolve as you are drinking +the water: "I will be pleasant this morning +until ten o'clock, and the rest of the day will take +care of itself."</p> + +<p>Third—Walk to your office or place of business, +unless it is over four miles, in which case +walk the first three miles and ride the remainder +of the distance.</p> + +<p>Fourth—Eat one or two apples every day, and +do not insult Nature's proper adjustment by peeling +the apple. You want the skin because it has +things in it you need for your body, and especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +for your brain, and you have especial need of the +roughage the skin gives.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Get Enough +Sleep.</div> + +<p>Fifth—Spend eight or nine hours a day in bed. +I belong to the sixty-three hour club; that means +nine hours a day rest, seven days +in a week, which is sixty-three +hours. If, through business, travel +or other circumstances, I stay up late one or two +nights a week, I balance books before the week +is up by taking a rest on Sunday afternoon or +going to bed earlier one or two nights.</p> + +<p>Sixth—Don't stay in bed Sunday morning. It +will make you tired, loggy, stupid and cross. Get +up Sunday, say, a half hour or an hour later than +week days. Later in the day take a nap if you +wish.</p> + +<p>Seventh—Spend fifteen minutes just before going +to bed in quiet, relaxed solitude. This is the +time to slow down your tension, relax your muscles +and soothe your nerves.</p> + +<p>These rules you can easily remember and if +you follow them as I hope you will, the red blood +will course in your veins and joy will be in your +countenance and the halo of happiness will be +around your face.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>20.</h2> + + +<p>Every once in a while the human has a negative +day. Every act, thought, or spoken sentence +has a but, a don't, a can't, or some other +negative attachment to it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Negative +Attitude.</div> + +<p>The children laugh, play and cut up in the +morning, and mother says: "I don't know what +I shall do with you, you are just +wearing me out." This puts a fear-thought +and a weakness-germ both +in mother and the kiddies.</p> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon the family is resting. +Mother maybe gets the blues, and says: "What's +the use, I never get anywhere, go any place; it's +just grind, work and worry all the time."</p> + +<p>Mother worries because there's a leak in the +roof and the water stained the paper in the +spare room. She worries because she lives in a +rented house, and says: "I have no heart to fix +things up because this is a rented house."</p> + +<p>This negative thought brings on a misery state; +it's worry, and the worry comes because you +dwell on the off side of things. You rehearse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +your problem, you go over your work, you count +your obstacles, and you pile up the negative and +fear thoughts.</p> + +<p>Bless you, my dear sister, I know what this +negative can't, don't, but, and what's-the-use +thought is and how it brings misery. I know +how the children get on your nerves and make +you say "don't" all day to them.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Show Your +Positive Side.</div> + +<p>There's only one way to drive out this negative +thought and that is to switch your will power +to the positive current. Next time +you have a negative day and the fear +thoughts come, just start in one by +one and count your blessings of health, blessings +of home, and blessings of love.</p> + +<p>Nothing can hurt you. You've been through +these negative days time and time again; the +clouds gathered, you were blue, lonesome, homesick +and heartsick, but next day you got busy +with work, and occupation drove away the clouds, +and the sunshine came. The next Sunday you +get in this negative state, just put on your hat +and go out to see some neighbor, or go to the +park, or take a walk.</p> + +<p>Don't sit and stew and fret over your magnified +troubles.</p> + +<p>Let the children play and laugh; they are not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +hurting anyone. God bless them. They don't +have worries; their little lives are all too short. +Their example of smiles and laughter should +make you happy. Soon, too soon, they will grow +up and go their ways in life and how precious +will be the memories of their carefree, golden, +happy childhood days.</p> + +<p>Cut out envy; that's a mighty bad negative +wire. It's the devil's favorite food to make worry +and discontent.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Envy Makes +Worry.</div> + +<p>Many of the people you envied in the past +are dead and buried. Many of the people you +envy now are at heart miserable, and +you wouldn't envy them if you could +look through the artificial outside and +know their real hidden thoughts and lives.</p> + +<p>"What's-the-use"—that's a bad thing to say; +it plants worry seed.</p> + +<p>You are all right; you have far more blessings +than sorrows. You can never be entirely free +from troubles, care or little irritations.</p> + +<p>Rise superior to these things; those around you +are affected by and susceptible to your influence +and example.</p> + +<p>If you have a "but," an "if" or a "don't" tied +to every command to your children, they will +recognize your uncertainty and your negative,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +hurtful attitude, and they will take your threats, +as well as your promises, with a grain of salt.</p> + +<p>Be careful in giving commands; don't put a +Spanish bit in the children's mouths to jerk them +and torture them.</p> + +<p>Be positive, make your promises and orders +stick, and the kiddies will soon know you mean +what you say.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Exposing +Your +Weakness.</div> + +<p>These negative "driving me crazy" attachments +to your commands spell weakness, and +make you drive, cajole and spin out +your orders, and the children hesitate +and are slow to obey. Let them see +your positive side. Let them learn to obey with +a "yes, mamma" spirit, and your orders will be +less frequent, shorter, and they will be obeyed +on the instant.</p> + +<p>The kiddies learn to size you up, mamma, and +if they see a wobbly, worried, despondent, unsure +attitude in you, they will discount your threats +and make allowances, saying: "That's mamma's +way."</p> + +<p>Don't show your cry side but show your smile +side.</p> + +<p>Sunday is a great trial day for you, mamma, +but don't let your negative wires get the best +of you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sing as you make the beds and tidy up; let +sunshine in and drive out the gloom.</p> + +<p>Blue Sundays are horror days for the children; +you can't expect them to sit still like older folks. +They are full of red blood and active muscles.</p> + +<p>Don't make Sunday a day of punishment to +your children. They get their cue from you. +Don't you be negative and cross and gloomy. +It's bad business for you and all the family.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>21.</h2> + + +<p>The benefits of walking are so quickly apparent +that I hope to get you to make the start and +keep it up for two weeks. Then you will require +no further urging.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Best +Exercise.</div> + +<p>In walking, there are two most important +things to do in order to get the greatest benefits: +first—walk alone; second—walk +your natural gait. So many people +tell me they would like to walk all, +or part of the way, between their home and office +if they had company.</p> + +<p>Company is the very thing you don't want in +walking, and there are two reasons for this. One +is, if you walk with a friend, you will hold yourself +back, or else you will be walking faster than +your natural gait. In either case it is a conscious +effort, and this conscious effort, to a large degree, +will cause you to lose much of the benefit from +your walk.</p> + +<p>The most important reason, however, is that +if you walk with a friend, you are sure to talk, +and thus you are using your nervous energy and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +tiring your brain—the very thing you want to +avoid.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Walk, +Not Talk.</div> + +<p>Walking gives you physical exercise which is +absolutely necessary for health. It is the best +exercise I know of, because you do +not overdo your strength. Walking +is beneficial, because when you walk +alone, you give your brain a rest. You cannot +read the papers, you cannot talk, and your mental +apparatus gets complete rest.</p> + +<p>I recommend that you walk anywhere from +three to four miles in the morning. If your home +is more than four miles from the office, walk +three or four miles of the distance and then take +the car.</p> + +<p>Do not walk home in the evening unless the +walk is a short one. In the evening you are +tired, and you should conserve your strength. +In the morning you are fresh, and the exercise +comes to you at a time it is most needed. It will +give you strength and courage, and help to keep +you in a good mood all day.</p> + +<p>I cannot too strongly emphasize the importance +of walking alone, for it is then that you +shift your nerve energy from the dry cell battery +of the brain to the magneto, which is the spinal +cord. The spinal cord works automatically and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +it doesn't wear itself out. The brain tires if it +uses its energy.</p> + +<p>In walking you use the thought and the brain +impulse to start the magneto, and then the spinal +cord action is automatic.</p> + +<p>This automatic action of the spinal cord is a +wise provision of nature to conserve strength.</p> + +<p>The spinal cord energy is what you might call +automatic habit.</p> + +<p>For instance, in dressing and undressing yourself, +you will recall that you put on or take off +your clothes in regular order without giving the +matter any thought. It is just habit.</p> + +<p>If you wish to demonstrate the difference between +the control of the physical body by brain +impulse, and the spinal cord impulse, try this +some morning: Start out for your exercise and +mentally frame sentences like this as you walk—"right +step, left step, right step, left step," and +so on. Give thought to each step you have taken, +and notice how tired you will be when you have +gone half a mile.</p> + +<p>The next morning, start to walk naturally; give +no thought to walking; keep your mind on the +beauties of nature which you are passing, or +indulge in pleasant soliloquy, and you will feel +no fatigue.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>There isn't a bit of theory in this chapter; it is +positive, practical sense that I have proved by +my own experiences and by the experiences of +everyone to whom I have made this suggestion +of walking alone.</p> + +<p>The moral is this—walk every morning and +walk ALONE.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>22.</h2> + + +<p>The body is made up of billions of little cells. +These individual cells are in a state of perpetual +activity. They exhaust, wear away, break down +with work, and rebuild on food and rest. Every +process of life—the beat of the heart, the throb +of the brain in thought, the digestion of food, the +excretion of waste—all are due to the activity +of groups of highly specialized individual cells.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Body +Waste.</div> + +<p>Every cell uses up its own material and throws +off poisonous by-products during activity. These +by-products, or wastes, are very poisonous +to the individual cell as well +as to the entire organism. To get +rid of this waste is one of the first duties of the +system.</p> + +<p>It is with the body, made up of its countless +millions of individual cells, just as it is with a city +and its myriad people: the sewage of the community +must be collected and disposed of. The +city forms its poisons which we call sewage and +the body its poisons, which we call excreta (or +carbonic acid, urea, uric acid, faeces, etc.). It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +is no more important for a city to gather up and +get ride of its poisonous sewage than for the animal +organism to collect and excrete its cell-waste. +Hence, the importance of maintaining normal and +constant elimination throughout the body.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Health's +Safety-First.</div> + +<p>Elimination is kept up by the alimentary tract, +the kidneys, the skin, and the lungs. These four +are the great pipe-line sewerage systems, +so to speak, by which the body +throws off its gaseous, liquid and +solid poisons.</p> + +<p>The lungs momentarily strain carbonic acid +out of the blood and throw it out in the expired +air. They likewise exhale other noxious matters +from the system.</p> + +<p>The alimentary tract throws off faeces, made +up of the waste tissue from the whole system, +especially the digestive organs, as well as indigestible +and non-nutritious portions of the food.</p> + +<p>The kidneys strain out urea, uric acid, and certain +other poisons from the blood and eject them +through the urinary tract.</p> + +<p>Finally the skin likewise is an excretory organ +and exhales a very definite amount of gaseous and +fluid waste in the course of each twenty-four +hours.</p> + +<p>The skin throws off all the way from a pint to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +two quarts of liquid each day in the form of vapor.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Proper +Functioning.</div> + +<p>Thus, to carry on normal elimination from the +body, the breathing, digesting, urinary and cutaneous +systems must be kept working +normally. To impair the work of any +of these is to retard bodily drainage. +To make certain that elimination is going on naturally, +it is necessary to secure perfect functioning +of lungs, bowels, kidneys and the skin.</p> + +<p>Any stoppage in the process of elimination +means that some fault has crept into the work of +one of these excretory systems. It must be plain +now why a disorder of any one of these organs +of elimination means so much more profound disturbance +to the whole organization than merely +disease in one structure. It means that waste +products are retained which ought to be thrown +out of the body; so straightway every cell in the +body begins to be more or less affected. Some +poisons disturb one organ more and some another, +but in the end the whole body must inevitably +be affected.</p> + +<p>Lack of exercise, bolting of food, eating soft, +starchy things, failure to chew properly, failure +to get enough roughage, insufficient water, insufficient +fruit—these are the general causes of +stoppage in the elimination processes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> + +<p>Drink one or two glasses of warm water, not +hot, the first thing in the morning.</p> + +<p>Eat one or two apples, skins and all, every day. +Eat toast, especially the crust. Eat cracked +wheat or whole wheat bread often.</p> + +<p>Exercise plenty. Keep cheerful. Eat regularly.</p> + +<p>Very likely you eat too much. You don't need +three big meals a day unless you work outdoors +at hard physical labor.</p> + +<p>Your body is an engine. No use to keep the +boiler red hot and two hundred pounds of steam +on if your work is light.</p> + +<p>Good health depends upon proper assimilation +and elimination as nature intended.</p> + +<p>Eat less, exercise more, you who work indoors. +If you don't use this caution, you are just slowly +killing yourself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>23.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Never Say +"Can't."</div> + +<p>Many have the habit of keeping their minds +on their weaknesses or their shortcomings. If +they read of some one doing a great +thing or making a worth-while accomplishment, +they say: "I never +could do such a thing."</p> + +<p>These persons are always saying, "I never have +luck. I can't do this. I can't do that."</p> + +<p>Always knocking, always thinking "can't" instead +of "can" makes for fear, irresoluteness, +uncertainty and weakness of character.</p> + +<p>To say, "I can't, I haven't the ability, I am +unlucky" makes you weak and knocks out all +chance for doing things.</p> + +<p>Nothing comes out of the brain that wasn't +burned in by thought. If you disparage yourself, +belittle your capacity, or drown your good +impulses with doubt and self-accusation, you are +putting away a lot of bad thought in your brain, +and no wonder you will lack in initiative, ambition, +confidence and courage.</p> + +<p>To those who claim to be unlucky, I want to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +say you are not unlucky—you simply lack pluck.</p> + +<p>You start at undertakings with a handicap of +fear. You have made up your mind that you +can't accomplish. You are half beaten before the +game starts. In place of the will to achieve, you +approach your task in fear and trepidation. In +place of confidence and courage and high aspirations, +you set out on your journey with the millstone +of doubt and irresolution around your neck.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Confidence +and Success.</div> + +<p>There is but one way to succeed. That is to +cast fear and self-accusation aside, and throw +your full weight into the struggle +with a song on your lips and confidence +in your heart. "Victory" +should be your battlecry and "Confidence" +should be emblazoned on your shield.</p> + +<p>Many a man has been whipped in a fight, defeated +in a contest, or beaten at an undertaking, +but he didn't show it or let the other fellow know +it. He just kept on with a brave front, and finally +the other fellow quit, mistaking grim determination, +pluck and perseverance for strength and victory.</p> + +<p>Ethan Allen with his handful of men were +asked to surrender by the British general with +his superior force. By all the rights and rules +of war, Ethan was licked, but he didn't give in.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +He replied: "Surrender h—ll; I've just commenced +to fight." If Ethan had accused himself +and said, "I can't whip that big bunch; there's +no hope," he would have been whipped to a finish.</p> + +<p>Don't show the enemy or the world your weakness. +Don't admit anything impossible that is +capable of accomplishment.</p> + +<p>It's the "I can" man who wins. No man ever +won a fight if he started out by saying, "I can't +whip him, he is too much for me; I am no match +for him, but I'll try."</p> + +<p>No person ever made success in business if he +started in with uncertainty, lack of confidence +and unbelief in his ability. Confidence has ever +been half the battle.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The World's +Judgment.</div> + +<p>Knock yourself, and the world will accept you +at your own estimate. Show streaks of yellow +cowardice, and the mob will pounce +on you like a pack of hungry wolves. +Accuse yourself, curse your luck, belittle +your worth, be afraid, and you will remain +a mere bump on a log, unnoticed, uninteresting, +uninvited.</p> + +<p>The world welcomes men who do things. The +world judges by outward appearances. If your +heart is sick, if your courage is low, don't show +it. Put up a stiff attitude and act with confi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>dence, +and that attitude will carry you over many +a pitfall and past many an obstacle.</p> + +<p>Show strength and the world will help you; +show weakness and the world will shun you.</p> + +<p>You are prejudiced when it comes to judging +yourself. You compare your weakness with your +friends' strength, and this comparison is unfair; +it makes you lose confidence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Doubt and +Belief.</div> + +<p>Nothing hurts one worse than doubting one's +own ability, assets, and character. When you +find yourself experiencing doubt, or +inability, or hard luck, turn square +around and say: "Begone, doubt; +henceforth I have belief."</p> + +<p>Say: "I have ability; I have pluck, and pluck +means luck."</p> + +<p>Always express confidence, faith, courage, and +cheer thoughts, whether you feel them or not. +Do this heroically and persistently, and soon the +fear shadows and weakness feelings will leave +you, and you will be in reality strong, courageous, +active, and will do things you never thought possible.</p> + +<p>"As a man thinketh, so is he." Always remember +that.</p> + +<p>Get hold of your thoughts; make yourself think +up, and have faith and courage. Hold to your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +resolve, and the whole world will change. You +will prosper, you will have poise, and every once +in a while happiness will come as a reward.</p> + +<p>No man will be more surprised at your complete +change of attitude and character than yourself.</p> + +<p>Your problems can only be solved by yourself. +Friends can advise, <i>I</i> can suggest, but YOU must +act.</p> + +<p>Henceforth, never accuse yourself, never feel +sorry for your condition or position, cut out fear +thoughts,—be strong.</p> + +<p>Think faith, courage, cheer, confidence, and +strength, and by-and-by the habit will be fixed +and natural.</p> + +<p>This is as certain truth as I have ever experienced. +I know it. I've tried it. I've watched +others and the results are always good.</p> + +<p>Don't be passive and forget this chapter. Start +right this minute to THINK RIGHT.</p> + +<p>And you will never regret and never forget this +chapter on Self-accusation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>24.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Dare to +Dream.</div> + +<p>The great colleges turn out thousands of graduates +each year, and the great newspapers have +much sport ridiculing them in funny +pictures. Every great man was once +a boy with a dream, and that dream +came true because the boy had pep that made him +stick to his ambition and kept him from being +discouraged because of ridicule or obstacles.</p> + +<p>Thomas Carlyle, the poor Scotch tutor, +dreamed he wanted to be a great author. His +clothes were threadbare, his poverty apparent. +Friends taunted and ridiculed him until, goaded +to indignation, he cried: "I have better books +in me than you have ever read." The crowd +laughed incredulously and said: "Poor fellow, +he's batty."</p> + +<p>Carlyle stuck to his dream and the world has +the "History of Frederick the Great" and the +"French Revolution" and "Sartor Resartus." +When he had finished the manuscript of the +"French Revolution," a careless maid built a fire +with it. He wasn't discouraged, but went to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +work and wrote it over again and very likely better +than he wrote it the first time.</p> + +<p>Bonaparte in the garden of his military school +dreamed of being a great general. He stuck to +his dream and he realized his hopes.</p> + +<p>Joseph Pulitzer, a poor emigrant, crawled in a +cellar way in New York to sleep, and he dreamed +of owning a great newspaper. His dream came +true, and the newspaper is printed in a building +erected on the spot where he dreamed in the +cellar way.</p> + +<p>Livingston dreamed of exploring darkest Africa; +his dream came true.</p> + +<p>Edison dreamed of great electrical discoveries. +His monument is Menlo Park with its great laboratories.</p> + +<p>Ford dreamed of making an automobile for the +purse-limited masses—he was jeered; to-day the +world cheers him.</p> + +<p>My friend, Bert Perrine, was chucked off a +stage in the middle of Idaho's great sage brush +desert. He said to the driver, "Some day I'll own +that stage and I'll use it for a chicken house."</p> + +<p>He dreamed and schemed, and to-day the desert +is the famous Twin Falls country, blossoming +like a rose. And on his beautiful ranch at Blue +Lakes, that old stage is used for a chicken house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Rockefeller dreamed, Lincoln dreamed—so +did Garfield, Wilson, Grant, Clay, Webster, Marshall +Field, Richard W. Sears and all the other +men who have done things worth while in the +world.</p> + +<p>The great West is the result of dreams come +true.</p> + +<p>Dream on, my boy; hitch your wagon to a +star and stay hitched. That dream and that determination +are the things that are to carry you +over obstacles, past thorny ways, and through +criticism, jeers and ridicule.</p> + +<p>Your time will come. Dream and scheme, and +make your ideals materialize into living, pulsating +realities.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>25.</h2> + + +<p>There are many persons who act and advocate +ideals merely for effect—they are hypocrites.</p> + +<p>Here's a little true heart story that probably +passed unnoticed except to a very few persons.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Real +Charity.</div> + +<p>Little Spencer Nelson, a poor boy, eight years +old, recently died in a hospital with a little bank +clasped to his breast. The bank held +$3.41 in pennies which the boy had +saved to buy presents for the poor +children in his city.</p> + +<p>The little hero had fought manfully through +three months' suffering, enduring the torture of +five lacerating operations. The pain failed to +dim the spirit of unselfishness which burned +brightly and clearly in his tired, fever-racked +body.</p> + +<p>After each operation his mind became more +securely fixed on his project to help bring cheer +to poor children.</p> + +<p>The little savings bank was his companion, +and each visitor was asked to contribute to his +fund.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<p>Three hours before he died, a smile beautified +his thin wasted face as the nurse dropped a dime +in his bank. His last words—a message to his +mother—were in a scarcely audible whisper, +asking her to remember to use the money to +make poor children happy.</p> + +<p>That was real charity; that boy had no hypocrisy +in his heart.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Seek and +You Will +Find.</div> + +<p>The daily paper chronicles instances of sensational +charity, where men vie with each other +to see who can give most and get +the most advertising. These men +overlook the wonderful opportunities +at their door—they do not realize the beautiful +love and charity that would stir in their +hearts if they would but look into the out-of-the-way +places and get direct connection with pain +and suffering.</p> + +<p>Little Spencer looked from his cot and saw the +suffering of other little children and he wanted +to help them, and the very resolve and impulse +made him forget his own pain and misery.</p> + +<p>In the Book of Good Deeds, the name of Spencer +Nelson will be recorded as a sweeter act of +charity than any million-dollar gift to a great institution.</p> + +<p>What one of you who read these lines can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +read the story of that little hero and not be +touched by the generous love and beautiful conception +of charity he possessed.</p> + +<p>I don't believe much in this far-away charity +idea so many have.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Do Good +Here At +Home.</div> + +<p>I believe in helping those near where I am +rather than sending money to Siam. Poverty and +destitution, unhappily, are familiar +spectres at home, as elsewhere. He +who seeks to do good will not need to +range afar. He can find opportunity close at +home, near by, where all of us can find it if we +only look.</p> + +<p>It may be a pleasurable sensation for you to +contribute fifty dollars to a missionary scheme +in Siam, and get the Missionary report of the +budget made up by the committee for the foreign +missionary fund.</p> + +<p>I know that a bucket of coal in an empty stove, +a basket of bread and a liberal hunk of round +steak to the starving family around the corner +brings the donor a better sensation.</p> + +<p>Take a trip to the hospitals, learn about the +homes of the suffering patients in the charity +ward, and you will resolve it's a better act to +send flour to the poor than flowers to the rich.</p> + +<p>Little Spencer Nelson had the right idea of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +charity: definite, immediate help to those he could +reach right where he was, rather than sending +money to sufferers far, far away.</p> + +<p>Let your gifts be principally flour and beef; +they help those who need help. Flowers are all +right in their place, but there are more places +where flour can be used to better purpose.</p> + +<p>I'm keener for filling the coffee can of my suffering +neighbor than filling the coffers of the big +charity five thousand miles away.</p> + +<p>I try to help both ways, but the home help +pays the bigger dividends. What do you think +about it?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>26.</h2> + + +<p>You have found a friend who has been so +much help and comfort to you. I have such a +friend too. To-night I am in the mood to think +of that friend and write him a letter like this:</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What I +Think of +You.</div> + +<p>This is to You. It is for You. It is about +You. You I have in mind and the good influence +you have had on me. It is a happiness +and satisfaction to know you, +and to bask in the sunshine of you.</p> + +<p>The world is better because of you. You have +helped to raise the average.</p> + +<p>You and your goodness—you do not appreciate +what that means. You are so modest, so +loath to think of yourself, so thoughtful of others, +so unselfish that I must tell you of you and about +you.</p> + +<p>You have a warm heart that throbs for others' +woes and holds sympathy. The great world is +cold, selfish, and cares little for others. But you +are different; you are a great pillow of rest on +which I and others who love you may lay our +tired, weary heads, and you wrap your arms of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +friendship and goodness about us and feel our +very heartbeats.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What I Love +in You.</div> + +<p>You with your great goodness, your quiet, +sympathetic understanding—you soothe our +troubled spirits and make us glad of +you and glad we have the precious +privilege of knowing you.</p> + +<p>Even now, as I am telling you how I love +you, you are trying to wave me aside and stop +me, but I am in the mood and I want to express +myself. You know that it is a great sin of +omission to refrain from expressing our gratitude +for goodness extended to us.</p> + +<p>I want to express my gratitude. I do not +want to be guilty of the sin of omission.</p> + +<p>So here, then, is this little message for you, +to tell you that I appreciate you and love you, +and these words will last after you are gone and +after I am gone, to tell those of to-morrow about +you and what those of to-day thought about you.</p> + +<p>Your life, your goodness, is an everlasting plant +that will flourish in many hearts. Your influence +will last beyond the calendar of time; it +is indestructible. You have a great credit in the +universal bank of good deeds, where you have +deposited worth-while acts, deeds, kindnesses, +cheer, help, friendship, sympathy, courage, grati<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>tude, +and all the most precious jewels of humanity.</p> + +<p>I am happy the very moment I think of you. +I try to express myself but the feelings and +emotions I would describe have not words or +sentences to express them. You understand. +You are so big in heart, so sensitive in fabric +of feeling, so wise in understanding, that I want +you to think and feel all the genuine, noble, lovable, +appreciative thoughts you can gather together +about the one you can most appreciate.</p> + +<p>Think hard, sincerely, deeply, about that one, +with all your resources of beautiful thought. +Think hard that way, and now you will begin +to understand my feelings about you, and how +I appreciate you.</p> + +<p>You, my inspiration, who are so sensitized to +feeling, so delicately adjusted to read heart vibrations—you +must feel this within me that I am +trying to express. Not the love between sweethearts, +not the love of kin, not the love of friends, +but a great universal love I have for you—a +love which all who are fortunate enough to know +you have for you.</p> + +<p>It is a love you cannot return to me in equal +measure, because you have not the object in me +that can merit such love. That you should love<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +me in the way I love you even in the smallest +measure is satisfaction supreme.</p> + +<p>It is glorious to know you. You water the +good impulses I have; you encourage all that is +noble, elevating, and bettering, in me. I shall +try to be like you—that is, so far as I can. You +are my model; there is but one <i>You</i>. Many may +copy you, none may equal you. You my comfort, +you my joy. A great glorious <i>You</i> that +a little <i>I</i> am trying to paint a picture of.</p> + +<p>How futile my efforts. I might as well try +to improve the deep beautiful colors of the morning-glory, +or try to retint the lily with a more +beautiful white.</p> + +<p>And so I bid you good-bye, happy that there +is such a one as you in the world—more happy +that I know you, and most happy that I know +how to appreciate you.</p> + +<p>The sum of all good things I can say is, "I +love you," and the word "love" I use in its +greatest, broadest sense, which covers all the +good adjectives.</p> + +<p>This is what I think of YOU.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>27.</h2> + + +<p>There is a time in the business man's life, between +the age of 48 and 52, when he undergoes +a pronounced change.</p> + +<p>More big men are cut off at 50 than at any +other age between 45 and 60.</p> + +<p>From 48 to 52 most men change vitally in +their physical and mental make-up.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Dangers of +Middle Life.</div> + +<p>Many men—hitherto straight, moral men—go +to the bad at this time, and per contra, many +men quit their immoral and health-hurting +habits and change to moral +men. This danger period is when the +newly-rich find fault with the wives who have +helped them to their success. They grow tired +of their wives and seek the companionship of +younger women.</p> + +<p>The divorce courts give most interesting figures +on this point.</p> + +<p>At this danger period, men who have been +high livers, voracious eaters and heavy drinkers +find themselves victims of diabetes, Bright's disease +or other forms of kidney trouble. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +country is full of prematurely broken-down men +who have failed to heed the danger signals along +their way. To persist in self-indulgence is to +invite disaster. You must deliberately set about +to change your mode of living if you would avoid +these shoals on which so many men of middle +age have foundered.</p> + +<p>Almost every man between 48 and 52 who +works indoors, eats too much, exercises too little, +sleeps insufficiently.</p> + +<p>In this book I have made practical suggestions +that have been tried in the furnace of experience +and proven adequate. They have helped me; +they will help you. They will enable you to +gain pep and efficiency; they will give you a new +lease on life and make life more worth living.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Simple +Life.</div> + +<p>First, live simply; eat simply. If you have in +the past, eaten rich foods, drunk fine wines, and +have been what the world knows as a +"good fellow," your course is clear. +You must call a halt on yourself. +This path leads inevitably to the graveyard. Follow +the seven simple health suggestions laid +down in an earlier chapter, and you will feel better, +feel happier and will attack the day's work +with vim and vigor.</p> + +<p>Avoid undue excitement. Excitement uses up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +nerve force. It is an energy consumer. Your +mind needs repose as well as your body. When +you have finished your day's work, leave business +behind you. Do not drag it into your home. +In the evening, occupy yourself with a good, +worth-while book. Nothing is more conducive +to calm and contentment.</p> + +<p>Let supper be your one hearty meal of the day. +And after supper, play with the kids or joke +with your wife; get a smile on your face. When +you are home, interest yourself in home concerns. +The "home men" are the men who live +longest. They lead healthy, regular lives, and +they keep alive the outside interests that make +for peace, poise, content and happiness.</p> + +<p>Keep a sharp look-out for tendencies to change +your habits and morals.</p> + +<p>At 50 you are walking on thin ice; look out, +danger is near.</p> + +<p>After you are 55, your habits are pretty well +established. If you have lived rightly till then, +you're safe thereafter and very likely are on your +way to a good ripe old age if you take reasonable +care of yourself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>28.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Our Sons.</div> + +<p>We love our own the best; maybe that's why +we indulge our own too much. Our duty to our +boys; that's a subject as old as the +hills, and it is as important as it is +old. It is a subject that has come to the forefront +in recent years. Multitudes of paid juvenile +workers and sociological experts throughout +the country are engaged in the work of keeping +the youth of the nation healthily occupied +and away from corrupting influences.</p> + +<p>Modern conditions have created a "boy problem" +which was unknown two generations ago. +Then there were no slums reeking with vice +and squalor and ugliness. The era of great manufacturing +enterprises was just beginning. There +were no densely populated cities numbering millions +of souls. Amusements were simple. Everywhere +were stretches of open country, and boys +were allowed to run wild in field and woodland +and stream.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Times Have +Changed.</div> + +<p>The great cities of to-day have done away with +all this. The good, old-fashioned, healthful +re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>creations have disappeared in all but +rural communities. In their place +has come the lurid "movie" with +its tales of crime and violence and passion. At +every crowded street corner, vice beckons, and +glaring signs lure the curious boy into the vicious +cabaret and dance-hall.</p> + +<p>To-day I had the boy problem forcibly presented +to me. I saw in a court twenty-four boys +who had been brought before the Judge charged +with petty crimes. Three were sent to the penitentiary, +seven to the reform school and fourteen +let go temporarily on good behavior.</p> + +<p>A friend of mine interested in criminology +tells me the great bulk of hold-ups, thefts, burglaries +and murders are committed by boys between +16 and 22 years of age.</p> + +<p>These twenty-four boys I mentioned were just +ordinary boys, capable of making good citizens +if they had had the right kind of home treatment +and surroundings. Most of them got in trouble +through their association with the "gang" or +the "bunch," or the "crowd," and this because +daddy didn't have his hand on the rein.</p> + +<p>That boy must have companionship; he must +have a confidant with whom he can share his +joys, his sorrows, his hopes, his ambitions. If<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +he doesn't get this comeraderie at home, he gets +it "'round the corner."</p> + +<p>We know where the boy is when he is at school, +but how few of us know the boy's doings between +times.</p> + +<p>Pool halls tempt the boys, and these resorts +are breeding places where filthy stories, criminal +slang and evil practices are hatched.</p> + +<p>Pool halls and saloons invite and fascinate the +boy. He sees the lights. There is a keen pleasure +in watching the pink-shirted dude with +cigarette in his mouth making fancy shots.</p> + +<p>There is no one to nag him or bother him; it +gets to be his "hang-out," and soon he drifts +into a crowd that knows the trail to the red-light +district.</p> + +<p>Painted fairies dazzle the giddy boy. It takes +money to go the pace. Crime is gilded over with +slang words. Stealing is called "easy money." +Robbery is "turning a trick," and so on.</p> + +<p>A boy becomes what he lives on mentally and +physically; that's the net of it.</p> + +<p>It is a common saying, but a good one, that +the boys of to-day are the men of to-morrow. +If you train a boy with care and kindness, he +will grow up to be an honest and upright citizen. +But let him run a wild, undisciplined course,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +leave him free to explore the crime-spots and +plague-pools of the city, and sooner or later his +moral fibre is weakened and ultimately snaps. +At best he will become an indifferent citizen; +at worst a drifter or a criminal.</p> + +<p>There is nothing better for a boy than discipline +properly administered. And that brings up +the whole matter of army life.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Army: +A Maker +of Men.</div> + +<p>The army is a great maker and developer of +men. Boys who were headed for perdition have +found in the army a new sense of honor and +respect. The rigorous training, the +idea of duty, the heroic traditions of +the service—all these are renewers +and rekindlers of manhood. Many a lad who +has wasted his health, wealth and substance on +the primrose path, has "come back" gloriously +in the service of the flag.</p> + +<p>Look at the average soldier or sailor you meet. +His skin is tanned by sun and wind to a deep +brown. His eyes are crystal clear. There is +youth and strength in his tread. There he stands, +clean as a whistle. No fat, no flabbiness—just +solid sinew and ruddy health. He is a living exponent +of what military training can do for every +boy in the country.</p> + +<p>Hard work, strength-building exercises, suffi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>cient +sleep, regular hours, simple, wholesome +food, systematic training—these are the things +the army and navy offers. And these are the +things that make real men.</p> + +<p>But no training that school or church or army +can give him relieves you, Dad, of your obligation +to the boy. In the last analysis, it is <i>your</i> +influence that will either make him or break him, +for it is to you that he looks for guidance and +comradeship in his most impressionable years.</p> + +<p>If you are his chum, if sister shares his amusements +with him, if the family work and live on +the "all for one and one for all" basis, if the +boy is kept busy and interested, he can be easily +trained.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Be Worth +Copying.</div> + +<p>Neglect him and he will neglect you. Love +him and he will love you. Meet him half way, +he's impressionable. Show him a +kindness, he will respond. Show him +a good example, he will follow. You +have to be with him, or know where he is every +minute.</p> + +<p>During his period of adolescence, say from +twelve or thirteen years to sixteen or seventeen, +that boy is a mass of plaster of paris, easily +shaped while plastic, but once set, all but impossible +to recast.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>That's the time, Dad, you must be on YOUR +job with your boy.</p> + +<p>Your counsel, example, love, interest and teaching +will MAKE the boy.</p> + +<p>Think of these things, Dad, and think hard, +and think hard NOW. To-morrow may be too +late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>29.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Our +Daughters.</div> + +<p>Our daughters—how much we love them! +How happy we are to have their fresh, smiling +faces about us! Their girlish laughter +lightens our home hours and creates +an atmosphere of joy. What +would we not give if we could but insure their +happiness! Our fondest and most cherished +hopes are bound up in them as they grow up +under our eyes and blossom into womanhood.</p> + +<p>Girl, what a wonderful creature you can be. +What a glorious success you can make of your +life if you get the right start, find the right hands +to help you, the right hearts to love you, and the +right eyes to watch you, the right thoughts to +make you, and the right ideals to guide you.</p> + +<p>There are so many influences to spoil you—so +much convention, so much artificiality, so +much snobbery, so much caste, so much foolish +frivolity.</p> + +<p>Then there are the wrong examples, the wrong +grooming, the wrong environments, the wrong +influences surrounding you. Really, it is not to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +be wondered at why so many girls lose their +heads and make a fizzle of their young lives.</p> + +<p>The fizzle is generally made because daddy and +mama have a lot of foolish notions about bringing +up girls. Especially is this so if the parents +are wealthy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Wrong +Way.</div> + +<p>Here is the history of many a rich girl: She +is born without welcome, fed on a bottle, reared +by a nurse, grows up in a nursery, +becomes estranged from her mother; +later on, she is sent away to school, +mixes with a lot of other rich girls, gets lots of +foolish notions, false estimates, and prejudiced +views. She graduates and comes home, and then, +to commemorate the event, there are a lot of +"doings" which she attends. Following this is +the show-off, which is called a debut.</p> + +<p>She is exhibited like a filly at the horse show, +and some high-collared young man wins her +head, although she thinks it's her heart. She +believes it is the proper time for her to marry, +and he is such "a swell fellow," he is such "good +company," and he "dances so well"—these +qualities win her head.</p> + +<p>So the girl marries and has children; the husband +goes broke, and the girl awakens to the +necessity of coming down from her pedestal, fac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>ing +stern necessity, and raising her children as +her mother should have raised her.</p> + +<p>That's the picture of the poor rich girl whose +parents are to blame for the nonsense she +crammed into her head.</p> + +<p>But, you, Girl—you are going to learn your +cooking on a gas range instead of a chafing dish; +you'll learn to bake bread before fudge; you'll +learn how to cook solids before you learn to make +salads.</p> + +<p>You will combine simplicity, sentiment, sense +sereneness, sweetness, rather than envy, frills, +feathers and foolishness.</p> + +<p>God's noblest calling for woman is the raising +of children and the founding of a home.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Cooking and +Sewing.</div> + +<p>To cook and sew is a higher duty and better +occupation than bridge parties and society. Not +that you must cook and sew, my dear, +but that you should be able to in +case the need should arise. With the +ability to cook and sew, you can properly direct +the cook or seamstress, and they will respect you +for your education.</p> + +<p>I want you to be golden girls—girls who love +home and children; girls who love simple things, +natural things. I want you to be sweet rather +than pretty, lovable rather than popular.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>Do not look upon matrimony as a means to +provide food and finery for yourself.</p> + +<p>Do not be ashamed of an old-fashioned mother. +Do not be a "good fellow." Do not be afraid +to say, "I can't afford it."</p> + +<p>Help the family. Be part of it, and not apart +from it.</p> + +<p>When you are old enough to have a beau, do +not be afraid to bring him into your home, no +matter how humble it is.</p> + +<p>Do not esteem your boy friends for the amount +of money they spend on your entertainment. +Happiness does not consist of lobster-suppers and +taxi-rides to the theatre. Ten cents will bring +just as much real happiness as ten dollars spent +for mere display.</p> + +<p>Be modest, girls; it is your greatest asset.</p> + +<p>Don't gossip or belittle other girls. Find the +good you can say of others; that quality makes +you more attractive.</p> + +<p>Watch out for candied words and flattery; +these things mark the hypocrite, and a hypocrite +is an abomination. Flattery is a practiced deceit—a +dishonorable bait to catch affections.</p> + +<p>Do not allow any young man to relate a story +in your presence that has the slightest risque +turn to it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> + +<p>Show by your words and your actions that +such presumption is an insult.</p> + +<p>Be square with yourself; be square to the man +who is after your heart. Put yourself mentally +in the place of a wife when a man gets serious.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Right +Man.</div> + +<p>Don't hurry, girls; don't judge the man by his +money prospects but by his character and ambition. +Have nothing to do with any +young suitor who isn't always kind, +considerate and attentive to his +mother. And when real love comes to you and +you decide to marry, marry a man of character +who courts you in the sweet, simple, old way.</p> + +<p>If a young man spends money extravagantly +before marriage, hard times will always be around +during his married life.</p> + +<p>The most precious possessions in the world are +happiness and love, and these come from simple +things, genuineness, and usefulness.</p> + +<p>The painted, powdered, tinsel, fluff, feathers +and furbelow girl may be a dashing creature now, +and you may envy her, but you, with your quiet, +sweet, simple, sensible ways—you will win real +love, real respect, real affection, real pleasures, +real satisfaction, in all the days to come; you +will make a success of your life.</p> + +<p>Frills and feathers may have an attraction for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +the girl who makes a fizzle of her life, but sweetness +and simplicity, sentiment and sense, are +precious jewels that will endure for all time.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Road +to Unhappiness.</div> + +<p>The world is full of new-fashioned, slangy, +dancy, fancy, foolish girls who marry for style, +stunts and society, and their married +life is failure, worry and regret. +They do not realize, poor things, until +it is too late, that money and luxury are not +enough to bring happiness. When this truth +comes home to them, there is nothing left but +disillusion, heartache and sorrow.</p> + +<p>Be the golden, pure, old-fashioned, sweet, simple, +quiet, modest girl who knows things, rather +than one who is a show-off girl.</p> + +<p>When the right young man comes along, he +will recognize the kind of girl you are when he +meets you. He will see in you a girl of pure +gold; a sweet, natural, sensible girl, who will be a +helpmate to him and not a drawback.</p> + +<p>So then, here is the hope that you, girl, will +start right, keep right, and end right. I want +you to think of sense, sentiment, and simplicity +rather than dances, dollars, duds and doings.</p> + +<p>I want your life to be one of poise, happiness +and serenity instead of noise, worry and nerves.</p> + +<p>This little message is all for you—GIRL.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>30.</h2> + + +<p>Many churches to-day are running to extremes +in one way or another.</p> + +<p>On the one hand, they are conducted along +the lines of form, ceremony and ritualism; the +other extreme results in excitement, ecstasy and +fanaticism.</p> + +<p>The church of forms, rituals and ceremonies +attracts the passive who are willing to let the +priest or pastor or prelate take charge of the +religious work while they, the attendants or worshippers, +sit quietly by and say "amen" and join +in the responses.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Real +Religion.</div> + +<p>Paul said, "Away with those forms." Christ, +in ministering to humanity, gave no forms and +made no set sentences for his followers. +The Lord's Prayer was given +with the admonition, "After this +manner pray ye," and certainly not with the command, +"Pray ye with these words."</p> + +<p>Form, ceremony and ritual are much like most +associated charities—a sort of convention. +Forms cannot express the deep emotions, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +natural longings, or the human desires; they are +echoes, hollow and unsatisfying.</p> + +<p>For those who do not feel, for those who do not +act, for those who belong to churches because of +convention, or for social reasons, forms and frills +fill the bill.</p> + +<p>Form is an exterior religion, an outward show. +Form doesn't touch the heart or awaken the soul. +Form in religion is like a formal dinner. It is +a gaudy display rather than a plan to satisfy human +heart hunger.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">"Scare-You-to-Death" +Method.</div> + +<p>Opposite to formal religion is the frenzied +"scare-you-to-death" excitement method, which +relies upon mental intoxication to stir +the people. Like other forms of intoxication, +the effect soon wears off.</p> + +<p>I have little patience or sympathy for the business +men who hire professional evangelists to +come to town to start revivals. The sensational +revivalists have too acute an appreciation of the +dollar to convince me of their sincerity in their +work.</p> + +<p>A laborer is worthy of his hire, and a preacher, +teacher or benefactor of any sort should be well +paid. But when I see these big guns taking away +from ten to one hundred thousand dollars in cold +cash for a three weeks' campaign converting the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +poor suffering people, the thought comes to me +that if the evangelist were sincere, he would buy +a lot of bread, coal and underwear, and hire a lot +of trained nurses with a big part of that money.</p> + +<p>Christ and his Apostles were of the people; +they worked with and among the people; they +had no committees, no guarantees and no business +men's subscription lists.</p> + +<p>It's mighty hard to read about these sensational +evangelists taking in thousands of dollars +for a couple of weeks' revival meetings, and harmonize +that religion with the religion of Christ, +the carpenter, and his Apostles, who were fishermen +and workmen.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">How They +Do It.</div> + +<p>The exciting, intoxicating, frenzied revival +method is pretty much the same in its working +wherever it is practised. The evangelist +starts in with the song, +"Where is My Wandering Boy To-night;" +then follows the picture of mother, which +is painted with sobs of blood. Then follows +mother's death-bed scene until the audience is in +tears. Gesticulation, mimicry, acting, sensationalism, +slang and weepy stories follow, until the +ferment of excitement is developed to a high +pitch, and droves flock down the sawdust trail to +be made over on the instant into sanctified beings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>The evangelist stays until his engagement is +up, and then departs with a pocket full of nice +fat bank drafts.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">An Old-Time +Method.</div> + +<p>But there is nothing new about this method. +It is as old as humanity. It is the same method +that is practised in the more remote +and uncivilized portions of the world +to-day, where garishly painted savages +congregate and render homage to their +gods in an orgy of yelling, whooping and beating +of the tom-tom.</p> + +<p>It is a sad commentary on the established profession +of the ministry that sensational professionals +are called in and paid fabulous prices to +convert the people in their community.</p> + +<p>I do not take much stock in either the frigid +form-and-ceremonial method with its frills, or the +frenzied fire-and-brimstone, scare-you-to-it extreme.</p> + +<p>Somewhere between these extremes is the rational, +natural, sane road to travel—the religion +of brotherly love; of cheers, not tears; of hope, +not fear; of courage, not weakness; of joy, not +sorrow; of help, not hindrance.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Religion +of Love.</div> + +<p>The religion that makes us love one another +here—not the kind that says we shall know each +other there; the religion that has to do with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>human passions, human trials, human +needs, instead of the frigid form or +the fevered frenzy; the religion that +avoids the extremes of heat and cold—that's the +kind the world needs most.</p> + +<p>Christ taught love, kindness, charity. He spoke +not of beautiful churches and opera-singing +choirs. He spoke not of robes, vestments, forms +or rituals.</p> + +<p>One of the most beautiful things in the Bible +is the story of the good Samaritan with his simple, +unostentatious aid to a wounded man—a +man whom the Samaritan knew as an enemy of +his people, but who was none the less a brother. +And you will remember how the priest of the +temple—the man who taught charity and love—drew +up his skirts and passed the wounded +man by.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>31.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Love of +Country.</div> + +<p>Patriotism—one's love for one's country—is +a natural and a beautiful sentiment. With the +spirit of idealism behind it, it becomes +one of the noblest sentiments +that has been developed in the course +of humanity's long upward march to civilization.</p> + +<p>To-day, on Europe's battlefields, millions of +men are hazarding their lives. They do so gladly, +willingly, with a firm and reasoned conviction in +the justice of the cause for which they fight. That +is intelligent patriotism—the kind of patriotism +that is based on understanding and knowledge.</p> + +<p>But the world to-day is conscious that there is +another kind of patriotism—a false patriotism +that is fostered and fomented by ambitious governments +for purposes of aggression and aggrandizement.</p> + +<p>This false patriotism is not a free or voluntary +thing. It is the blind, instinctive feeling of sheep-like +men who have been bred beneath the yoke +of servility and obedience and are like clay in the +hands of their overlords. They know not why<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +they fight, but through fear or intimidation or +force, they slavishly submit to the will of their +Kaiser or Emperor and his minions.</p> + +<p>This great war, and most every great war of +the past, was made possible by a distorted understanding +of patriotism. This false patriotism is +one of the narrowest and most cruel forces in the +world, and when linked with militarism, it becomes +the most dangerous. It causes wars, waste +and desolation. It creates jealousies, inspires +jingoism and braggadocio, keeps alive the fight +spirit, and menaces the peace and security of nations.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Militarism.</div> + +<p>Militaristic rulers, fired by selfish egotism, +know full well what a powerful force patriotism +is, and they nurse the babes with +fatherland stuff and give them tin +soldiers to play with and tin helmets to wear.</p> + +<p>Patriotism, when it reflects love of the place +of one's nativity, when it is based on home ties +and associations, is a beautiful and touching +thing. But when unscrupulous autocrats utilize +this sentiment for their own aggressive purposes, +it becomes a menace that must be put down if +other nations are to enjoy the blessings of peace +and liberty.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">False +Patriotism +a Menace.</div> + +<p>To keep this false patriotism alive, wars must +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>be made, so that human blood can be secured to +keep the monster from famishing. +And so, on slight pretexts, or no pretexts +at all, the war lords and imperial +autocrats rattle their swords in their scabbards +and let loose the avalanche of war on the +world.</p> + +<p>Such patriotism is failure and worse than failure. +It is a reversion to the brute age of mankind. +It flings a moral challenge to the world +that the world must either accept or perish.</p> + +<p>So much for this monstrous perversion of Right +and Reason that has turned Europe into a shambles, +and has banded the civilized nations of the +world together in a mighty struggle for freedom +and democracy.</p> + +<p>True patriotism is one of the world's constructive +forces. It overleaps national frontiers, and +is inspired by the ideals of international peace, +good-will and amity. It looks forward to the +time when national barriers will be let down, and +the brotherhood of man will be recognized the +world over.</p> + +<p>Such patriotism is the patriotism of Right +Makes Might—not Might Makes Right. It is +the kind of patriotism that prevails only among +the free, democratic, peace-loving peoples of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +world who are fighting to-day for the preservation +of free institutions and the rights of humanity.</p> + +<p>The opposite sort of patriotism is the autocratic, +militaristic kind that has furnished the +world with an example of savage ferocity and +vindictive cruelty that it will not soon forget.</p> + +<p>In this great struggle, we see Democracy +ranged against Autocracy, Right against Might, +True Patriotism against False Patriotism. The +Right will triumph, as it always has, when pitted +against the forces of hate, greed and reaction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>32.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">The Happy +Medium.</div> + +<p>Danger lies in extremes. Too much of anything +is bad for the human being's health. There +is a certain comfortable proportion of +exercise and rest which, when mixed +together, will give bodily efficiency. +Too much exercise is bad, too little is bad.</p> + +<p>Until recent years, our vocations and the habit +of going to or from our places of business gave +us a well-balanced amount of exercise, rest, work +and pleasure, and all went well.</p> + +<p>Lately, we hear much about worry, neurasthenia, +nervous prostration and the like. There +are several contributing causes to the mental and +physical ills which are caused by "nerves."</p> + +<p>First of all, we have an epidemic of labor-saving +devices. The principal argument used by the +manufacturer of a labor-saving device is, "It +makes money and saves work." Making money +and getting soft snaps seem to be the objectives +of most human beings.</p> + +<p>The labor-saving devices take away exercise. +The machine does the work. The artisan simply<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +feeds the hopper, puts in a new roll, or drops in +the material. He sits down and watches the +wheels go around, likely smoking a cigarette in +the meanwhile, and more than likely reading the +sporting sheet of a yellow newspaper.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Changed +Conditions +of Work.</div> + +<p>Possibly few of my readers have given the +matter serious thought, and they will be astounded +at the changed conditions of work +which have come into our modern +life. It will be interesting to note +here some of these changes.</p> + +<p>Men used to live within walking distance of +their work. Now the electric street railway and +the speedy automobile have eliminated the necessity +for much walking.</p> + +<p>Men used to climb stairs. The elevator has +now so accustomed us to the conveniences that +stairs are taboo.</p> + +<p>Machines have replaced muscles. The old +printer walked from case to case and got exercise. +To-day he sits in an easy backed chair and +uses a linotype.</p> + +<p>Telephoning is quicker than traveling. No one +"runs for a doctor."</p> + +<p>Our houses have electric washers, electric irons +and many other labor-saving devices.</p> + +<p>Even the farmer has his telephone, his auto,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +his riding plow, his milking machine and his +cream separator.</p> + +<p>In the stores, the cash boy has disappeared. +The cash carrier takes the money to a girl who +sits in the office, a machine makes the change, +and another machine does her mathematics.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Perils of +Inactivity.</div> + +<p>The modern idea of efficiency puts a premium +on the sedentary feature of occupations, and employees +are frequently automatons that +sit. The business man sits at his +desk, sits in a comfortable automobile +as he goes home, sits at the dinner table and +sits all evening at the theater, or at the card +table. It is sit, sit, sit until he gets a big abdomen, +a puffy skin and a bad liver.</p> + +<p>He tries to counteract this with forced exercise +in a gymnasium or a couple of hours golfing +a week. Very likely, his golfing is more interesting +because of the side bets than because of +the exercise.</p> + +<p>We are losing out on the natural, pleasurable, +and practical exercises, mixed in the right proportions +to promote physical poise and health. +Things are too easy, luxury and comfort too teasing, +for the ordinary mortal to resist, and the +great mob sits or rides hundreds of times when +they should stand or walk.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>When my objective point is five or six blocks, +I walk, and I think on the way. I probably get in +from two to four miles of walking every day, +which my friends would save by riding in the +street cars or autos.</p> + +<p>I walk to my office every morning—a distance +of nearly four miles.</p> + +<p>I walk alone, so that I may relax and not expend +conscious effort as is the case when I walk +with another.</p> + +<p>That morning walk prevents me from reading +slush and worthless news, and relieves me of the +necessity of talking and using up nerve energy.</p> + +<p>I get the worth-while news from my paper by +the headlines and by trained ability to separate +the wheat from the chaff.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Four Great +Body-Builders.</div> + +<p>I just feel fine all the time, and it's because I +get to bed early, sleep plenty, exercise naturally, +think properly and get the four great +body-builders in plenty: air, water, +sunshine, food; and the other four +great health-builders, which are: good thought, +good exercise, good rest, and good cheer.</p> + +<p>The great crowd aims at ease, and so the business +man sits and loses out on the exercise his +body and mind must have. And therefore the +great crowd pays tribute to doctors, sanitariums,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +rest cures, fake tonics, worthless medicines, freakish +diet fads, and crazy cults, isms, and discoveries +that claim to bring health by the easy, lazy, +comfortable sitting route.</p> + +<p>Believe me, dear reader, it is not in the cards to +play the game of health that way. "There ain't +no sich animal" said the ruben as he saw the +giraffe in the circus, and likewise, there "aint no +sich thing" as health and happiness for the man +who persistently antagonizes Nature, and hunts +ease where exercise is demanded.</p> + +<p>The law of compensation is inexorable in its +demand that you have to pay for what you get +and that you can't get worth-while things by +worthless plans.</p> + +<p>You must exercise enough to balance things, to +clear the system, to preserve your strength; it +doesn't take much time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>33.</h2> + + +<p>This afternoon I am sitting on a glacial rock in +the forest at the foot of Mount Shasta. A beautiful +spot in which to rest and a glorious page +from the book of nature to read.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Back to +Nature.</div> + +<p>A canopy of deepest blue sky above, with sunshine +unstopped by clouds. The rays of old Sol +pulsate themselves into an endless +variety of flowers, plants and vegetable +life which Mother Earth has given +birth to. Glorious trees of magnificent size reach +up into the blue and give us shade. Ozone sweeps +gently through the forest, impregnated with the +perfume of fir, balsam, cedar, pine and flowers.</p> + +<p>In this spot, nature has thrown up mountains +of volcanic rock, which hold the winter's snow in +everlasting supply to quench the thirst of plant, +of animal, and of the millions of humans in the +lower country.</p> + +<p>The whole hillside around me is a community +of springs of crystal water laden with iron and +precious salts. It is the breast of Mother Earth +which nurses her offspring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<p>Here are no noises of the street; the newsboy's +cry of "extra" is not heard. The raucous voice +of the peddler, the din of trucks, the honk of automobiles, +the clatter of the city—all these are +absent.</p> + +<p>There is no noise here—just the sweet music +of falling water, and the aeolian lullaby made by +the breeze playing on the pine needles.</p> + +<p>My eyes take in a panorama of beautiful nature +in colors and contrasts that would give stage +fright to any artist who tried to paint the scenes +on canvas.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Gaining +Pep.</div> + +<p>I am getting pep. This is my treatment for +tired nerves; 'tis the "medcin' of the hills;" 'tis +nature's cure, and how it brings the +pill box and the bottle of tonic into +contempt! I'm letting down the high +tension voltage and getting the calm, natural pulsation +that nature intended the human machine +to have.</p> + +<p>So quiet, so peaceful, so natural is the view that +I drink in inspiration of a worth-while kind. No +war news to read, no records of tragedy, no degrading +chronicles of man's passions, of man's +meanness and man's selfishness.</p> + +<p>A little chipmunk sits upright on a rock before +me wondering at the movements of my yellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +pencil and the black mark it makes on the paper.</p> + +<p>A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, +and a saucy "camp robber," or mutton bird, +wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man +animal brother. A big beetle is getting his provisions +for the winter. I recognize his occupation, +for I've read about him in Fabre's wonderful +books on insect life.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Nature's +Lodge.</div> + +<p>Here, in the sanctum sanctorum of the forest, +I am made a member of Nature's lodge, and the +ants and bugs and beetles and flowers +and plants and trees are initiating me +and telling me the secrets of the order. +I can only tell you, who are in the great busy +world outside, the lessons and morals. The real +secrets I must not tell; you will receive them +when you, too, come to the hills and forests, and +sit down on a rock alone and go through the initiation.</p> + +<p>You are invited to come in; your application is +approved, and you are eligible to membership.</p> + +<p>Come to Nature's lodge-meeting and clear away +the cobwebs from your weary brain; get inspiration +and be a man again.</p> + +<p>Come—soothe and rest and build up those +shredded, weakened, tired, weary nerves. Let the +sun put its coat of health on you, and let the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +ozone put the red blood of strength in your veins.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Rest and +Recreate.</div> + +<p>Come and get perfect brain and body-resting +sleep. Come to this wonderful, happy, helpful +lodge and get a store of energy, and +an abundance of vital ammunition +with which to make the fight, when +you go back to your factory or office. The doctor +can lance the carbuncle, but Nature's outdoor +medicine will prevent your having a carbuncle.</p> + +<p>The doctor can stop a pain with a poison drug, +but Nature's outdoor medicine will prevent your +having the disorder which makes the pain.</p> + +<p>No, brother, you can't get health out of a bottle +or a pill box. But you <i>can</i> get it from Mother +Nature's laboratory, where she compounds air, +water, sunshine, beauty, music, thought; where +she gives you exercise and rest, health, happiness, +all summed up into cashable assets for the human +in the shape of poise, efficiency and peace.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>34.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Mother.</div> + +<p>Mother, you are the one person in all the world +whose kindness was never the preface to a request. +That's the sweetest tribute we +can pay you, and the most truthful +one. It covers devotion, love, sentiment, motherhood, +and all the noble attributes that go to make +the word "Mother" the most hallowed, most sacred, +most beautiful word in the English language.</p> + +<p>There are not words or sentences that can express +to you what we think of you or convey our +appreciation of you.</p> + +<p>You want our love; you have it. You should +be told of our love; we tell you. Appreciation and +gratitude are payments on account, but with all +our appreciation and with our whole life's gratitude, +the debt we are under can never be paid.</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"We have careful words for the stranger,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And smiles for the some-time guest—</span><br /> +But oft to our own the bitter tone,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Though we love our own the best."</span></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>We've hurt you, Mother, many times, by our +thoughtlessness and by the resentment we felt +over your plans and your views about the things +we did, and you have had heartaches because of +such actions of ours.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Mother +Love.</div> + +<p>Forgive us, Mother, we're sorry. And there +you are, dear; the moment we ask your forgiveness, +your great, tender, loving heart +has forgiven us and erased the marks +of transgression. Always thinking of +us, always excusing us, always doing for us, always +watching us and always loving us in the +most unselfish way.</p> + +<p>We love you, Mother; we appreciate you. We +are going to show our appreciation and love so +much more from now on. We have just come to +our senses and realized what a wonderful, necessary, +helpful being you are.</p> + +<p>Your sweetness, your gentleness, your goodness, +your love, are parts of you. They all go to +make up that word "Mother."</p> + +<p>Your life, your acts, your example, your Motherhood, +have all helped the world so much more +than you will ever know.</p> + +<p>In the everlasting record of good deeds, your +name is in gold.</p> + +<p>In the everlasting memory of those who appre<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>ciate +you, your face, your life, is a sacred, helpful +picture that grows more beautiful as the days +pass.</p> + +<p>In tenderness, in appreciation, in love, let us +dedicate these thoughts and voice these expressions +to Mother, who gives her life by inches, and +who would give it all on the instant for her children, +if necessity called for the sacrifice.</p> + +<p>How feeble are words when we try to describe +Mother!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>35.</h2> + + +<p>This is your inning, Dad.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Just Dad.</div> + +<p>There have been so many beautiful things written +about Mother and all the rest of the family +that it is high time we should tell you +how much we love you and how much +we appreciate you.</p> + +<p>You've worked so hard; you've been so ambitious +to do things for your loved ones, and they +have accepted your sacrifice and work and watchfulness +as matter of fact.</p> + +<p>You've had dreams of a some day when you +would relax and play and enjoy, but you have set +that some day too far ahead. You consider yourself +only after all your loved ones are comfortable +and happy, and time is passing, Dad.</p> + +<p>You are too unselfish, too much centered in that +some day. Let's change things a bit, Dad. Sometimes +the "some day" doesn't come.</p> + +<p>You are entitled to happiness and pleasure and +health and joy right here, now, to-day. It's your +duty to have them.</p> + +<p>Your loved ones do not want you to spend your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +health in getting wealth. They don't want to see +you worn-out, tired, weary and unhappy, in the +evening of your life. Besides it's your duty to let +them share the responsibility, and work out their +own problems. They will be better equipped for +life after you are gone if you let them gain knowledge +by practical experience.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Keep Alive +the Spirit +of Youth.</div> + +<p>Come on, Dad; get in the group and enjoy +things now and you will live longer, and get more +out of life, and give more pleasure +to your loved ones. Get in the game, +Dad; let's see the old light and twinkle +in your eyes; let's have the sunshine on your +face; the love-light on your lips, and the happiness +in your heart.</p> + +<p>Leave your cares at the office; prepare your +mind for play, and you will feel so much better +and stronger and so much more successful in +your business.</p> + +<p>We don't want to hear any more sh-h-h—sh-h-h—or +whispers when you come home. We +don't want to feel that uncomfortable feeling of +restraint; let's laugh and sing and love and play—let's +make your home-coming a joyous event.</p> + +<p>We all love you, Dad, but you haven't made it +as comfortable as you might for us when we try +to express our love. You've been too tired, too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +busy, too much occupied with those business +thoughts.</p> + +<p>Don't you see how we love you and how we +appreciate you? Don't you know that there is no +one in the world who can take the place of Dad?</p> + +<p>Keep your heart young, Dad; we will help if +you only say, "Come on." We are waiting for +the signal. Let's start the new schedule tonight. +Come on, Dad, what do you say?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>36.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">What Our +Bodies are +Composed Of.</div> + +<p>We speak of the three kingdoms: the animal, +the vegetable and the mineral kingdoms, and +every substance is classified into one +of these. The exact truth is there is +but one kingdom, which is the mineral. +The vegetable substances and animal combinations +are made of mineral elements.</p> + +<p>In a rough way we distinguish the mineral +kingdom as those substances called elements, +such as iron, sulphur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, +sodium and the like.</p> + +<p>These elements are unchangeable in themselves; +they do not grow. The animal is made +of mineral elements associated in certain proportions, +such as albumin, carbon, lime, water, salt +and the like. The vegetable kingdom also consists +of these various chemical combinations.</p> + +<p>Seed, when planted, extracts the minerals from +the air and the earth and combines them into a +plant, which grows and has for its object the making +of seeds to reproduce and perpetuate itself.</p> + +<p>The plant has life, but it has no spiritual or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +mental equipment, and therein vegetable life differs +from the animal life. The animal eats vegetable +and animal flesh. Through the vegetable he +gets the mineral matter necessary for body-building. +He also gets a plentiful supply of mineral +from the flesh he eats, which flesh was first +built up through the vegetables the animal ate.</p> + +<p>These are definite facts.</p> + +<p>The human body may be analyzed and separated +into something like a dozen substances, +among which are water, which is three-fourths of +the body's structure, carbon, lime, phosphorus, +iron, potassium, salt and so on.</p> + +<p>By reading a book on anatomy you can learn +just exactly the proportions of the substances in +the human body.</p> + +<p>All these chemicals are formed in the shape of +little cells, myriads of which are in the body. +These cells are constantly being destroyed and +new ones made to take their place.</p> + +<p>Parts of the body are replaced every twenty-four +hours; other parts less often.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What Our +Bodies Need.</div> + +<p>Scientists tell us that the whole body is replaced +every seven years. Every move you make +destroys cells which nature has to replace. +Isn't it reasonable then to conclude +that if a man should fail to eat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +enough lime for his body-building, his bones +would suffer? If he does not get enough iron, +his blood will suffer, and so on. I am convinced +that most physical ailments are caused by a deficiency +of the mineral elements in the body.</p> + +<p>Phosphorus and potash are necessary to human +welfare. These elements are in the husk of the +wheat, and when the husk is taken off in making +flour, the resulting product is mostly starch. The +person who lives mostly on white bread will suffer +from lack of phosphorus and potash.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be better for the health of the +American people than the nation-wide food campaigns +the government is conducting. The educational +value of these campaigns is enormous.</p> + +<p>Eat less wheat! White bread is unessential. +Bran, or whole wheat bread, is far more healthful +and nourishing, and contains more of the elements +the human body needs.</p> + +<p>Eat more fruit. People do not eat enough fruit. +Every year thousands of bushels of peaches and +grapes and other fruit go to waste because the +demand is not great enough to ship the entire output +to the great consuming centers.</p> + +<p>Study your body's needs. Health is maintained +at its proper level only so long as you eat carefully +and wisely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>37.</h2> + + +<p>The practice of medicine in the past has been +directed towards the curing of disease and physical +ailments already developed. The practice of +medicine in the future is to be along preventive +lines. Science is showing us how to prevent infection. +Science is fighting the deadly microbe +which comes to us in the air we breathe, the water +we drink, and the food we eat, and the infected +things we touch.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The "Why" +of Disease.</div> + +<p>Nature has supplied the human body with a +home guard of necessary bacteria, and in the circulation +system are phagocytes which +fight the invading microbes and generally +destroy them. When the system +is weakened through disease, through lack of +exercise, or through improper food, disease has an +easy time.</p> + +<p>I want you to remember this golden prescription. +It is composed of the following: Good Air, +Good Water, Good Sunshine, Good Food, Good +Exercise, Good Cheer, Good Rest and Good +Thought. If you take this golden prescription,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +you will make of yourself a giant in brain and +brawn strength.</p> + +<p>You can't get health out of a bottle. You can't +get the system to absorb iron if you take it in the +form of tincture of iron. You can eat a pound of +rust, which is oxide of iron, and none of that iron +will be absorbed in the system.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">What +to Eat.</div> + +<p>As I have explained in another chapter, you +must take the mineral in the system through the +vegetable route. You will get iron +that will be assimilated when you eat +beefsteak. Beefsteak has blood; the +blood has iron. You will also get iron when +you eat spinach.</p> + +<p>Every element necessary for your body is found +in some vegetable or animal food; therefore, you +should refrain from confining yourself to a very +few articles of food.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fads, Cults, +Isms.</div> + +<p>Don't pay any attention to the faddist who +gives you a rigorous diet or unpalatable food. You +simply make yourself miserable, and +you generate more worry and unhappiness +by your discipline than the +good you get from these freak fads. There are +a thousand different fads and cults and isms, each +one claiming to be right. Probably each one contains +a small portion of right. But it is a sure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +thing that The Right is too big a thing to be confined +within narrow formulae and creeds.</p> + +<p>We all eat too much meat, but that a strict vegetarian +diet is the necessary thing for good health +I deny. The sheep, the cow, and horse are vegetarians, +and they are short lived. The eagle, the +lion, the man, eat animal food, and they are long +lived.</p> + +<p>I may be prejudiced, but it does seem to me +that the strict vegetarians are a skinny, sallow-looking +lot of humans, speaking generally. I do +find that the healthier specimens of vegetarians +are those who eat plenty of eggs and drink plenty +of milk, both of which are animal food, and both +of which have nearly all the elements necessary +to sustain life.</p> + +<p>I don't like fads in the matter of eating. The +amount a person consumes should be in exact +accord with the body's requirements—neither +more nor less.</p> + +<p>The human body is a machine from a food +standpoint. It is an engine that has work to do, +and accordingly the amount of fuel necessary for +the engine should be in proportion to the amount +of work that the engine is called on to perform.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Eat Less, +Exercise +More.</div> + +<p>The majority of city-dwelling people eat too +much. This is especially true of men in seden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>tary +occupations, and women whose +household duties are light. If your +engine needs twenty pounds of steam, +how foolish it is to keep up a hundred pounds +pressure! If you had five-horsepower work to +perform, how foolish it would be to install a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound +engine!</p> + +<p>Eat less of everything. Fat and flabbiness and +over-feeding is a national vice with us. The fashionable +cafés and restaurants are thronged with +puffy, heavy-jowled men and women, eating and +drinking. Hotels and food-purveyors are constantly +inventing new palate-tickling dishes to +tempt your appetite. Orchestras and dramatic +troupes are engaged to entertain and amuse you +while you overload your stomach, take on fat, and +lay the foundation for future cases of indigestion +or dyspepsia.</p> + +<p>There is no escaping a day of reckoning for +such mistreatment of yourself. If you would keep +yourself fit, it is important that you eat only what +is necessary to maintain yourself at normal +weight and strength.</p> + +<p>You do not often find dyspepsia or indigestion +among men or women who work hard physically. +Isn't it reasonable to suppose that this is because +they work hard?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + +<p>You who work indoors, with little physical exercise, +will find wonderful benefits if you will cut +down the fuel.</p> + +<p>Much of the physical trouble comes from filling +up the boiler too much.</p> + +<p>Cut down the food and you will feel better.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>38.</h2> + + +<p>Anger and revenge are great pull-backs to +health.</p> + +<p>Anger makes the blood rush to the head, weakens +the body, and distorts the vision.</p> + +<p>When a woman gets angry, she quarrels with +her lover, her husband or her children. Any one +of these things is a calamity.</p> + +<p>When a man gets angry, he is a wild man. His +eyes glitter, his mouth is cruel, his fists clinch, +his body trembles, his blood veins strain, and he +does more harm to his system in five minutes of +anger than nature can repair in a day.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Anger +and Poise.</div> + +<p>Anger makes weak stomachs, dizzy heads, poor +judgment, lost friends, despair and sickness, and +if the habit becomes confirmed, will +likely lead to apoplexy. When two +men have differences, watch the cool +man finish victor; the angry man always loses. +Keep your head; let the other fellow fret and +fume.</p> + +<p>He will tie himself up in a knot, and when the +gong is rung, he will be the loser.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>Serenity is one of God's blessings. Fortunate +is the man who can hold his serenity.</p> + +<p>When you get a letter that stirs you to anger, +don't answer that letter for forty-eight hours, +then write a moderately vitriolic letter—and +then tear it up.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Futility +of Revenge.</div> + +<p>I know you are tempted and goaded, and your +limit of endurance is sometimes reached. But I +know that revenge is sweet only in +anticipation. I know that revenge by +anger and by the cruel "eye for an +eye" measure is never, never sweet.</p> + +<p>I have been the victim of imposition, ingratitude +and insincerity, and advantage has been +taken of me because I kept my poise and serenity.</p> + +<p>I have been called easy, and soft, and friends +have shown me where I was imposed upon, but +I was stooping to conquer. I kept my reserve, +my resistance, and my power ready until time, +place, and preparedness let me spring my coup, +and then I cashed in beautifully in principal and +interest for those acts and hurts.</p> + +<p>I have power now in my hands to make others +suffer keenly and deeply for wrongs they have +done me. Yet I do not exercise that power to +revenge.</p> + +<p>I have been misjudged and misunderstood, be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>cause +cowardly persons have lied and villified me, +and have accused me of motives and acts of which +I was innocent.</p> + +<p>I am well hated now by one person in particular, +who blames me for things another is guilty +of. A word from me would clear myself, but it +would bring gloom and despair to that person and +would not make me any more cognizant of my +innocence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Time, the +Arbiter.</div> + +<p>Time somehow will bring out the truth; the +cowardly, guilty individual who basks in the +favor of the one who is angry at me +will surely pay for his wrong. This +I know, and I am satisfied with the +ultimate result.</p> + +<p>My former friend, who is angry at me, would +simply switch the anger current to the guilty one +if I told the facts; the guilty person couldn't +stand that anger like I can. My act would break +up a home and bring misery. The satisfaction I +would receive would not equal the sorrow my act +would cause to others.</p> + +<p>I am far removed from the location where these +people live, and I can stand the anger of the one +who puts the blame on me by accepting the lies +of another as truth.</p> + +<p>I have the documents in black and white, yet I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +don't use them because I have poise and the consciousness +of knowing I am right, and those who +are dear to me know it, too.</p> + +<p>I've tried both plans, the plan of anger and the +plan of poise, and I like poise better.</p> + +<p>I believe I hear more birds, I believe I get more +pleasure out of life and living than the man who +gets angry and loves revenge.</p> + +<p>Anyway, I think so, and "as a man thinketh in +his heart, so is he."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>39.</h2> + + +<p>Sleeping, like breathing and digesting, is controlled +by the subconscious brain centers. Natural +sleep requires no positive mental impulse; it's +just relaxing, and nature takes care of the process.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Can't Sleep.</div> + +<p>That is natural sleep, but when you start your +dry cell battery, the brain, and commence to worry +and fear, you are going to stay awake. +Then the conscious mind dominates +the subconscious mind, and you banish the very +comforter you seek to woo.</p> + +<p>Business men who work under high tension all +day on business matters, and high tension all +evening in threshing over again the business of +the day, are almost sure to suffer from insomnia.</p> + +<p>The continuance of this habit of thinking of +business day and night brings on the insomnia +habit and that, in turn, gives rise to the delusion +that you are fighting for your natural sleep. This +produces worry, the demon that kills and maims.</p> + +<p>To have an occasional wakeful night is natural; +it is an evidence of intelligence: the mental dullard +never has wakeful nights.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Unless the fear of sleeplessness becomes a full +grown phobia, no anxiety need be felt. The fear +of insomnia, the over-anxiety to go to sleep, is to +be more dreaded than insomnia itself.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">To Get +Results.</div> + +<p>To get refreshing sleep you must put yourself +in a state of actual physical tiredness. Take exercise. +Walk in one direction until +the first symptoms of becoming tired +appear, then walk home. Take a hot +bath, then sponge with cold or cool water. Put +a cold cloth at the head, and rub the backbone +with cold water.</p> + +<p>Open your windows wide, then relax. Don't +worry; you are going to sleep.</p> + +<p>Lie on your back, open your eyes wide, look up +as if you were trying to see your eyebrows, hold +your eyes open this way ten to twenty seconds, +then close them slowly. Repeat this several +times.</p> + +<p>Sleep will have descended on you before you +realize it.</p> + +<p>Or occupy your mind with auto-suggestions +like this: "I am going to sleep—sound, heavy, +restful, peaceful sleep. My eyelids are getting +heavy—heavy. I am going to close them and go +to sleep."</p> + +<p>Don't try to count imaginary sheep jumping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +over fence rails. Don't count numbers. It is a +bad habit.</p> + +<p>If these suggestions do not help you the first +night, say: "All right, my brain was too active; +to-morrow I will let down a bit."</p> + +<p>Next night eat one or two dry crackers; chew +them slowly, masticate them thoroughly until +you can swallow easily.</p> + +<p>This little food will draw the blood pressure +from the brain and help you to go to sleep.</p> + +<p>Drive out business and worry thoughts. Think +faith and courage thoughts.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>40.</h2> + + +<p>To live down the past and erase the errors, live +the present boldly.</p> + +<p>Do not chastise or condemn yourself for mistakes +you have made. You are not alone; everyone +has made missteps—has hurt others or +wronged himself.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Making +Mistakes.</div> + +<p>Everyone has had reverses and met trouble and +misfortune. It's the plan of things. It is by undergoing +trials like these that we gain +in experience and wisdom. We are +enabled to correct our future acts by +utilizing the lessons which our mistakes have +taught us.</p> + +<p>Yesterday is dead; forget it. Face about. Live +to-day; be busy, be active, be intent on doing +right and accomplishing things worth while.</p> + +<p>The world's memory is short. A misdeed, an +error, a wrongful act on your part may set busy +tongues wagging to-day, and you may suffer from +calumny and criticism. Of course, your errors +will be magnified and your wrongs enlarged be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>yond +the truth; that's the penalty you pay for +your transgressions.</p> + +<p>Lies are always added to truth in telling of +one's misdeeds. Be brave. Weather the storm; +it will soon blow over. To-morrow the world will +forget.</p> + +<p>You've suffered in your own conscience; that's +all the debt you can pay on the old score.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Worrying +Won't Help.</div> + +<p>Now, then, get busy with the glorious opportunity +that today presents. Don't make the same +mistake again. There are no eyes +in the back of your head; look forward. +Don't worry by envying the +other fellow and comparing his good deeds with +your mistakes; you only see his good. He has +had troubles and made mistakes, too, but you and +the world have forgotten them.</p> + +<p>If every man's sins were printed on his forehead, +the crowds that pass by would all wear +their hats over their eyes.</p> + +<p>I'm trying to comfort you, and slap you on the +back, and tell you that you are just human, and +all humans make false steps.</p> + +<p>The patriarchs in the Bible made mistakes, but +they got in the fold. History has perpetuated +their names. Their lives, on the whole, were +worth while. It's the sum total of acts that count.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>41.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">To-day and +To-morrow.</div> + +<p>One man says the present is everything, that +eternity is nothing. The other man says eternity +is everything, that the present is nothing. +I believe the real truth is that +both are man's chief concern, and +neither view comprehends all truth. In this matter, +the general rule I have so often pointed out +will harmoniously apply. That rule is: Avoid +extremes.</p> + +<p>Those who believe that the Now, the Present, +is the all-important thing in man's life have the +fashionable or favorite point of view.</p> + +<p>Man has much definite information about the +present, he knows much about life. He is in the +midst of life—it pulsates all around him and in +him.</p> + +<p>We know positively that the law of compensation +is inexorable in its demand for right and positive +in its punishment of wrong.</p> + +<p>We know that on this earth kindness, love, occupation, +help, truth, honor and sympathy are investments +which bring happiness to-day. You get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +your pay instantly when you have done a helpful +act, and you get your punishment instantly when +you have done a hurtful act.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Hereafter.</div> + +<p>That there is a future most of us agree, because +good sense and logic point to that sane and reasonable +conclusion. So be it. With +a belief in the future estate, it is reasonable +to assume that our acts and +lives in the present will have influence on our future +estate.</p> + +<p>We know positively of to-day; we know the +happiness we can get from good deeds done to-day. +We come to this knowledge by experience.</p> + +<p>If we will have power in the future to look back +on to-day's acts, well and good if to-day's acts are +worth while.</p> + +<p>The other view, that Eternity is everything and +the present is nothing, is the antiquated view, the +narrow view—the, I might say, illiterate view.</p> + +<p>That view warps the present life; it calls for +present self-chastisement, present gloom, present +sorrow and present misery.</p> + +<p>It takes the tangible definite to-day, calls it +nothing, and accepts the intangible unknown eternity +as everything.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A Cheerless +Philosophy.</div> + +<p>It trades the definite for the indefinite. It calls +life a bubble, a vapor, a shadow. In fact, it throws +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>a pall over to-day's sunshine, and regards +our earthly life as a sort of purgatory—a +dismal unhappy punishment +ante-chamber where man exists and waits, +peeping out of his cell windows for a little imagined +view of eternity.</p> + +<p>He waits and endures the unpleasant interval, +steeled against the definite pleasures of to-day, +his whole outlook colored by a fanatical and intoxicated +belief in the expected happiness of the +undefined future.</p> + +<p>He refuses to think of the definite life of to-day +that we all know, and spoils the thought of those +who do.</p> + +<p>He is a blockade to progress, a disagreeable +part of life's picture.</p> + +<p>He gets no happiness in the to-day which is in +his hands; he loses his opportunity to be of service +here, and lives in the hope of a vague and nebulous +future state which has no connection with +the realities of every-day life.</p> + +<p>Both theories as ultimate beliefs are wrong, yet +each has some truth in its conclusion.</p> + +<p>By taking the words "Eternity" and "Present" +and saying that both mean everything, we +avoid extremes and form a truth that is rational, +and harmonious to good reason.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man who says that the present is all, does +so because he is an utilitarian. He reasons from +the definite and the seeable, and refuses to believe +in the abstract. Anything that is outside +the sphere of his vision and action is of little +concern to him.</p> + +<p>The man who says eternity is all, wastes a +golden opportunity and warps himself into a miserable +hermit.</p> + +<p>Life is irrevocable. Every act in our life is +placed, set, and fixed.</p> + +<p>Every act goes in the record book of yesterday, +and it cannot be changed.</p> + +<p>Acts that hurt others will rebound and hurt +us. Deeds that help others will rebound and +help us. This much is certain.</p> + +<p>There is a future, I believe that. There is a +God, I believe that.</p> + +<p>Just what the future is, and just what God is, +I do not know in perfect detail.</p> + +<p>Reward for good and punishment for evil is +part of God's plan, and I am conscious of this +truth.</p> + +<p>I know that justice prevails in this life, and this +life is what I am living now.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Good +That Lies +at Hand.</div> + +<p>If I live and act to-day in accordance with what +I sincerely believe is in tune with God's purpose, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>I shall, in my future estate, benefit by +those acts. If I live and act to-day in +disregard of all around me, selfishly +catering to my personal desires and believing that +eternity is everything and the present nothing, I +am neglecting the opportunity to do good now in +the hope of a future personal reward, the very +nature of which is unknowable. I shall therefore +strive to do, and to be, right—to be kind, +helpful, cheery and smiling now, for the reward +such acts bring now.</p> + +<p>And I shall doubtless have as good a record and +passport to the future as the man who suffers now +and lives only upon his selfish hope of the future.</p> + +<p>His is the faith of fear, mine the faith of reason +in the all-wise, all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing +Ruler of the universe, who gave me my life, +my brain, my reason, which I am trying to use, as +well as my limitations will permit, in helping myself +and helping others to smile, to be happy, to +be serene, to be confident, to be competent, to be +useful.</p> + +<p>Everything lives and dies in accordance with +the plan of the Creator of the Universe, and you +are an atom and I am an atom in that Universe, +which is governed by a power too big and too +great for us to comprehend.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>Verily we presume when we say: "We have all +the truth; think as we do or you are lost."</p> + +<p>The old world has not told its full story. The +Universe of which this world is a part is still a +deep, unfathomable mystery.</p> + +<p>We shall not know all truth until the great revealing +time.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Use +of To-day.</div> + +<p>We cannot change the pages of the millions of +years gone by. We can do every little to change +the pages of the millions of years to +come. What little we can do, we can +only do TO-DAY. To-day is yours +and mine; let's do the best we can with our possession +in act and thought and word.</p> + +<p>The sun goes down behind the sky-line on the +West as it has done for millions of years. I lay +aside my pen with a bigger view, a deeper appreciation +of the Creator, and a profounder faith in +His wisdom and works than ever.</p> + +<p>God made. God rules. God plans. And verily, +we are weaklings and foolish who presume by selfish +prayer to suggest to Him what He shall do.</p> + +<p>Let us strive to be appreciative of Him; let us +try to lift ourselves to the sublime plane of realizing +that we are part of Him and His plan, and +that failure is impossible to us, if we keep up and +on, doing good, speaking softly, dealing gently,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +showing kindness to-day, and living in accordance +with the big, broad, generous, charitable plan +instead of in the little, bigoted, narrow, selfish, +conceited idea that we are sole possessors of truth +and that the man who differs with us in belief +is in error.</p> + +<p>This chapter is about big things, and in it is a +big moral for all who are big enough to grasp it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>42.</h2> + + +<p>"I believe in him because he is so sincere."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sincerity +and Truth.</div> + +<p>You've heard that, haven't you? I never could +understand how a sensible person could use such +logic. Sincerity is no evidence of +truth. The Hindu mother is sincere +when she throws her babe to the crocodiles, +but her sincerity is no proof that by this +sacrifice she is sure of her salvation.</p> + +<p>The Christian Scientist is sincere in the belief +that medicines do not cure diseases. The doctor +is equally sincere in his belief that medicines do +cure disease.</p> + +<p>The Theosophist is sincere, the Atheist, the +Agnostic, the Christian, the Pagan, the Mohammedan, +the Buddhist, the Sunworshipper, the Republican, +the Democrat, the Progressive, the Prohibitionist, +the Brewer, all these are sincere in +their beliefs. And as these beliefs are different, +it is common sense to say that no one creed, sect, +belief, branch, dogma or system includes or embodies +all truth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">No Monopoly +on Truth.</div> + +<p>It is true that every channel or avenue we meet +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>in life's travel has some truth, but it is not for you +or me to assume that we are the sole +possessors of wisdom and the real discoverers +of all truth. We must not +take the conclusions we arrive at and expect to +force the world to accept without protest our +rules for conduct, our methods for living, our +practices for morals, or our beliefs for their guidance.</p> + +<p>Converts to new doctrines, new issues, new +cults, and to the old ones, too, are made largely +because the ambassadors or proselyters seem so +fervid and sincere in expounding what they claim +is the definite truth.</p> + +<p>The believers in a cult or code of ethics are +auto-hypnotized; their visions are narrowed.</p> + +<p>By focusing their thought on their special belief, +they bring together sophistry, argument, example +and so-called proof that gives them facility +in arguing the case or expounding their doctrine.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Christian +Science.</div> + +<p>You can make no gain in trying to argue with +a Christian Scientist. You ask for concrete rules, +definite answers and proofs other +than their flat statements, and you +are told you have not the understanding—you +do not view the subject from the right +plane, and that the truth cannot be shown you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +You are told to have faith and belief, to eliminate +antagonism, and to study "Science and Health," +and you will receive the divine spirit and see the +light.</p> + +<p>The Scientist is sincere; he shows you "Science +and Health" with a lot of testimonials in the back +to prove that Christian Science cures disease. +Every patent medicine, every science, every system +of healing has testimonials by the hundreds.</p> + +<p>Scientists say there is no disease, no material—that +we are only spirit or soul or thought—that +we are not matter but mind. Health, they +tell us, is truth and disease is error. They deny +disease, yet "Science and Health" and the midweek +experience meetings have testimonials of +disease cured by Christian Science.</p> + +<p>There is much truth in Christian Science. People +are helped by it; people are sincere in their +belief in it, but that Christian Science is all truth, +all-powerful, all-right, all-sufficient, cannot be +proven.</p> + +<p>What about the people who have gone hence +before Christian Science was ever heard of?</p> + +<p>The theological religion of to-day differs radically +in practice and belief from what it was fifty +years ago.</p> + +<p>If the Protestant religion be all truth, what be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>came +of our religious ancestors who died before +Martin Luther found the truth?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Spirit +of Tolerance.</div> + +<p>I have no quarrel with the Christian Scientist, +the Protestant, the Roman Catholic, the Buddhist +or the Mohammedan. I must be generous +and broad enough to admit that +others have the right to think and be +sincere. All sciences have truth, but no science, +sect, cult, dogma or creed is ALL truth.</p> + +<p>Sincerity is evidence of honest conviction, but +that your sincerity in your belief must be accepted +by me as proof that I should believe as +you do, is, I believe, the place where I have the +undoubted right to say: "I reserve the right to +my own conclusions, and I would be unjust to +myself if I should force myself to accept your +viewpoint without fully satisfying myself that +you were right."</p> + +<p>So, because a person is sincere in a conviction +that is contrary to your conscientious belief, do +not be disturbed. There is no need to swerve from +your own common sense analysis of the matter, +or be convinced against your better judgment.</p> + +<p>No one possesses all the truth. It is for you +and me to do our plain duty as we see it—to do +the best we can each day in act and thought and +word.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>We can pretty much agree on the simple essential +truths which are proven. That is—being honest, +truthful, kind, lovable, sympathetic, cheerful; +doing good, helping one another, and doing things +worth while.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Unprofitable +Speculation.</div> + +<p>If we agree on these things, and do useful work, +and think helpful thoughts, we are doing our duty. +Theories, arguments and studying too +deeply on bootless systems, codes, beliefs, +cults, isms and doctrines, is a +waste of time. When we can, here and now, derive +definite benefits from doing the simple and +helpful things, and acting and thinking the simple, +practical cheer thoughts, it is neither necessary +nor helpful for us to waste time on spiritualism +or theoretical beliefs that cannot be proven to +our own satisfaction.</p> + +<p>We are asked to believe these strange, impractical, +unnatural beliefs because of the sincerity of +others. It's better to believe and to credit the +things we can ourselves measure, understand and +sincerely adopt.</p> + +<p>There are hundreds of strange beliefs and spiritual +systems, each claiming to be all-powerful, +all-right. If any one is all truth, then all the others +are all wrong.</p> + +<p>The bigot who assumes he is the sole possessor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +of truth—the cult, sect, ism, or science that +claims to possess all truth and presumes to lay +down the exact rules for the world to obey—should +be classed with those misguided religions +and institutions of the dark past which burned +human beings who dared to doubt their claim to +the possession of all truth and knowledge.</p> + +<p>God never gave his approval to any one man-made +religious sect.</p> + +<p>God is the universal good power. Man often +tries to dwarf God's idea to the narrow dimensions +of his own small soul.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>43.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Whiskey and +Fake Medicines.</div> + +<p>Whiskey must go. It is written on the pages +of the record book of man's progress. Likewise +must the quack doctor and the fake +medicine go. They have had their +day. The quack doctor has already +breathed his last in many parts of the country. +The fake medicine schemes are still with us, but +they are becoming increasingly difficult to put +over. That they are doomed to extinction, there +can be no doubt.</p> + +<p>The side-whiskered advertising doctor who +magnifies symptoms and proclaims them to be +grave forerunners of awful, debilitating disease, is +nothing short of a criminal. He is one of the +worst of criminals, because he imposes upon the +credulity of the ignorant, excites their fear by +means of sensational scarehead advertising, and +then when he has finally lured them into his spider-web, +fleeces them unmercifully. These charlatans +are really more contemptible than any +thief, for the thief does not pretend to be anything +else but what he is, while the quack doctor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +swindles and exploits you under the guise of being +your benefactor.</p> + +<p>As I have repeatedly explained, illness, feeling +"out of sorts," local pains and sickness, unless of +the contagious or infectious kind, are largely conditions +of the mind.</p> + +<p>Most of the temporary ailments are caused by +constipation, wrong diet or lack of exercise. The +doctor gives a laxative, nature re-asserts herself, +and the patient is cured.</p> + +<p>Chronic ailments require long treatments—making +long bills and many visits for the quack +doctor.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Your Family +Physician.</div> + +<p>Your health and happiness are things largely +in your own control. However, when you feel +you must have a doctor, go to your +family physician and not to a strange +doctor who advertises. His advertisement +is merely a spiderweb to catch and hold +you while he robs you.</p> + +<p>It is a hopeful sign of the brighter future +toward which man is progressing, that the respectable +papers will not lend their aid to swindling +doctors. The best papers will not carry +these quack doctor or fake medicine ads.</p> + +<p>Before long the government will pass laws abolishing +this baneful, shameful, quack advertising.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +Quack doctoring, gambling, liquor selling—these +are all swindling methods to get money, and +in the getting, the ghouls and parasites who practise +these "professions" are killing men, ruining +homes, destroying happiness, holding back progress.</p> + +<p>The one object of the quack doctor is to size +you up and see what you "are good for." "Good +for" means how much money can he get from +you, and how long can he keep you as a patient +to contribute to his coffers.</p> + +<p>Let every reader of this book enroll as an +opponent to quack doctors and quack medicines, +and by word and influence help to hasten the day +when such pernicious swindlers and swindling +schemes are things of the past.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>44.</h2> + + +<p>No two minds can see the same picture in the +same way, nor can two persons, armed and +equipped with logic, come to the same definite +conclusions on religion.</p> + +<p>The old Scripture said: "An eye for an eye +and a tooth for a tooth." The new Scripture +teaches us to "turn the other cheek" and "love +our enemies."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Religion, Old +and New.</div> + +<p>Two hundred years ago witchcraft was practised +and miserable human beings were burned +at the stake. Thirty years ago the +preacher who took exception to the +universal belief of a hell of fire and +brimstone was thrown out of the church. To-day +no preacher believes in such a hell.</p> + +<p>Present day religion is really a Sunday religion. +One and a half hours a week the members of +the church join in singing, "We shall know each +other there." The remainder of the week they +make it a point to keep from knowing each +other here.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Sectarianism.</div> + +<p>The Protestant church divides itself into +nu<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>merous sects, each one built on some particular +ordinance or practice. Each one, in +matters of doctrine, will swallow a +camel but will strain at a gnat. One sect insists +that baptism shall be by immersion because the +disciples baptized that way. They believe in following +custom literally, yet in the cities they +immerse the members in a big tub under the +pulpit, which practice is entirely different from +the method employed by John the Baptist.</p> + +<p>Another sect insists upon having a communion +every Sunday because the Bible says, "As often +as you do this," etc. To be literal in the matter +of communion, the Lord's Supper should be +served at night, as the original was, and it should +be supper and not a few pieces of broken crackers.</p> + +<p>The sect that insists on following the Scriptures +in the matter of baptism by immersion fails +to follow the Scriptures in the matter of washing +the feet or anointing the head.</p> + +<p>Many years ago, churches considered it a sacrilege +to use an organ. To-day they have orchestras +and hire operatic singers.</p> + +<p>So it seems that the church is broadening +out. Thinking men refuse to believe that religion +should any longer be a matter of self-chastisement +and worry, sobs and misery. Because so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +much of this sort of teaching is prevalent, the +church is not making the gains it should. The +church is largely supported by nice little women—many +of them maiden ladies who have little +to do and know little of the great problems of +the busy world.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A Live +Religion.</div> + +<p>I am thoroughly convinced that the church +must recognize that a great evolution is taking +place—that we must be more charitable, +more broad in our views, less +technical in our tenets and more +practical in our work. We will have to cut down +the fences between the sects and get together in +the great field for a common cause, rather than +try to maintain little independent vineyards.</p> + +<p>Religion must teach smiles and joy, courage +and brotherly love, instead of frowns, dejection, +fear and worry.</p> + +<p>It must teach us how to be and how to get +good out of our to-day on earth. If we are good +and do good here, we certainly need have no +fear for our future prospects.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Universal +Church.</div> + +<p>Day by day we are progressing from narrowness, +bigotry, selfishness and envy, to broadness, +reason, brotherly love and contentment, and we +shall progress from the narrow confines of obstinate +orthodoxy or bulldogmatics, by breaking +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>down sect and cult barriers until we are joined +together in a universal church in +which all can put their hearts and beliefs—in +which all can find full +range for their spiritual belief and expression. +That big, broad, right church will be in harmony +with God's purpose.</p> + +<p>The Creator made all men, and He doesn't confine +His love or His interest to any one little man-made, +narrow sect or creed.</p> + +<p>"God is love." "Love thy neighbor." "Help +the weak; cheer the grief stricken." Those are +the commands and purposes we find everywhere +in the Scriptures.</p> + +<p>"He that believeth in me shall be saved." +That's a definite promise, and it is not qualified by +a lot of creed paragraphs and beliefs. That promise +doesn't have any "buts" or "ifs." It doesn't +say we shall be saved if we be Methodists or +Catholics, Baptists or Presbyterians. Those +names are man-made, and the creeds of those +churches are man-made, too.</p> + +<p>At the congress of religions in the World's Fair +at Chicago, over three hundred religions and sects +were represented by delegates from all over the +world, and every one of these delegates, with +hearty accord, sang, "Praise God From Whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +All Blessings Flow" and "Rock of Ages." Those +hymns were universal; they fitted all creeds and +sects.</p> + +<p>Big men in the church are intensely interested +in the get-together universal church, and each +year will mark a definite progress toward amalgamation +of sects and divisions.</p> + +<p>There should be no Methodist Church North +and Methodist Church South.</p> + +<p>There should not be churches like the Congregational +and Presbyterian, whose creeds are identical, +the difference being only in the officers.</p> + +<p>The country village of 1,000 population has +five churches; it should have only one. The +country is full of half-starved preachers and weak, +struggling congregations.</p> + +<p>The get-together movement will help religion, +and it's going to happen surely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>45.</h2> + + +<p>Every year the business man goes over his +stock, tools, fixtures, and accounts, and prepares +a statement of assets and liabilities so as to get +a fairly accurate understanding of his profit and +loss.</p> + +<p>If he didn't take this inventory, his net worth +would be a matter of guess work.</p> + +<p>This inventory, which deals with money, materials, +etc., and things which are mixed more or +less with the human element, is affected by conditions +of trade, crops, competition, supply and +demand.</p> + +<p>The business man takes all these conditions +into consideration in preparing for the coming +year. He red flags the mistakes and green flags +the good plans.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Self +Inventory.</div> + +<div class="sidenote">Listing the +Liabilities.</div> + +<p>The business man should carry the inventory +further. Every month or so he should take a +careful inventory of himself, putting +down his assets of health, initiative, +patience, ability to work, smiles, honesty, +sincerity, and the like. So also he should +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>put down on the debit side in the list of liabilities +the pull-backs, hindrances and other business-killers. +These items are untruth, +unfairness, sharp practice, +grouchiness, impatience, worry, ill-health, +gloom, meanness, broken word, unfilled +promises and the like.</p> + +<p>In making up the inventory, pay particular +attention to your habits: smoking, drinking, over-eating, +useless display, useless social functions, +and other useless things that pull on your nerves +and your pocket book.</p> + +<p>Then check up department A, which is your +family. How have you dealt with your family +and children?</p> + +<p>Department B is friends. How do you stand +in your treatment of them?</p> + +<p>Department C includes all other persons. Did +you lie to, steal from, cheat or defraud any one? +How much cash profit did you make? How much +less a man did the act make you?</p> + +<p>Go over your self-respect account. Does it +show profit or loss?</p> + +<p>Check up your employees' account. What has +your stewardship shown? Have you drawn the +employees closer, or have you driven them further +from you?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>Analyze your spiritual account. Is your religious +belief a sham or a conviction? Do you +sing on Sunday, "We shall know each other +there," or do you make it a point to know and +love your brother here, seven days a week?</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Balancing the +Statement.</div> + +<p>Be fair in your inventory. Write down the +facts in the two columns designated "good" +and "bad," then go over the list and +put a red danger flag on the bad. +Keep the list until next inventory and +see whether you have made a gain or loss in +your net moral standing.</p> + +<p>Don't read this and say, "A good idea." Do +the thing literally.</p> + +<p>Take a clean sheet of paper and write your personal +assets and liabilities down in the two columns +marked "good" and "bad."</p> + +<p>If this inventory doesn't help, then you may +call me a false prophet.</p> + +<p>I know the plan is a good one. I know it will +help you. If it helps you, you will thank me. +There can be no harm in trying, because it's a +worth-while thing to test.</p> + +<p>The business man who never takes inventory +is likely to bump some day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>46.</h2> + + +<p>The ego is in us. It is a good thing to have, +but egotism needs the soft pedal when we speak +or do things.</p> + +<p>Many people are unconscious of their egotism, +yet their conversation carries the suggestion, +"Even I, who am superior to the herd, would do +this or that."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Personal +Pronoun.</div> + +<p>For instance, two persons were arguing about +the merits of an inexpensive automobile. Parenthetically, +I may say that one belonged +to the Ford class, and the +other to the can't-afford class. A +can't-afford snob came to the rescue of the Ford +champion by saying, "That's a good car; why, I +wouldn't mind owning one of them myself," and +he beamed at the party with the consciousness +of having settled the matter and removed the +stigma from the Ford car.</p> + +<p>This egotism often crops out when one shows +a group picture in which he appears. He doesn't +wait for you to find him; he pokes his arm over +your shoulder and says, "That's me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>To each of us, in the very nature of things, the +"I" is the center of our world. We see things +always through our I's.</p> + +<p>If we wish to get along without friction, we +must remember that the other fellow has his I's +also, and when we try to make him see things +through out I's, it makes trouble.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Good +Breeding.</div> + +<p>The hall mark of education, refinement and +character, in the broad sense, is the ability to +exclude the personal so far as possible +from our conversation. And be +big enough to grant to others their +undoubted right to see and think from their own +standpoint.</p> + +<p>Argument develops egotism more than almost +anything else will.</p> + +<p>How often have you convinced another in an +argument?</p> + +<p>How often have you been convinced in an argument?</p> + +<p>The world is big; there are millions of others +in it, and our job is a big one if we 'tend pretty +well to our own knittin'.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>47.</h2> + + +<p>Four hundred and twenty-six years ago Christopher +Columbus landed on an island which he +thought was India.</p> + +<p>Chris was mighty happy as he put his foot on +good old Mother Earth, not so much because he +had discovered a new way to India, as he thought, +but because his foot touched land.</p> + +<p>Two days before he landed on San Salvador, +his crew pitched into him and threatened to +throw him in the sea and turn back with the ship +to Spain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Last +Step Counts.</div> + +<p>If Chris had shown the white feather, 1492 +would not be the date of the first line in the geography, +announcing the "Discovery of +America." Chris had perseverance—the +stuff that makes men successful. +He started to find India by sailing westward. +He didn't succeed in his purpose, but his determination +was rewarded just the same, for he +found a new country, and that was worth while.</p> + +<p>Before he started, he was promised ten per +cent of the revenue from any lands he might dis<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>cover. +Just imagine what that would mean to-day.</p> + +<p>Columbus had perseverance and pep, and his +unwavering fidelity to his cause brought him success +in his efforts.</p> + +<p>The world has improved since 1492, but the +percentage of men who would keep everlastingly +at it like Columbus did, has not increased, perhaps.</p> + +<p>Columbus sailed with three ships, the largest +sixty-six feet long. He steered in the direction +of the setting sun. His crew was 120 men. None +of them were enthusiastic at the start; all of +them disgusted, discouraged and ready to mutiny +toward the last.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Keeping +Everlastingly +at It.</div> + +<p>But Christopher kept the ships pointed West, +through rain and shine, through drifting, breezeless +days and through wild stormy +nights. He kept on and on and on, +and he brought home the bacon, +which, being interpreted, means that success +crowned his efforts.</p> + +<p>Perseverance and pep—when all is said and +done, these are the factors without which no +great achievement is possible.</p> + +<p>It was the mileage made on October 12th, 1492, +that counted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is the last step in a race that counts.</p> + +<p>It is the last stroke on the nail that counts.</p> + +<p>The moral is that many a prize has been lost +just when it was ready to be plucked.</p> + +<p>Perseverance—patience—pluck—pep—these +are magic words. They are the "Open +Sesame" of modern life. They open the door to +opportunity, and will bring you prosperity, peace +and plenty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>48.</h2> + + +<p>The man who ridicules everything is on the +toboggan slide, and he will end up by becoming +an out-and-out grouch.</p> + +<p>You and I know men who never have a pleasant +word to say of anyone, or a serious commendation +of anything.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Ridicule and +Humor.</div> + +<p>Ridicule and sarcasm are often coated with +would-be humor, and are sometimes decked out +as puns. By and by, however, this +bias toward ridicule and sarcasm gets +to be a habit, and the coat of humor +becomes threadbare.</p> + +<p>Just at this time friends depart, for the grouch +phase of the disease has started.</p> + +<p>Sarcasm and ridicule are powerful weapons +when used adroitly and for good purposes. But +when sarcasm and ridicule are used constantly as +a means to generate fun, or as vehicles for humor, +then the evil commences. The fun disappears; +the sting remains.</p> + +<p>People will listen to you for awhile if you good-naturedly +ridicule a thing, but when you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +known to have the habit, that is when friends +give you the go-by.</p> + +<p>Sarcasm and ridicule wound deeply; they are +hot pokers jabbed in quivering flesh.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">A Dangerous +Weapon.</div> + +<p>Don't juggle with ridicule or sarcasm, for people +look beneath the veneer nowadays. They remember +and repeat the axiom, +"There's many a true word spoken +in jest." There are so many beautiful +things to say, so many kind expressions to +utter, so many helpful hints to give, that we +should be ashamed to say or do things even jokingly +that may hurt another.</p> + +<p>When you ridicule a thing or a person, you may +ridicule the tender heart of one you should cheer +and help.</p> + +<p>Ridicule is the negative approach to a subject +anyway; the only good it can accomplish is by +reflex action or rebound force.</p> + +<p>Ridicule is mistakenly conceived, by many, as +humor. It is used because it can so easily be +employed, in a seemingly clever way, to create a +laugh.</p> + +<p>Humor of the clean sort is a rare gift. Humor +may easily descend to low comedy through the +use of ridicule, and often the audience does not +differentiate between low comedy and rare humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> + +<p>The masses will laugh when the comedian on +the stage hits his friend with a club; that sort of +fun-making satisfies adults who have children's +brains, and people of similar brain-construction +will also laugh at jokes which ride on ridicule. +But you who read these lines are worthy of better +things; that's why you are reading this book. +If, in my audience, there are those who have the +ridicule habit, I want to arouse you to a better +sense of humor than is possible through the employment +of ridicule and sarcasm.</p> + +<p>I don't want you to descend to the level of the +grouch. The slide-down is so easy; the climbing +back is so very hard.</p> + +<p>Ridicule and sarcasm are cheap, slap-stick +methods to produce fun. They leave a sting many +times when you are not aware of it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">When You +Can Go +the Limit.</div> + +<p>When fighting whiskey, sin, corruption or organized +evil, then use burning ridicule and caustic +sarcasm to sizzle and destroy the +things that need to be destroyed. +Next time you find yourself using +ridicule or sarcasm to provoke mirth, remember +you are toying with a habit-forming practice that +is likely to get the best of you unless you stop +and stop now.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>49.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Your Wife +and Partner.</div> + +<p>A wife is either a partner or an employee. If +a partner, she has a right to the fifty-fifty split +on profits; if an employee, she is entitled +to her wages. A thrifty husband +is commendable, but a show-me-what-you-did-with-that-money +husband should +be punished by being sentenced to attend pink +teas, afternoon receptions, and to match samples +at the dry goods store.</p> + +<p>Married folks must be on a partnership basis, +or there's sand in the gear box.</p> + +<p>Give the wife the check-book; let her pay the +bills. Play fair with her; show her what your +income is; give her all you can afford and what +economic and wise administration warrants. +She'll cut the cloth to fit the garment.</p> + +<p>When the husband questions every turn, every +move, and doles out every cent, the wife feels +like a prisoner or a slave. Wives will do good +team work when they are broken to double harness +with their husbands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p> + +<p>Women are generally raised without being required +to economize. They have probably been +petted and humored, and are used to preening +and smoothing their plumage and looking pretty.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Fine +Feathers.</div> + +<p>It's the female instinct in the human. In the +animal world, the male has the plumage and does +the strutting and fascinating; but in +the human animal, the female is the +bird with the bright plumage.</p> + +<p>You can't expect her to know much about the +economic side of the home the moment you slip +the ring on her finger.</p> + +<p>But she'll shop better than her husband if he +takes an interest in her shopping and encourages +her in the economical administration of the household +budget.</p> + +<p>She wants a word of appreciation once in a +while. She chills under the surveillance and parsimony +of an eagle-eyed, meddlesome husband.</p> + +<p>She's a sweet bird, and sweet birds and hawks +don't nest well together.</p> + +<p>Where the hawk and the dove are in the same +cage, the feathers will fly.</p> + +<p>As I came through the park this morning, I +saw a pair of robins who had the right idea. They +shared home responsibilities and did fine team +work. I think they were mighty happy, too;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +daddy red breast looked mighty proud as he hustled +worms for the family breakfast.</p> + +<p>Mama Robin looked down with loving eyes at +her hubby, and the little baby robins sang a +chorus of joy at the very privilege of living in +such a home.</p> + +<p>Worry will fly out of the window the moment +the husband and wife lay their cards on the table +and play the open hand. The moment one or the +other keeps a few cards up their sleeve, then +worry and trouble come back.</p> + +<p>The moral of this is, husbands and wives: live +together, get together, stay together, play together, +save together, grow together, share together. +Travel the same road; don't take different +paths.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>50.</h2> + + +<p>To-night I am in the Ozarks, and old Mother +Earth is passing through the belt of meteoric dust—that +great mysterious sea in the universe +through which we pass every year about the middle +of November.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Stars.</div> + +<p>I look out into the night and marvel at the +countless stars in the infinite black void, and +wonder how closely those stars may +be connected with humanity. That +they are connected, I have no doubt, for truly, +"the sun, the moon, the stars, and endless space +as well, are parts, are things, like me, that cometh +from and runneth by one grand power of +which I am in truth a part, an atom though I be."</p> + +<p>How many stars are there? Well, let's get +ready to appreciate number. I can see about +3,000; with opera glasses I could see 30,000.</p> + +<p>Franklin Adams some years ago photographed +the whole canopy with 206 exposures. He counted +the stars by mathematical plans, and published +his finding that there were 1,600,000,000 stars.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +That number is just about the number of humans +on this earth. So, then, there is one star for each +of us.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Finite and +Infinite.</div> + +<p>Each of those stars, practically speaking, is +larger than the earth. It is thought that many of +them may have human beings who +think and reason like we do. Multiply +the 1,600,000,000 population on +this earth by any portion of the 1,600,000,000 stars +that may have thinking creatures on them; multiply +that total by the millions of years and millions +of generations that have passed out of existence.</p> + +<p>Think of these numbers and limitless boundaries, +and then tell me, if you can, that one little +man on one little star we call Earth has a strangle-hold +on truth, and that his viewpoint, his ism, +his little dogma, his narrow creed, is all-sufficient, +all-right, all-inclusive.</p> + +<p>Verily, little protoplasm, you have another +guess. We can, by experience and tests, prove +two and two make four. We can by practice and +experience prove that love, kindness, help, gentleness, +sympathy, cheer and courage bring happiness.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Sense of +Proportion.</div> + +<p>These are tangible things that fall within the +province of human experience. But when one wee +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>Willie with sober face tells you and me and others +that he has the truth about the definite, +full workings of God's plans and +purposes, I think of the greatness of +1,600,000,000 stars, each with 1,600,000,000 humans, +and of the unnumbered generations gone +by, and say that verily, we must live TO-DAY +and do the best we can to-day in act and thought +and word.</p> + +<p>Yesterday is dead; to-morrow is unknown. +Where we have been, where we will be, we know +not. Where we are to-day, we know, and only +God in His omniscience knows the final answer +as to our future estate.</p> + +<p>He will take us and hold us and place us in +His keeping and according to His purpose, even +though we do not or cannot follow or believe +any one of the little man-formed creeds, isms or +cults as the measure and rule for our beliefs.</p> + +<p>Those stars testify to the certainty of God, and +I believe in Him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>51.</h2> + + +<div class="sidenote">Success and +Envy.</div> + +<p>When a man by his brains, or by a fortunate +combination of circumstances, rises to a position +of prominence, he becomes a target +for the envious and a pattern for the +imitator. Emulation and envy are +ever alert in trying to steal the fruits of the leader +or the doer of things.</p> + +<p>The man who makes a name gets both reward +and punishment. The reward is his satisfaction +in being a producer, a help to the world, and the +glory that comes from widespread recognition and +publicity of his accomplishment. The punishment +is the slurs, the enmity, the envy and the +detraction, to say nothing of the downright lies +which are told about him.</p> + +<p>When a man writes a great book, builds a great +machine, discovers a great truth or invents a useful +article, he becomes a target for the envious +many.</p> + +<p>If he does a mediocre thing, he is unnoticed; if +his work is a masterpiece, jealousy wags its +tongue and untruth uses its sting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>Wagner was jeered. Whistler was called a +mere charlatan. Langley was pronounced crazy. +Fulton and Stephenson were pitied. Columbus +faced mutiny on his ship on the very eve of his +discovery of land. Millet starved in his attic. +Time has passed, and the backbiters are all in +unmarked graves. The world, until the end of +time, will enjoy Wagner's music. Whistler and +Millet's paintings attract artists from all over +the world, and inventors reverence the names of +Fulton and Stephenson.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Price of +Greatness.</div> + +<p>The leader is assailed because he has done a +thing worth while; the slanderers are trying to +equal his feat, but their imitations +serve to prove his greatness. Because +jealous ones cannot equal the leader, +they seek to belittle him. But the truly worth-while +man wins his laurels and he remains a +leader. He has made his genius count, and has +given the creature of his brain and imagination +to the world.</p> + +<p>Above the clamor and noise, above the din of +the rocks thrown at him, his masterpiece and his +fame endure.</p> + +<p>And compensation, the salve to the sore, makes +the great man deaf to the noise and immune to +the attacks of the knockers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>In his own heart he knows he has done a thing +worth while; his own conscience is clear, and he +cares not for the estimate of the world.</p> + +<p>His own character is his chief concern, and he +is content in the knowledge that time will bring +its reward.</p> + +<p>If you have high ideals in business, if you +achieve success on a big scale, mark well, you +will be a subject of attacks, of lies, of malice, of +envy, of disreputable competition. There is no +way out of it.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Compensation.</div> + +<p>But you will be repaid. The lover of fair play, +the grateful, true, honest, worth-while people will +flock to your standard; the riff-raff +will skulk behind bushes and throw +rocks and mud, but their acts will prove to the +great mass of the people that your purposes, practices +and policies are right.</p> + +<p>Therefore, courage is to be your chief asset; +patience, pride, perseverance, your lieutenants.</p> + +<p>Be not weary, grow not discouraged when your +progress is hampered by obstacles. Every truly +great man of the past has had his backbiters and +detractors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>52.</h2> + + +<p>There are three periods in our lives: the youthful, +or prospective period, the adult, or introspective +period, and the old age, or retrospective +period.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Growing Old.</div> + +<p>Too many there are who look forward to old +age with fear or dread. But old age has its joys +and pleasures as well as middle age +and youth, and these pleasures are +the keener if the first and second periods +of life were lived sanely, worthily and properly. +Numerous are the great men of the past who +have extolled the old-age period of human life +with its wisdom and wealth of worldly experience.</p> + +<p>If the middle period is spent in getting dollars +only, then old age will be days of empty nothingness.</p> + +<p>Youth is the planning time—the time for +ideals and ambitions; middle age the building +time, and old age the dividend time.</p> + +<p>With many, old age is spent in reading the +book of the past—with sadness as the reader<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +recognizes that the ideals, plans and hopes were +shattered. As age turns the page in the book +of the past, he reads one hope after another vanished +in smoke.</p> + +<p>Anticipation is seldom realized, and this is as +it should be, for in time, men will learn to live +each day for each day's good and each day's happiness.</p> + +<p>Let us perform our duty to-day; let us lay +away a kindly act, a smile, a word of cheer in +the bank of good deeds.</p> + +<p>Each of us has a share in this world's work. It +matters little whether our actual share is what +we had guessed or wished it to be.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Value +of Ideals.</div> + +<p>Vicissitudes will cross our path here and there; +so-called misfortune or bad luck will strike us +when least expected. The failure of +our dreams should not grieve us. We +cannot reach up and grasp the stars, +but like the pilot at the wheel at sea, we can +steer by those stars that help us on our way.</p> + +<p>Our ideal may not be realized, but the journey +to it may still be a pleasant one.</p> + +<p>Our ideals, plans and hopes had a real purpose, +a real service; they gave us courage and made us +work, and thus they were well worth while.</p> + +<p>We must not, in the old age period, condemn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +ourselves because our plans failed or our castles +were shattered.</p> + +<p>There is no hard luck except incurable disease +or death. It is not for us to mourn the past or +weep for the flowers that are gone.</p> + +<p>In our active days, we should realize that we +are putting memories away in our brains that +will come back to us in old age.</p> + +<p>Only that which we put in our brains can we +take out.</p> + +<p>So then, Mr. Avarice, I warn you: If gold is +your God, it's cold comfort you will get in your +sunset days.</p> + +<p>Build up loving ties, appreciation and the +worth-while riches of good deeds, and in your +evening of life, you will be welcome wherever +you go.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Put Not +Your Faith +in Gold.</div> + +<p>If your life was sold for gold, your evening of +life will be short and miserable; legatees will +grudge you your every breath; they +will endure you simply because they +are checking off the days from Time's +calendar until the day of your passing, and the +dollars you sold your soul and heart and life +for, will be lavishly spent by cold-blooded heirs +who cared nothing for you.</p> + +<p>Leave a legacy of love, example and character,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +and if, with these, there are a few dollars, they +simply prove your frugality, economy and independence.</p> + +<p>A few dollars left to heirs will help. Many +dollars will hurt. Dollars in old age will give +you pleasure by helping in tight corners. They +will enable you to help your loved ones over the +bumps in the road.</p> + +<p>Use the dollars to help those you love to help +themselves, and your old age will be a busy, +happy one, and you won't be in the way.</p> + +<p>To prepare for that happy period of your life, +the foundation must be built in the active to-day +period.</p> + +<p>Carry smiles into your old age; they will keep +the heart young, the digestion good, and life will +be worth while.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>53.</h2> + + +<p>I have traveled horseback over the great arid +plains of the West, and have read the story of +the ages gone before.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Remote +Past.</div> + +<p>In Arizona and New Mexico there are ancient +ruins of forts and cities built by people we know +not of. Chalcedony Park with its +petrified forest of mammoth trees silently +testifies to a period when vegetation +was rampant on what is now a desert.</p> + +<p>In Wyoming there is coal enough to furnish +fuel for the United States for several centuries.</p> + +<p>Coal is carbon made from decayed trees and +vegetation, which became covered with earth and +rock, and was subjected to tremendous pressure +throughout the thousands of years required to +effect the transformation.</p> + +<p>Oceans and floods gradually covered millions +of acres of trees and plants with ooze and soil +and sand. Ages turned some of these deposits +to stone.</p> + +<p>There in bleak Wyoming is testimony and evidence +of changes that time only can bring about.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A thousand years is as a day and a day is as +a thousand years." Thus wrote the scribe of old. +So, then, we must consider this estimate of time +in reading the first chapter of Genesis which describes +the order of the world's creation.</p> + +<p>First took place the dividing of light from darkness, +thus bringing about the rotation of day and +night.</p> + +<p>Then, the separating of land and water; then, +the birth of vegetation on the land, the creation +of fish and reptiles in the sea, the fowls of the +air, the beasts of the field, and finally, the higher +animal, man.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">The Measure +of Time.</div> + +<p>The pages of the earth's surface carry in their +stratification indelible records harmonizing with +this scriptural account of the evolution +of the earth from its chaotic +misty past to its concrete definite +present. Yes, this earth of ours is old, so old +that mere man cannot contemplate or accurately +estimate its wondrous age.</p> + +<p>The fossils of the mammoth reptiles and beasts +which lived before the appearance of man on this +planet are numerous in the fascinating West I +know so well.</p> + +<p>In those arid desert hills are bones of the ancient +rhinoceros—parent of our horse—and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +there are shells, and fossils of fish, and bones of +animals imbedded in the strata of rock.</p> + +<p>Man reads these pages and he is lost in bewilderment, +impoverished in thought, dumb for +words, paralyzed by his inability to co-ordinate +this evidence with any measure of time that will +fall within the range of human comprehension.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Age of +the Earth.</div> + +<p>Historians say the world was 4,004 years old +before the Christian era, and 1918 years have +passed since then, making the age +to date 5,922 years. It is not surprising +that through the dark ages, dates +and facts were lost. We have not a complete +history in written language, but we have some +very definite history in the rocks and hills and +lands and seas.</p> + +<p>The world certainly is more than 5,922 years +old. Read the record of time so plainly visible +at Niagara Falls.</p> + +<p>Niagara Falls eats away about two feet of +rock in a century; the gorge is a good many miles +long. At the present rate of erosion, it takes +2,640 years to eat away a mile. Multiply that by +the distance between the falls and Lake Ontario +and you have an idea of how many years Niagara +Falls has been at work.</p> + +<p>Before Niagara Falls was in existence, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +country round about was under the sea; before +that, under glaciers; before that, in the tropics, +and I don't know how many times it has swung +on its pendulum between Frigid, Temperate and +Torrid Zones.</p> + +<p>We are certain to become lost in a labyrinth +of mystery when we take these known facts concerning +the earth's age, and try to specify any +particular number of millions of years as the old +world's age.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 100%;" /> +<h2>54.</h2> + + +<p>And now my pleasant occupation of writing +this book draws to an end. I sincerely hope you +have received some definite suggestions that will +be helpful to you.</p> + +<p>To get you to think—that has been my aim. +To get you to analyze yourself—to take stock +of yourself—to know yourself—that has been +the task I set before me.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">How to +Think.</div> + +<p>Think vital thoughts of courage, faith and hope. +Then will your days pass joyfully, and your path +be one of peace, happiness and contentment. +If you fill your mind with +gloom and sorrow thoughts, your surroundings +will reflect your mental attitude and +will accentuate your misery and dejection. Do +not give way to this weak, gloomy, pernicious +thinking. You can be strong, you will be strong +if you learn to control your thought habits.</p> + +<p>Can you face disagreeable facts without wavering? +Can you meet adversity with courage in +your heart and a smile on your lips? You can,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +if you have read this book carefully, calmly, +thoughtfully, and put into practice the rules I +have laid down.</p> + +<p>Do not think that you can go through life without +your share of pain, disillusion and disappointment. +It can't be done. No man has ever done +it. Clouds will come, but they can be dispelled. +Obstacles will arise, but they can be surmounted. +Troubles will visit you, but meet them boldly and +courageously and do not show the white feather.</p> + +<p>To the thinking man or woman, life is a great +arena wherein good and bad, joy and sorrow, +faith and disillusion, happiness and unhappiness, +success and failure are inextricably intermingled. +The joy and happiness, accept gratefully; the sorrow +and disillusion, bear with fortitude. And +remember, although it is not possible to enjoy +an absolute and continued state of happiness, it +always lies within your power to have serenity, +poise, peace and contentment.</p> + +<p>When you are in the dumps—when that feeling +of the hopelessness and un-worth-whileness +of life comes over you, then, more than ever, +<i>think</i>. Do not give way to fear and despondency. +Think cheerful thoughts; think of the good +things that life has given you, not the least +of them being life itself. Think of the ringing +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>words that Milton put into the mouth of Lucifer, +the fallen angel, in "Paradise Lost":</p> + +<p class="poem"> +"The mind is its own place, and in itself<br /> +Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."<br /> +</p> + +<div class="sidenote">Life's Ever-Newness.</div> + +<p>To the person who thinks, life is ever-new, +ever-interesting. If you have lost your grip on +reality—if you have dwelt too long +in the shadowland of doubt, fear and +despondency—the thing to do is to +correct your thinking. Let your mind soar in +contemplation of the beautiful things of nature. +Steel yourself against petty pull-backs and recognize +them for what they really are—trifling annoyances +that serve no purpose except to distract +you from the pursuit of the great and glorious +goal that lies ahead.</p> + +<p>Only to the thinking man is it given to see +life and see it whole. He only has the true sense +of proportion. He keeps his eye on the main +objective, secure in the realization that he is +master of himself and captain of his own soul. +He is self-sufficient, for he knows that no matter +what befalls, he carries happiness and contentment +within himself wherever he goes.</p> + +<p>The practice of thinking is a tower of strength.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +If you are a thinker, life's little troubles serve but +to reinforce your spirit of resistance and make +you stronger.</p> + +<p>So then, let this be my last word to you—<i>think!</i>—for +it is by thinking that man has risen +to his present high estate in the world. It is by +thinking that the future joy and happiness and +peace of the world must be increased.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Think, by Col. Wm. C. 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Wm. C. Hunter + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Think + A Book for To-day + +Author: Col. Wm. C. Hunter + +Release Date: July 25, 2011 [EBook #36849] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THINK *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: Wm C Hunter] + + + + THINK + + A Book for To-day + + By + COL. WM. C. HUNTER + + Author of + Pep, Dollars and Sense, Brass Tacks, etc. + + [Illustration] + + The Reilly & Lee Co. + Chicago + + + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + + Copyright, 1918 + + by + The Reilly & Britton Co. + + _Made in U. S. A._ + + Published September 24, 1918 + Second Printing--October 1, 1918 + Third Printing--June 15, 1919 + Fourth Printing--June 1, 1920 + Fifth Printing--April 3, 1922 + Sixth Printing--February 27, 1925 + Seventh Printing--October 25, 1926 + Eighth Printing--October 5, 1927 + + + _Think_ + + + + +PUBLISHER'S NOTE + + +When Colonel Hunter wrote PEP in 1914 and offered it to The Reilly & +Britton Company, we immediately accepted the manuscript for publication. +So highly did we regard the work that the president of this company, +over his signature, contributed an introductory note of endorsement, +citing his own experience in following the rules and principles laid +down in PEP for the attainment of "poise, efficiency and peace." + +Our confidence and belief in PEP were amply justified. Eight large +editions were printed in four years. Over 70,000 copies have been sold. + +THINK--the last book that Colonel Hunter wrote--is now published for the +first time. It is especially important, coming, as it does, at a time +when commonsense thinking, good health, good cheer, optimism and +rational methods of living are more necessary than ever before. + +In this trenchantly written volume, Colonel Hunter has given some golden +advice to the man or woman who is facing the big problems of to-day in a +wavering or hopeless spirit. Correct your thinking. Get a grip on +yourself. Colonel Hunter tells you how. + + + + +THINK + + + + +1. + + +We all enter the world with an abundance of nerve energy, and by +conserving that energy we can adapt and adjust our nerve equipment to +keep pace with the progress and evolution of our times. + +The way to preserve and conserve nerve equilibrium and power is to rest +and relax the nerves each day. + +You may rest them by a change of the thought habit each day, by +relaxation, by sleep, and by the suggestions made in this book. + +There are but few advance danger signals shown by the nervous system, +and in this there is a marked difference between the nerves and the +organic system. + +If you abuse your stomach, head, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys or eyes, +you have distress and pain. + +The nervous energy is like a barrel of water--you can draw water from +the faucet at the bottom until you have almost exhausted the contents. + +Nature mends ordinary nerve waste each day, like the rains replenish the +cistern. + +[Sidenote: Conserve Your Energy.] + +A reasonable use of your nerve force, like a reasonable use of the +rainwater, means you can maintain a permanent supply. But you must be +reasonable; you must give the cistern a chance to refill and replace +that which you have drawn out. + +You, who have shattered and tattered your nerves, are not hopeless. You +can come back, but it must be done by complete change of the acts that +brought on the condition. + +Get more sleep. Eliminate the useless, harmful fads, fancies and +functions which disturbed and prevented you from living a sane, rational +life. + +Avoid extremes, cultivate rhythm and regularity in your business and +your home life. Keep away from excitement. Read really good books. Walk +more, talk less. + +Eat less heat-making foods and more apples. Follow the diet, exercise +and thought rules suggested in "Pep." + +[Sidenote: No Need to Despair.] + +Maybe these lines are being read by a discouraged one who is "all +nerves," which means lost nerve force. To you I say there is hope and +cheer and strength and courage if, right here, now, you resolve to cut +the actions, habits and stunts that knocked you out and follow my +suggestions. + +I know, my friend, for I've trotted the heat, danced the measure, and +been through the mill. + +Now I am fearless, calm and prepared. I can stand any calamity, meet any +issue, endure any sorrow. + +I can do prodigious work in an emergency, go without rest or eating when +required, because I have poise, efficiency--peace. + +[Sidenote: Steer a Middle Course.] + +I realize nothing is as bad as it is painted. Nothing is as good as its +boosters claim. I go in the middle of the road, avoiding extremes. I +have confidence in my heart. Courage, hope, happiness, and content +attend me on my way. + +I've buried envy in a deep pit and covered it with quick lime. + +I am keeping worry out by keeping faith, hope and cheer thoughts in my +brain-room, and these are antiseptics against the ravages of the worry +microbe. + +I have my petty troubles and little make-believe worries, just enough of +them to make me realize I have them licked, and to remind me I must not +let up on my mastery of them. + +Worry growls once in a while just to make me grab tighter the handle of +my whip. + +And you may enjoy this serene state, too. There is no secret about it. I +will gladly give you the rules of the game in this book. Just prepare to +receive some practical, helpful suggestions. + + + + +2. + + +[Sidenote: How to Use Your Assets.] + +You are a busy person, so am I. Busy persons are the ones who do things. +The architect is a busy man, but he has learned that the effort spent in +preparing his plans is the most important part of his work. The plans +enable him to do his work systematically and lay down rules and methods +to get the highest efficiency and accomplishment from those who do the +work of erecting the building. + +If the architect would order lumber, stone and hardware, without system, +and start to erect the building without carefully prepared plans, the +building would lack symmetry and strength, and it would be most +expensive. + +The planning time therefor was time well spent. + +Few persons have the ability to control and conserve their talents so as +to produce the highest efficiency. Men rush along thinking their +busyness means business. Really, it means double energy and extra moves +to produce a given effect. + +[Sidenote: Unnecessary Moves.] + +The elimination of unnecessary moves means operating along lines of +least resistance, and any plan or method that will help to do away with +unnecessary moves and make the necessary moves more potential will be +received with welcome, I am sure. + +With the object of conserving energy and strengthening your force, this +book is written. + +It shall not be a book of ultimate definiteness or a book of exact +science. There are no definite or exact rules that will apply, without +exception, to any science except mathematics. + +But we shall learn many helpful truths, nevertheless, and if I err, or +disagree with your conclusions, just eliminate those lines and take the +helps you find. + +I particularly emphasize the importance of taking a few minutes each +evening and using the time for sizing up things, by inventory, analysis, +speculation, comparison and hypothesis. Many of the great captains of +industry who are noted for their energy in accomplishing things worth +while, have learned the value of this daily habit. + +[Sidenote: Know Thyself.] + +I want to help YOU to form the habit of thinking over each day's +activities in the quiet, relaxed, uncolored, unprejudiced, secluded +environment of your home. When the day's work is over, spend fifteen or +twenty minutes each evening in seclusion, and with closed eyes, size +yourself up. Think over your daily round and the work you are doing. Are +you getting the best out of yourself? Or are you plodding along +aimlessly, scattering your energy in a haphazard, hit-or-miss fashion +that benefits nobody? Are you growing, or are you standing still? In +these fifteen-minute sizing-up sessions, you will come to grips with +yourself. You will see yourself as you really are, and will discover +your weaknesses, your strength, your real worth. + +I have chosen the evening as the time for our little talks. In the +evening we can be cozy, comfy and communicative. The bank is closed. We +met the note and got through the day. We are alive and well; we can open +our hearts. There is no office boy to disturb us, and the life insurance +agent is away at his club. + +Yes, we can be alone and tranquilly let down the tension, lower the +speed and with normal heartbeats play the low tones, the soft strains, +the quieting music, and soothe our nerves. + +All day we've heard the band with its drums and trombones and shrieky +music. The day with its busy whirl kept our analyzing mental think-tank +occupied with thoughts of gain and game and fame. + +In the evening we have time to study logic and to reason, to analyze and +to take inventory, to thresh out problems. + +So let us relax and reflect in the evening quiet. + + + + +3. + + +Man's nature makes it imperative for him to be interested in something. + +That interest is to his help or hurt, according as he directs it. + +There is much worry and misery in the world because so many are astatic, +like a compass that has lost its loadstone. + +Man is definitely the result of the materials the body and the mind feed +upon. + +Character is the result of a determined purpose to be and to do +right--to one's self and to one's fellows. + +The man of character focuses his attention on truth, and on fact. + +[Sidenote: Theory and Fact.] + +He uses theories with fact, to aid his progress, but he recognizes that +theorizing, without fact as a safety ballast, is a useless expenditure. +Theories without fact leave man in a rudderless boat; he gets nowhere, +he merely drifts. + +Theory often helps to get at fact, but the better way is to get at fact +by proven experience, of which there is an inexhaustible abundance in +the world. + +Facts are based on natural laws. The study of natural laws is +beneficial. We shall strive in our studies to keep close to fact with +just enough speculation to enliven the interest in facts. + +Living the artificial life makes for worry, illness and failure. + +Living in harmony with the great natural laws is the helpful way to +live. + +To abide by the law is safety; to violate the law brings punishment. + +Every man is better if he follows scientific methods and habits of +thought and living. + +The loafing or astatic mind will fall into morbid tendencies. + +The employed, truth-seeking, idealistic, hopeful mind is never dependent +on people or things for its pleasure. + +The acquiring of helpful knowledge, the seeking of worth-while truth, +are ever profitable employments, paying present and future dividends, +and meanwhile those acts positively divert the thought from morbid +tendencies. + +I shall strive to bring helpful knowledge, good cheer and interesting +facts for your present occupation and benefit. + +If I succeed in accomplishing my purpose, even in part, my time has been +well spent. + +[Sidenote: Thought Never Stops.] + +We have an unchallenged fact to rest our feet on, a fact that shall +follow us through all the pages of this book, and that is: Our thoughts +never stop, our brains never sleep. So then, we must consider that +thought current, and reckon with it. + +The motive power is turned on, and we must grasp the helm if we sail the +sea of life successfully, baffling storms and avoiding rocks. + +Scientific books are usually dry, uninviting reading; they lack the +human interest. They are generally bloodless skeletons. + +We shall try to weave science into new patterns and paint interesting +pictures, so that science will attract and not repel. + +This book is different in its suggestions, in its prescriptions, in its +language, but it is universal with all scientific books, in that its aim +is helpful truth. + +We go by different routes, but our objective point is the same. + +We will avoid technical names and symbols, and will speak the common +language that the multitude understands. + +We shall deal with problems and aspirations that come to us all in this +busy workaday world. + +We shall try to cut the underbrush in the swamp and blaze a plain trail +out on to the big high road. + +We shall keep in step to the drum-beats of truth, we will rest and +recreate in cool shady places, and then up and on to our purpose with +smiles on our faces, courage in our hearts, and song on our lips. + +Every moment of our journey will be worth while and positively helpful +if we take the trip with conscientious application and continuity of +purpose. + +Our path is strewn with roses and thorns; we must enjoy the roses and +escape the thorns. + +We welcome you, the neophyte, who have joined us in our pilgrimage. + + + + +4. + + +Let's be personal; that's a good way to establish a good idea in place +of a bad one. + +Are YOU pleasant to live with? Keep this personal question before you, +even if you are cocksure that you can answer, yes. + +[Sidenote: Be Pleasant.] + +Maybe there are some little jars, rattles, gratings, you are not aware +of. Few of us are honest when looking for our own faults. There may be +some sand in your gear box. It won't hurt you to keep the personal +question alive for a few days,--"Am I pleasant to live with?" + +I love the pleasant people whether they are fat, lean, tall, short, red +heads, brown heads, homely, handsome, republicans or democrats, business +men or artisans. + +The complaining, unpleasant grouch is like a bear with a toothache. +Miserable himself and spreading misery all around. + +A freckle-faced, red-headed, cross-eyed man with a healthy funny bone +will spread more cheerfulness and sunshine than a bench full of sad and +solemn justices of the supreme court, or a religious conference. + +What a different story would be written of Job, if he had only possessed +a servant who could dance a double shuffle and whistle "Dixie" while +cooking breakfast. + +David was a man after my own heart; he brought gladsome songs into the +world. He said, "Live the way of pleasantness." + +You can pray, sing, play, work, think, rest, hope; you can be well or +ill, rich or poor and still be pleasant to live with. + +[Sidenote: Pleasantness a Tonic Quality.] + +Being pleasant helps you to be strong in body and mind, and it keeps you +young a long time. It's good medicine; I know it. My little motto, "Be +pleasant every morning until ten o'clock, the rest of the day will take +care of itself," has brought sunshine into many homes. + +If you frown it will soon get to be a habit--and give you a heavy heart. +If you smile your face will be attractive, no matter how unlucky you +were in the lottery of beauty. + +Be pleasant and you will never feel old. The pleasant disposition is a +sure route to happy land and happy homes. + +Old Ponce de Leon lost out in searching for the fountain of youth. If +he had been pleasant, he would have kept the smiles on his wife's face +and there would have been no excuse to leave her to find the mythical +fountain. + +Hoe cake, bacon and smiles beat lobster, champagne and frowns. + +Our land is thrice blessed with its peaceful, happy homes--for "happy +homes are the strength of a nation." + +Be pleasant in your home. Make the children feel home is the pleasantest +place in the world. + +Every act and example is written in the child's memory tablet. Let your +hours with the children be loving, laughing, living hours. Pat them on +the head, joke with them, whisper affection, express love to them. Those +acts will be remembered in all their years to come, for you are planting +everlasting plants that may pass on to a hundred generations and make +children happy a thousand years from now. + +[Sidenote: Cheerfulness Its Own Reward.] + +Be pleasant to live with and you will have more pleasant things to live +for. There will be kindnesses, kisses, beauty, health, peace, fun, +happiness and content coming your way all along the great big road of +life you are traveling. + +Be pleasant to live with and the people will turn to you as you pass +and reflect your cheerfulness like the sunflowers turn to face the sun. + +Be pleasant; don't be cross and crabbed because someone else in the +household is not pleasant. Do your part; you will likely thereby cure +the frown habit on the face of the unfortunate disturber of your peace. + +Make yourself right before you criticise your life partner. Answer this +question, "Am I pleasant to live with?" + +Don't fool yourself in the matter. Get right down to brass tacks with +yourself, watch your moves and acts and attitude for ten days carefully +before answering the question. + +If your answer is no, now is your time to change your attitude and try +the pleasant plan, and here is my blessing and good wishes in such an +event. + + + + +5. + + +There is fun and interest and diversion all around us. All we need is +keen observation and we will see much that passes unnoticed to the +preoccupied person. + +What an interesting thing is the great round world we live in! The +people are as interesting as fish in an aquarium. + +[Sidenote: Sitting on the Side Lines.] + +See the rushing, surging crowd. Man pushes along searching for necessary +things to be done; he builds cities, harnesses rivers, makes ships to +sail the seas to the uttermost parts of the earth. Man goes to war, he +builds death-dealing devices that destroy in a few minutes a beautiful +cathedral which has taken centuries to build. + +Man makes the desert blossom like a rose. + +Here is the scientist in his laboratory, trying to unite certain +elements to produce new substance. Here is the beauty in her silken +nest; here the lover; there the musician; yonder the peanut man, and in +the office building is the captain of industry--all busy bees deeply +absorbed in their respective interests, and intoxicated in the belief +that they are important and greatly necessary. + +Yet in the broad measure of ages they are mere ripples on the sea of +time, faint bubbles on the eternal deep, and grains of sand at the +mountain foot. + +Great man by his own measure--minute man by the great measure of time. +Mammoths to the near-sighted--mites to the far-sighted. Hustle and +bustle, crowd and push. They tramp down the weaker brothers in the mad +race after the golden shekels, which are only measures of the ability to +buy and own material things; symbols of power to make others serve you. +These golden shekels which men fret, sweat and fight for, can only buy +physical and material things. + +[Sidenote: A Great Truth.] + +Away from the crowd is the little group who have learned a great truth, +which is that happiness is not to be bought with gold. This little +minority knows that mental pleasures are best, and that mental pleasures +cannot be found on the great highway of material conquest. + +The puffy, corn-fed millionaire pities the man who is content to live +with small means and enjoy what he has to the full extent. + +[Sidenote: Real Happiness.] + +The wise man is he who gets fullness out of life--happiness, respect, +content, freedom from worry; who is busy doing useful things--busy +helping his brother, busy training his children, busy spreading sunshine +and love and the close-together feeling in his home circle. + +The corn-fed, hardened, senseless, money-mad, dollar-worshipper knows +not peace. Smiles seldom linger on his lips. Peace never rests in his +bosom, cheer never lights his face. He is simply a fighting machine, +miserable in solitude, suffering when inactive and sick when resting. + +The money-chaser is up and doing, working like a Trojan, because +occupation takes his mind off the painful picture of his misspent +opportunity and his destroyed natural instinct. When fighting for gold +he forgets his appalling poverty in the really worth-while things in the +world. + +Like the drunkard in his cups, the intoxication makes him forget, and he +is negatively happy. + +Money received as reward for doing things worth-while is laudable. + +We cannot sit idly by and neglect to earn money to provide food, shelter +and education for our loved ones, but between times we should seek the +wealth that comes from right mental employment. + +The millionaire thinks, dreams and gets dollars, and that is all. + +The worth-while man thinks kindness, usefulness, self-improvement, +brotherhood, love and he gets happiness. + +[Sidenote: Doing for Others.] + +The man who discovers means to help his fellow man, does a good act, but +is the man with the dollars in front of his eyes who commercializes the +discovery and invention. In the end, the man that helped mankind fares +better than the man who made the millions. + +It's a great crowd surging by, and very few have the good sense to learn +the value of TO-DAY. That great crowd I see below my window thinks ever +of to-morrow and forgets the wondrous opportunities that to-day holds +out. + +Those who think always of to-morrow will never get the beauties and joys +from life that comes to the little group of To-day, who appreciates and +enjoys the real Now, rather than the pictured To-morrow that never +comes. + +It's mighty interesting to sit on the side lines and watch the crowds go +by and speculate on their movements. + +[Sidenote: The Road to Disillusionment.] + +Save up your pennies, measure everything by the dollar standard, think +dollars, dream dollars, work, slave, push for the dollars and you will +build a fortune. You will never have peace or recreation or joy; you +will live only in hope of a some day when you will retire. That's the +way the millionaires travel life's highway. + +Some day the paper will announce the death of those millionaires, and +then the dollars will be blown in by reckless heirs, and so the grinding +wheels roll on. + +Surely there are many ways of looking at things. Surely there is much of +interest in the crowd. Surely there is an unending amount of thought and +speculation possible about that crowd way down on the street below my +window. + +What passions, what hopes, what joys, what sorrows, are in the hearts of +that hurrying, worrying crowd. + +What noise this din of traffic makes; what activity man has stirred up. + +A picture, a drama, a tragedy, a comedy--all these I see in the human +ants that run along below the hive where I sit and write these lines. + +The phone rings and my little Nancy Lou's voice says, "Daddy, will you +please bring me a pencil and a tablet with lines on it." + +So I must needs stop this, whatever you may call it, and push through +the crowd to get that tablet with "lines on it" for my Nancy Lou; and +there is some feeling of happiness and content and peace in Daddy's +heart as he lays down his pen, for Daddy is going Home, and that word +means a lot in his little family, where they all say "Daddy" instead of +Papa or Father. + + + + +6. + + +[Sidenote: Wasted Energy.] + +It is hard enough to do duty once, but doubly hard when you anticipate +mentally everything you have to do to-morrow. This doing things twice is +a habit easily acquired if you don't watch out, and it means wasted +energy. + +I have just read the experience of a housewife who was resting on a +couch and reading. Her eye caught sight of a book lying on the floor +across the room. + +Instantly her mindometer, if I may coin a word, registered, "When you +get up, pick up that book." + +She went on reading, but her mind was not on the magazine she held, but +on that book on the floor. + +So obsessed did she become that she was miserable until she got up and +picked up the book. + +I was talking with a woman who was resting on her porch. Her day's work +was over. She was dressed for the afternoon. Everything in the home was +neat, sweet, clean and tidy. All was serene but her face, and that was +the window through which I saw worry working overtime. + +By strategy I learned the trouble, and here is her story: "To-morrow a +lot of fruit will be ready to preserve. I am worrying where I shall put +it. My fruit closet is full." + +[Sidenote: Doing Things Twice.] + +The woman had every reason to say to herself, "Sufficient unto the day," +yet she was doing the preserving mentally to-day and to-morrow she would +do the work physically. A tired mind is harder to rest than a tired +body, so we must nip this advance mental work in the bud. + +We have all been mentally obsessed with worrying about the things we +were going to take on our trip; then worrying over the routine of our +work when we should return from our trip. + +If the housewife looks over her week's work and washes the dishes, makes +the beds, cooks the meals, dresses the children, mends the clothes, and +does all these things in her imagination before she does them in +reality, she is indeed a hard working woman. + +It's all right to plan your work; that's economy in mental expenditure, +for it simplifies, systematizes, and saves work. + +[Sidenote: Planning is Efficiency.] + +Plan your work in advance, but do not keep your mind on the plans until +the work is done. When you have planned, then close the mental book of +to-morrow's duty, and turn to pleasures, rest, relaxation and enjoyment +of to-day. + +It is to get a definite, different thought habit fixed that I ask you to +give me these few minutes each day, so that we may consider various +phases of life, science, pleasure, morals and mental refreshment. + +True, we can only have a fleeting look at things, but we'll get enough, +I hope, to freshen your minds, change the humdrum, and elicit interest +in things. Maybe these heart-to-heart, confidential chats will help us +and keep us from going through the mental motions of to-morrow's +physical work. + +If these evening talks interest you, help clear your vision, help cheer +you, help rest you, then they are good for you, and because they help +you, they certainly benefit me and make me very happy, because happiness +comes from doing something for others. + +I write as the mood strikes me, or as a phase of life comes before me, +or as an idea strikes in and just won't let go until I grasp my pen and +let the words flow. + +I mean this book to be human, and not a studied literary effort. + +I want to reach you right there alone in the room where you are reading +this, and I want the suggestions, the good, the help, to soak in, and I +want you to pass the good you get to your brother; you won't lose a bit +by doing so. + + + + +7. + + +"She is all right--her only trouble is her NERVES." How often we hear +that and how little does the person with steady nerves appreciate the +tortures of "nerves." + +[Sidenote: About Nerves.] + +A cut, a bruise, a headache, or any of the physical ailments can be +quickly cured. Nature will mend the break, but tired, worn, stretched, +abused nerves take time to restore. These nerve ailments call for most +vigorous mental treatment. + +Neurasthenia means debilitated or prostrated nerves and it shows itself +first of all by worry. Worry means the inability to relax the attention +from a definite fear or fancied hard luck. Worry leads to many physical +and mental disorders. + +Left alone this worry stage develops into an acute state and brings with +it nervous prostration, and sometimes a complete collapse of the will +power. + +Before the acute stage of neurasthenia is reached, there is noticed +"brain fag," and brain fag is nature's warning signal calling upon you +to take notice and change your mental habits. + +Worry sometimes develops into hysteria; again it takes the form of +hypochondria or chronic blues. The hypochondriac has a chronic, morbid +anxiety about personal health and personal welfare. Frequently this +state is accompanied by melancholia. + +Melancholia is the fork in the road. One turning leads to incurable +insanity, the other to curable melancholia. + +Right here is where heroic action is needed by the sufferer. + +[Sidenote: Cure the Worry Habit.] + +Here is where the sufferer must exert his maximum will power, and change +completely his mental and physical habits and his surroundings. +Occupation, changed habits, taking in of confidence, faith and courage +thoughts--these changes are necessary to the victim of melancholia, or +he will shatter his health on the danger rocks and go to pieces. + +Melancholia is an ailment that offers a good chance for Christian +Science. Mental suggestion, the powerful personality of a friend, and +the personal help such a friend can give by counsel, example and +suggestion, are all helps. + +I have abundant evidence that melancholia sufferers can be restored to +peace, efficiency and poise, by proper thought direction, and by proper +physical employment. + +"Pep," which has principally to do with mental efficiency, definitely +lays down rules and practical suggestions for the employment of the mind +and body. I have letters and verbal proofs in quantity proving the +efficiency of those rules and suggestions. + +So wonderful have been the results, so numerous the recoveries, that the +testimonials, if published, would make the fake nerve tonic manufacturer +die of envy. + +[Sidenote: The Importance of Nerves.] + +"Only your nerves." I cannot understand why the word, only, is used. It +makes it appear that nerves are of minor importance. Nerves are less +understood than anything in the human anatomy and they are harder to +understand. + +Experience has proved that nerves cannot be restored by dope, patent +medicines, tonics or prescriptions. + +The cure must come by and through the individual possessing the nerves, +and by and through the individual's power of will and mastery of the +mind. + +Get the mental equipment right. Let the mind master the body. Let the +nerve sufferer get hold of himself and fill his brain with +faith-thought instead of fear-thought, with courage instead of +cowardice, with strength instead of weakness, with hope instead of +despair, with smiles instead of frowns, with occupation instead of +sluggishness, and wonders will appear. + +The little shredded, tingling nerve-ends will then commence to +synchronize instead of fight, to harmonize instead of breaking into +discord, to build instead of destroy. + +[Sidenote: You Can "Come Back."] + +The building, or coming back to a normal state, is slow; it takes time, +patience and will power, but it can be done. I know. I have been through +the mill, and I pass the word to you and try to stir you to be up and +doing, even as I did. + +Your nerves can be steadied, your thoughts uplifted, your health +restored, your ambition re-established, your normality fixed. + +Smiles, love and content are to be yours. Poise, efficiency, peace, your +blessings. Health, happiness and hope your dividends. All these I +promise you if you will read this book from cover to cover, _think_, and +follow its plain, practical teachings. + +The curriculum is not hard; it is not my discovery. I am merely the +purveyor of facts, the gleaner of truth, and the selector of helpful +experiences, first of all for my own benefit, and having proved the +truth in my own case, for friends to whom I pass the truths and rules. + +I made bold to write books, but the writing has paid me well, not alone +in dollars, but from having done a helpful thing in writing for other +humans who have had problems, worries and nerves. + +The big books on nerves are discouraging and forbidding by their +immensity and the labyrinth of technical, scientific terms. There are +fine for teachers, but discouraging for the layman. + +The great everyday crowd is the class I want to talk to, and so I +endeavor to write in plain human, sincere style from heart to heart, +with understanding, feeling, charity and sympathy. + +I have felt the things you feel, and if I can by example, emphasis, +suggestion, rule or good intent, be a help to you, then I have done a +service. + + + + +8. + + +There are men who cannot be kept down by circumstances or obstacles. + +[Sidenote: The Men Who Do Things.] + +These men "carry on" with confidence in their hearts and smiles on their +faces. They do not lie in wait for the band wagon or favorable winds; +they make things happen. They are alert and alive to every favorable +opportunity and helpful influence that comes their way. + +These men are men of good health. They are out of doors much; they carry +their heads high and breathe in good air deeply. They greet friends with +a smile and put meaning and feeling into every hand clasp. + +Let's you and I follow their trail, for it leads out on to the big road. + +Do not fear being misunderstood; right will finally come into its own. + +We will keep our minds off our enemies, and keep our thoughts on our +purpose; we will make up our minds what we want to do. We will mark a +straight line on the log and hew to that line. + +Fear is the dope drug that kills initiative; hate the poison that +shatters clear thinking. + +Hate and fear are the iron ore in our life's vessel; they deflect the +compass and prevent us from holding to the course. + +[Sidenote: Grasp Present Opportunities.] + +There are splendid worth-while things for us to do, and with continuity +of action and singleness of purpose on our part the days will pass by as +we are seizing opportunity and making use of the things required for the +fulfillment of our desires. We are like the coral insect that takes from +the running tide the material to build a solid fortress. Our running +tide is made up of the gliding golden days. + +Let's waste no time in trying to make friends or in seeking to attach +ourselves to others. True friends are not caught by pursuit; they come +to us; they happen through circumstances we do not create. + +Self-reliance is ours, and we must first use it for our own betterment. +We will then have a surplus of energy to allow us to help others. + +Our energy hours must be devoted to our purposes and ideals. Atween +times, we must rest and relax, and repair the waste that strenuosity +makes. + +Breathe good air, bask in the sunshine, see nature, and say to yourself: +"All these treasures are for me; all these things I am part of." + +[Sidenote: The Joy of Living.] + +Do not prepare for death; prepare for life. Preparing for death brings +the end before your allotted time. Like Job of old, that which we fear +will come to us. We must not think of death, or waste time preparing for +it. It makes us miserable to-day. It makes us weak and fills us with +fear, and it draws the day of our departure nearer. + +To-day is ours. Live freely, fully to-day. Be unafraid, unhurried, and +undisturbed. + +We are building character, and the way we build it is by mental +attitude, by our acts, and by the way we employ the precious moments of +to-day. + +Put yourself in harmony with nature--realize the wonderful power of the +will--and you will be strong, a veritable king among men. + + + + +9. + + +[Sidenote: The Pessimist.] + +The calamity howler is found everywhere. In times of peace or war he is +with us. This pessimist sows seeds of discord, plants envy, generates +the anarchist spirit, and is an all-around nuisance. + +A man may spend years erecting a building; a fiend can demolish it in a +minute with a stick of dynamite. + +The calamity howler is a destroyer; he doesn't think, he spurts out +words. His words and arguments are simply parrot mimicry and void of +intellectual impulse, as are the movements of an angle worm. + +These gloom merchants talk of their rights, and they expect and demand +the same privileges and benefits that are earned by the man who uses his +head. + +The pessimist sees good in nobody. Human nature to him is a cesspool of +villainy and corruption. He will not tolerate a word of praise for a +thing well done. Disparagement is his favorite weapon. He ascribes mean +and selfish motives to public-spirited men. Every deed of kindness, +every act of generosity, is given a sinister meaning when seen in the +light of his own base soul. + +At home he is a grumbler and a grouch. His presence depresses, and +happiness fades away at his approach. + +In the community, he never reaches high office because he lacks civic +spirit and the forward-looking view. He obstructs progress instead of +promoting it. + +At his work, he lags behind where others achieve. He rails at conditions +instead of changing them, and eventually he finds himself shelfed and +shunned as a back number. + +These purveyors of panic eat into the vitals of the nation. They breed +discontent, undermine morale, and sow suspicion and distrust where +previously there had been friendliness, co-operation and the +pull-together spirit. + +Wherever men gather, you will find these ghoulish spirits. They are in +evidence in times of peace and plenty, as well as in times of war and +peril. + +It matters not that our farmers are seeing to it that our granaries are +filled to-day as never before, and that every man has a job. These +prophets of disaster have only one string to their harp, and they will +twang on that and no other. + +[Sidenote: The Danger of Pessimism.] + +In times of war, the pessimist is doubly dangerous, for he spreads his +iniquitous propaganda among people who are already under a great +emotional strain. Always a menace, when a people are in the throes of a +great life-and-death struggle, it is doubly necessary to stamp out this +destroyer of morale, with his insidious campaign of gloom and despair +and his veiled innuendos of panic and destruction. + +It is up to you and to me to denounce these breeders of discord; to hold +them up to the scorn of intelligent, thinking people. They are neither +doers nor thinkers, and the world has no need of them in these trying +times. + + + + +10. + + +This evening I rode home in a crowded street car. What an interesting +study it was to watch the faces in that car. + +Discontent, discomfort, worry, gloominess on nearly every face. Tired +faces, tired bodies drooped over from a hard day's work, mouth corners +depressed. Hopelessness stamped on the countenances. + +[Sidenote: Gloom and Cheer.] + +As the people came in the car, some of them had smiles or at least +passable expressions, but when they got crowded together and saw the +gloomy faces, the gloom spread to their faces, too. At a picnic, all are +smiling and laughing. In the street car at six o'clock, the long +procession of workers is a stream of solemn faces. Contagion, example, +surroundings, yes, that's it--contagion and example. + +At six o'clock in the cars, all is gloom, blueness and sorrow faces. At +eight o'clock many of these faces will be changed; there will be joy, +smiles, rosiness, singing and dancing. Yet the actual conditions of +finance, health, hope or prospects haven't changed since these people +were in the car at six o'clock. + +Why, then, such a change in two hours? + +[Sidenote: Good Cheer Contagious.] + +It is this: At seven o'clock these workers sat down to supper; they were +out of that gloom-reflected street car atmosphere. Now they are talking; +they are rounding-up the day's activities; they are HOME with mother, +sister, brother and the kiddies. The home ones greet them with smiles, +the appetizing supper pleases the palate, good cheer permeates, and all +around them is smiles and joy. + +Gloom spreads gloom. Joy spreads joy. Gloom is black; joy is white. One +darkens, the other brightens. + +Well, then, where's the moral? What's the benefit from this little study +of the street car passengers? + +The lesson is plain: It is that you and I are ferments of joy, or acids +of gloom. We are influences to help or to hurt. To hurt others by our +example hurts us. To help others by our example helps us. We become +happier than ever. + +In the street car, life was not worth living if you judged by the pained +faces. In two hours, by changed thought, the example of life was worth +while. + +What changes mental attitude makes! + + "When a man has spent + His very last cent, + The world looks blue, you bet; + But give him a dollar, + And loud he will holler + There's life in the old world yet." + +Next time we get on the street car, let's plant some smiles. Let's give +that lady a seat and smile when we do it. + +We can spread cheer by merely wearing a cheery face. Costs little, pays +big. Let's do it. + + + + +11. + + +Some of our richest blessings are gained by not striving for them +directly. This is so true that we accept the blessings without thinking +about how we came to get them. + +[Sidenote: Be Happy.] + +Particularly true is this in the matter of happiness. Everyone wants to +be happy, but few know how to secure this blessing. Most people have the +idea that the possession of material things is necessary to happiness, +and that idea is what keeps architects, automobile makers, jewelers, +tailors, hotels, railroads, steamships and golf courses busy. + +Do your duty well, have a worth-while ambition, be a dreamer, have an +ideal, keep your duty in mind, be occupied sincerely with your work, +keep on the road to your ideal, and happiness will cross your path all +the while. + +Happiness is an elusive prize; it's wary, timid, alert and cannot be +caught. Chase it and it escapes your grasp. + +[Sidenote: One Man's Story.] + +I read today of a friend who walked home with a workman. This is the +workman's story: He had a son who was making a record in school. He had +two daughters who helped their mother; he had a cottage, a little yard, +a few flowers, a garden. He worked hard in a garage by day, and in the +evening he cultivated his flowers, his garden, and his family. He had +health, plus contentment a-plenty. His possessions were few and the care +of them consequently a negligible effort. + +Happiness flowed in the cracks of his door. Smiles were on his lips, joy +in his heart, love in his bosom; that's the story my friend heard. + +Then came a friend in an automobile on his way home from the club. He +picked up my friend, and unfolded to him a tale of woe, misery and +discontent. + +This club man had money, automobiles, social standing, possessions, and +all the objects and material things envious persons covet--yet he was +unhappy. His whole life was spent chasing happiness, but his sixty +horsepower auto wasn't fast enough to catch it. + +The poor man I have told you about was the man who washed the club man's +auto. + +The strenuous pleasure seeker fails to get happiness; that is an +inexorable law. He develops into a pessimist with an acrid, satirical +disgust at all the simple, wholesome, worth-while, real things in life. + +This is not a new discovery of mine; it's an old truth. Read +Ecclesiastes, the pessimistic chronicle of the Bible, and you'll learn +what comes to the pleasure-chaser, and you will know about "vanity and +vexation of spirit." + +[Sidenote: Making Others Happy.] + +Do something for somebody. Engage in moves and enterprises that will be +of service to the community and help the uplift of mankind. This making +others happy is a positive insurance and guarantee of your own +happiness. + +You must keep a stiff upper lip, a stiff backbone; you must forget the +wishbone and the envious heart. + +Paul had trials, setbacks, hardships and hard labors; he had defeats and +discouragements and still the record shows he was "always rejoicing." + +Paul was a man of Pep. In the dungeon, with his feet in stocks, he sang +songs and rejoiced. Paul was happy, ever and always, not because he +strove to get happiness, but because he had dedicated his life to the +service of mankind. + +The real hero, the real man of fame, the real man of popularity, doesn't +arrive by setting out on a quest for any of these things; the result is +incidental. + +The real hero forgets self first of all; that is the essential step to +greatness. + +Washington at Valley Forge had no thought that his acts there would +furnish inspiration for a picture that would endure for generations. + +Lincoln, the care-worn, tired, noble man, in his speech at Gettysburg, +never dreamed that that speech would stamp him as a master of words and +thought, in the hearts of his country-men. He thought not of self. He +was trying to soothe wounds, cheer troubled spirits, and give courage to +those who had been so long in shadowland. + +Ever has it been that fame, glory, happiness came as rewards, not to +those who strive to capture, but to those who strive to free others from +their troubles, burdens and problems. + + + + +12. + + +I am often asked: "Are you happy ALL the time?" My answer is no. + +[Sidenote: Continuous Happiness Impossible.] + +A continuous state of happiness cannot be enjoyed by any human. There +are no plans, no habits, no methods of living that will insure unbroken +happiness. Happiness means periods or marking posts in our journey along +life's road. These high points of bliss are enjoyed because we have to +walk through the low places between times. + +Continuous sunshine, continuous warm weather, continuous rest, +continuous travel, continuous anything spells monotony. We must have +variety. + +We need the night to make us enjoy the day, winter to make us enjoy +summer, clouds to make us enjoy sunshine, sorrow to make us enjoy +happiness. + +But, dear reader, mark this: We can be philosophical, and have content, +serenity and poise between the happiness periods. + +When you get blue, or have dread or sorrow, or possess that +indescribable something that makes you feel badly; when you have worry +or trouble, then's the time to get hold of your thinking machinery and +dispel the shadows that cross your path. + +Occupation and focusing your thoughts on your blessings--these are the +methods to employ. + +As long as you dwell upon your imagined or your real sorrows, you will +be miserable and the worries will magnify like gathering clouds in +April. + +[Sidenote: Think Happiness.] + +Change your thoughts to confidence, faith, and good cheer, and busy your +hands with work. Think of the happiness periods you have had, and know +that there are further happiness dividends coming to you. Keep this sort +of thought, and with it, useful occupation, and the sunshine will dispel +your gloomy forebodings and sorrow thoughts like the sun dispels the +April showers, bringing about a more beautiful day because of the clouds +and storms just passed. + +When trouble or sorrows come, sweeten your cup with sugar remembrances +of joys that have been and joys you are to have. + +Envy no one; envy breeds worry. The person you would envy has his +sorrows and shadows, too. You see him only when the sunlight is on the +face; you don't see him when he is in shadowland. + +[Sidenote: Brace Up, Cheer Up.] + +No, dear ones, I, nor you, nor anyone on earth can have complete, +unruffled, continued happiness, but we can brace up and call our reserve +will-power, reason, and self-confidence into action when we come to the +marshy places along the road. We can pick our steps and get through the +mire, and sooner than we believe it possible, we can get on the good +solid ground; and as we travel, happiness will often come as a reward +for our poise and patience. + +My friends say: "You always seem happy," and in that saying they tell a +truth, for I am happy often--very, very often--and between times I make +myself seem to be happy. This making myself "seem to be happy" gives me +serenity, contentment, fortitude, and the very "seeming" soon blossoms +into a reality of the condition I seem to be in. + +You can be happy often, and when you are not happy, just seem to be +happy anyway; it will help you much. + + + + +13. + + +A little child is crying over a real or fancied injury to her body or to +her pride. + +So long as she keeps her mind on the subject she is miserable. + +Distract her attention, get her mind on another subject, and her tears +stop and smiles replace frowns. + +This shows how we are creatures of our thoughts. "As a man thinketh in +his heart, so is he" is a truth that has endured through the centuries. + +We are children in so far as we cry and suffer when we think of our ills +or hurts or wrongs or bad luck. + +We can smile and have peace, poise and strength if we change our +thoughts to faith, courage and confidence. + +[Sidenote: Fear-Thought and Faith-Thought.] + +Our condition is what we make it. If we think fear, worry and misery, we +will suffer. If we think faith, peace and happiness, we will enjoy life. +Every thought that comes out of our brain had to go in first. The kind +of thoughts we have afford an indication of the kind of people we are. + +If we feed our brain storehouse with trash and fear and nonsense, we +have poor material to draw from. + +[Sidenote: Thought Control.] + +The last thought we put in the brain before going to sleep is most +likely to last longest. So it is our duty to quietly relax, to slow +down, to eliminate fear-thought and self-accusation, and to substitute +some good helpful thought in closing the mental book of each day. + +Therefore read a chapter or two from a worth-while book the last thing +before going to bed. + +Say to yourself, "I am unafraid; I can, I will awake in the morning with +smiles on my face, courage in my heart, and song on my lips." + +These suggestions for closing the day will be of instant help to you. + +The great power for good--the wherewith to give you strength, progress +and efficiency--is within yourself and at the command of your will. + +You can't think faith and fear, good and bad, courage and defeat, all at +the same time. + +You can only think one thing at a time. + +Your great power is your will, and the wherewith to help yourself is +your thought habit. + +Change your thought habit as you go to bed. You can do it; it's a matter +of will determination. The more faithful you are to your purpose, the +easier your task will be. Be patient, conscientious, rational and +confident. + +You are what your thoughts picture you to be. Your will directs your +thoughts. + +Don't get discouraged if you can't suddenly change your life from shadow +to sunshine, from illness to wellness. + +Big things take time and patience. The great ship lies in the harbor +pointed North. A tug boat could make a sudden pull and break the great +chain or tow line. + +Yet you could take a half-inch rope and with your own hands turn the +great ship completely around by pulling steadily and patiently. The +movement would be slow, but it would be sure and you would finally +accomplish your purpose. + +Don't jerk and fret and be impatient with yourself. You have been for +years perhaps worrying and thinking fear-thoughts. You have put a lot of +useless and harmful material in your brain. + +You can't clean all your brain house in a day or a week, but you can do +a little cleaning each day. + +You can take the faith-rope of good purpose and start to pull gently, +and finally you will turn your whole life's character toward the port of +success. + +The great crowd worries; only the few have learned the power of the +will, and the benefits to be derived from mental control. + +Business and social duties call for strong men and woman. You can't +reach mastership if you remain a slave. + +Your first duty is to yourself, and success or failure is your reward +exactly in proportion as you exercise your will power and handle your +thought habits. + + + + +14. + + +[Sidenote: The Best Medicine.] + +The doctors are giving less medicine and doing more in the way of +suggesting diet and exercise rules, sanitation and preventive practices. +Medicine is mostly poison and its effect is to shock the organs or +glands to bring about reaction. Nature makes the cure. + +In emergency drugs are all right, but the doctor and not the individual +should settle the matter of what drug to use and the proper time to use +it. + +When there's a pain or disease, it's due to congestion of some organ, to +infection, or to improper nourishment, or improper habits. + +Ninety per cent of aches, pains and ailments can be cured by a dominant +mental attitude and by proper attention to eating and exercise. + +The habitual medicine user is not cured by the medicine but by nature; +the medicine simply serves as a means to establish mental control and to +create confidence in the sufferer that he is to get well. + +Recently I spent much time in a large hospital visiting a relative who +had been operated on. I know several members of the staff of doctors and +nurses. + +I have seen many operations, some very heroic ones, and my appreciation +of the good work of good surgeons is greatly augmented by the wonderful +helps I have seen them bring to suffering humanity. + +I have talked with scores of patients and watched the progress of their +cases. + +I have by plausible logic, mental suggestion, and good cheer to the +hospital patients, brought many a smile through a mist of tears. + +I have seen the wonderful results of mental suggestion to the +discouraged patients. + +To show the effects that faith-thought will produce, I will relate some +instances. + +[Sidenote: Mental Sickness.] + +One patient screaming for a hypodermic injection to relieve her pain was +given an injection of sterilized water and the pain vanished. Another +just could not sleep without her bromide. The nurse fixed up a powder of +sugar, salt and flour; the patient took the powder and went to sleep. +That was mind control and mental longing satisfied. + +Another patient had to take something to stop her pains; she got +capsules of magnesia. The capsule satisfied her longing, established her +faith and gave her relief; the relief was through her mind and not +through the capsule. + +[Sidenote: Changing Thought Direction.] + +I have seen several weary, despondent patients fretting and wearing +themselves out over their so-called weakness and run-down condition. I +have placed copies of "Pep" in their hands and watched courage, faith, +cheer and serenity come to them. It diverted their minds from +self-thought and self-accusation to faith-thought, confidence and +courage. + +You can think of only one thing at a time, and "Pep" or any other book +that can change the thought habit from fear to faith, from worry to +peace, is doing a service. + +I've been in shadowland in the hospital to see for myself the actual +help that mental control will bring to sufferers, and the evidence is +far above my powers to describe. + +I've seen the patient's eyes brighten up when the cheery surgeon came +with hope, smiles and confidence on his face. + +I've seen the drooping of spirits when well-meaning but poor-expressing +friends came into the patient's room and condoned and sorrowed with +him. + +Verily, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." + +Verily, good cheer and good thought are good medicines. + +And to these truths all good doctors say "Amen!" + + + + +15. + + +[Sidenote: The Pill Fiend.] + +How often we see the pill fiend. In his vest pocket he has a small +apothecary shop--a collection of round paste-board boxes and little +bottles. Every little while he dopes himself. If his stomach is on a +strike, he pops in a pill. If his head aches, he takes a tablet. If he +sneezes, he takes a cold-cure pill. + +When anyone around speaks of a pain or ache, he hands the person a pill. + +The pill eater is a hypochondriac, and very likely his doctor knows it. +His salvation is that the doctor probably gives him harmless stuff in +pill form. The patient doesn't know this, and it's like a rabbit's foot +or a piece of pork rubbed on a wart--it satisfies the mind and nature +makes the cure. + +Often, however, the pills are not innocent; the pill fiend buys the +tablets and pills direct from the druggist. The headache tablet is most +likely one of the coal tar drugs like acetanilid, and that is positively +harmful when taken too often. + +There are times to take pills--in cases of emergency, when you can shock +nature with a poison and bring a wholesome reaction. + +These times are rare, and the doctor should be the sole judge as to when +such treatment is necessary. + +Exercise, diet, correct habits of living will prevent the congestion and +clogging-up that causes illness and pain. + +[Sidenote: A Dangerous Habit.] + +The pill habit is nothing less than a drug habit, and the drug habit +positively weakens the system. The headache tablet does not cure the +headache; it only stops the pain; the evil is still there. The headache +is merely nature's signal that something is out of whack. + +Headaches are generally caused by stomach disorders, eye strain, or +neuralgia; the latter in turn is caused by too much uric acid in the +system. + +Eat fruit, drink plenty of water, and that will flush the system and +stop stomachic headache. + +See the optician if it's eyes. If you have a frequent headache in the +forehead, very likely it's the eyes, even though you do not suspect it. + +If it's neuralgia, get a corrective diet from the doctor. + +I know scores of men, and women, too, who take pills enough to kill a +person. Their systems have been educated up to it; they are saturated +with poison. + +And the worst of it is they never get well while taking the pills; it is +only a temporary deadening of the pain. + +Then, there are many who take pills to make them sleep. That's a crime. +It's self-murder by slow degrees, for they are surely shortening their +lives by this poison dope pill habit. + +[Sidenote: Nature, the Curer.] + +Mark this: Nature, and Nature alone, effects cures, and it's in very, +very few instances that a poison pill can be used to advantage. You can +keep well by getting good air, good water, good sunshine, good food, +good exercise, good rest, good cheer and good thought. That is what I +call my golden prescription, and it will do wonders for you, and every +doctor will tell you so. + +Pills kill, if you keep up the habit. There are no two ways about it. I +say positively and knowingly that this pill habit is absolutely life +shortening. + +Don't try to argue; the evidence is unshakable on this point. + +If you could have seen the derelicts in the hospitals that I have, if +you could have seen the wretched bodies, destroyed nerve systems, the +broken-down, emaciated, hopeless shells of men and women addicted to the +baneful pill habit, you would be as positive as I am that pills kill if +you keep up the habit. + +Life is sweet and precious to us all. Do not shorten it by taking pills +and tablets for every ache or pain. Try nature's way. Realize that +mental suggestion and will-power will drive away most pains or temporary +aches. + +Brace up, cheer up; chuck the pills in the garbage can. + + + + +16. + + +[Sidenote: Two Kinds of Pleasures.] + +There are two principal kinds of pleasures that man seeks; one is +material pleasures, and about ninety-nine per cent of the human family +devote themselves to these. The remainder--the one per cent--seek mental +pleasures, and this little group is the one that gets the real, lasting, +satisfying and improving pleasures out of life. + +The material pleasures are the social pleasures of eating, displaying, +possessing, and so forth. Material pleasures generate in the human the +desire for fluff, feathers, and four-flushing. + +Material pleasures accentuate the desire to possess things, and in the +strife for possession, hearts are broken, fortunes wasted, nerves +shattered, and the finer sentiments calloused. + +The homes where material pleasures abound are the ones where worry, +neurasthenia and nervous prostration abound. + +Material pleasures are merely stimulants for the time being, and there +always come the intermittent reflexes of gloom and depression. + +The desire to show off, to excite envy in others, is always present at +the homes where material pleasures are the rule. + +Material pleasures call for crowds. Mental pleasures are best enjoyed in +solitude. + +The material pleasure-seeker lives a life of convention, engagements, +routine, strain, and high tension. + +[Sidenote: Mental Pleasures Are Best.] + +The person who is so fortunate as to appreciate and follow mental +pleasures is serene, natural, happy and content. A cozy room, loved ones +around, music, books, love and social conversation--those are mental +pleasures; those are best. He who can pick up a book and read things +worth while, gets satisfaction unknown to those whose life is a round of +banquets, theaters, dances, automobiles, parties, bridge, clubs and +society doings. + +When you spend the evening playing cards, the chances are you come home +late, and when you retire, it takes perhaps an hour or so before you +fall to sleep. + +And during the night you dream of cards, of certain hands, of certain +circumstances, or certain persons who were prominent in the evening's +game. + +The reason you do not go to sleep after an exciting evening is that you +have set your nerve carburetor at high tension and have forgotten to +lower it before you go to sleep. + +[Sidenote: Good Reading.] + +On the other hand, when you have been reading a restful book, full of +good thought, you establish an equilibrium, a relaxed state of nerves, +and particularly, you have switched the current or direction of your +day's thoughts. That change spells rest, and you retire and go to sleep +easily. + +You will scarcely believe what a wondrous change for the better you will +notice in yourself if you make it a rule to have a brain clearing, +mental inventory, and nerve relaxation every night before you go to +sleep. + +Your brain works at night always; oft-times you have no remembrance of +your dreams, but if your last hour, before retiring, was an hour of +excitement, tension or unusual occupation, you will likely go over it +all again in your dreams. + +If you will let nothing prevent your evening period of soliloquy, you +will establish your mental habits into a rhythm that will give you +peace, rest and benefit. + +In the olden days, when most families had evening worship or family +prayers, the members of those households slept soundly and restfully. + +Particularly was this so because of the habit formed of getting the mind +on peaceful, helpful, comforting, soul-satisfying thoughts that remained +fresh on the brain tablets as the members of the home circle went to +sleep. + +Too often the books read in the home circle are all of the exciting, +fascinating, highly colored imaginative type. People read stories of +love, adventure or crime, and they dream these same things almost every +night. + +I have found that it pays to read two classes of literature in the same +evening. First read your novel, story, or fascinating book, but fifteen +minutes before you are ready to go to sleep, read some good, wholesome, +helpful, uplifting book, and that good stuff will be lastingly filed +away in your brain. + +[Sidenote: What to Read.] + +Finish your evening with books that are interesting, yet educational. +Such books as "Life of the Bee" by Maeterlinck, or any one of Fabre's +wonderful books on insect life; "Riddle of the Universe" by Haeckel; +Darwin's books; Drummond's "Ascent of Man;" "Walks and Talks in +Geological Fields" is a splendid mental night cap; "Power of Silence;" +"Physiology of Faith and Fear;" Emerson's "Essays;" Holmes' "Autocrat +of the Breakfast Table;" "Rubaiyat" of Omar Khayyam; Tom Moore's Poems; +"Plutarch's lives;" Seneca; Addison; Bulwer Lytton; Hugo; Carlyle's +"Sartor Resartus." This latter book will not fascinate you like +Carlyle's "French Revolution," but you will learn to love its fine +language, its fine analysis of character, of times, and of things. + +[Sidenote: What You Gain.] + +There are countless books of the good improving kind. Always save one of +them for your solid reading, after you have read light literature or +novels. If you will get the habit, you will notice great benefits and +rapid advancement in your mental equipment. You will sleep better, think +clearer; you will learn to enjoy mental pleasures more than material +pleasures. + +Fifteen minutes, then, to be yours, yours alone, in which you quiet, +soothe, strengthen and pacify yourself and add abundant resources and +assets. + +Let the last reading in the evening be something worth storing up in +that precious brain of yours, and the good, worth-while deposit will +grow and produce beautiful worth-while mental fruit. + +[Sidenote: Don't Overdo It.] + +Get the home reading habit. Don't overdo it. Call on friends; go to a +good picture show once in a while, to good concerts, to good plays, but +do not make this going-out-in-the-evening-plan a habit. Let it be merely +a dessert, or a rarity. Like candy and ice cream, it is proper and +enjoyable when it is not overdone. + +The lover of books and home can enjoy the play, because he only goes to +plays worth while, and he doesn't overdo it. + +The confirmed theater-goer is a pessimist; he roasts nearly every play, +and he is universally bored. + +When you get started reading worth-while books on science, on history, +on geography, on travel, on natural history, you tap an inexhaustible +field of pleasure and satisfaction. + +At any time, you can pick up your book and be happy. + +Waits in railway stations will be opportunities; trips on trains will be +pleasant; evenings alone will be enjoyable, if you can get into a book +you like. + +Mental pleasures are best. + +Material pleasures are merely passing shadows--to be enjoyed for the +brief moment before they disappear. + + + + +17. + + +[Sidenote: Verbomania.] + +The malady Verbomania is spreading rapidly. What's that? You have never +heard of Verbomania? Well, then, it's taken from _verbosus_, the Latin +word meaning "abounding in words," the using of more words than is +necessary. _Mania_, also Latin, means "to rage"--excessive or +unreasonable desire. Therefore, Verbomania is the excessive desire to +use more words than are necessary. + +There is too much talk nowadays and too little thinking. Some persons +start their gab carburetors, and they talk and talk mechanically, +without any effort spent in thinking. Just like walking, the motion just +goes by itself. + +Scientists have suggested that perhaps too much talking without thinking +is a disease. I don't see that there is any _perhaps_ about it. Disease +is an unnatural condition--a function of the mind or body out of its +natural order of working. + +We know we can sit down and run ideas through our brain without words, +and we can use a lot of words without ideas. + +You have read whole pages in a book without receiving an idea. One can +rattle off words and not have ideas. When the fountain of words flows in +a desert of ideas, it's Verbomania. + +[Sidenote: Think More, Talk Less.] + +People in all walks of life have the disease; they talk together too +much without any reason other than to take up time or make themselves at +ease. Pink teas, receptions and society functions are great rookeries +for these Verbomania birds to gather and indulge in their gabfest. + +The pianist through long practice is able to play a difficult +composition without thinking about it; it's automatic; it's habit in +action. + +The society dodo bird is just as dexterous in spinning words without +thought, as the pianist with his difficult piece. + +Our rapid mode of living, our conventions and customs are responsible +for much of the Verbomania. + +I should like to take my Dictophone to a fussy "afternoon" and record +the word evacuations, the footless conversation, the forced +pleasantries, the set sentences that mingle into a hum and buzz. A +wilderness of words in a barrenness of ideas. + +This abuse of the use of speech makes headaches, weariness, worry, +unrest; it saps strength, lowers pep, and lessens resistance. + +The cure for Verbomania is to keep away from these butterfly buzz bees; +put the clothes-pin of caution on your lips; spend more time alone with +your thoughts. Nourish your idea plants that have been starved; prune +your word plants. + +Don't expose yourself to the crowds where the Verbomaniacs gather. The +disease is contagious; it's easy to acquire and hard to retire. + +These are ideas put in type to convey a truth for the benefit of all who +read these lines, and it is some truth, too. + + + + +18. + + +Love builds homes, gold builds houses. The home has a mongrel dog which +is called Prince, and all the family love it. The house had a pedigreed +bull pup that is kept in the barn. + +[Sidenote: House and Home.] + +There is all the difference between the family which has a home and the +family which has a house. In houses we find broken hearts, worry, +nervous prostration, because there is idleness, artificiality and +aimlessness. In homes we find warm hearts, happiness and love, because +those in the home have natural, helpful occupation. + +In the house is cold reserve; the occupants read when compelled to stay +indoors; they grow crabbed and cross and get into a state of habitual +dumbness and selfishness. + +In the home there is unselfishness, thoughtfulness, and love expressed. +Meal time is joy time; it's the get-together period of smiling faces. + +In the house the breakfast table is merely a lunch station in the +hurried trip from the bedroom to the office. + +The sensitive wife of the house gets stinging remarks that abide with +her after the lord and master of the house has departed. + +[Sidenote: What Makes Home.] + +In the home the family gets up plenty early enough. Songs and jokes, +kisses and love pats are found; the family is on time, and there is +happiness all around. Homes are sweet, because love is present. Houses +built by gold are just hotels. + +I've noticed the difference when a friend invites me to come to his home +or to his house; the word he uses, home or house, indicates to me what I +will find when I go there. + +In the house I meet a maid or butler at the door. I see conventional +furniture, conventional rooms. I am shown into a conventional waiting +room, and I wait conventionally for the hostess to come forward with a +stiff backbone, a forced smile, and a languid handshake. + +When I go to a home built with love, I find a tidy dressed wife at the +door, rosy children, and I get a warm, old-fashioned hand clasp, and a +beaming, smiling face that spells welcome. + +And the dinner--that, too, tells the difference between the +"depend-on-the-cook" establishment and the "wife-who-is-the-boss" home. + +At the house is formality and frigidity; at the home is ease and +enjoyment. The children of the home make breaks and we love them for it; +it's natural instinct and frankness. + +In the house is worry; in the home is happiness. + +Verily, there's a difference in the atmosphere of the house built with +gold and the home built with love; one is worthless existence, the other +worth-while living. + + + + +19. + + +[Sidenote: Seven Simple Health Suggestions.] + +I haven't space in this book to give reasons or show proofs for +everything I suggest, but I want right here to give you a few definite, +short, positive, helpful rules about food, thought, habit and exercise +that will pay you the most wonderful dividends in health and happiness. + +First--Drink two or three glasses of warm, not hot, water, the first +thing when you arise in the morning. + +Second--Repeat this resolve as you are drinking the water: "I will be +pleasant this morning until ten o'clock, and the rest of the day will +take care of itself." + +Third--Walk to your office or place of business, unless it is over four +miles, in which case walk the first three miles and ride the remainder +of the distance. + +Fourth--Eat one or two apples every day, and do not insult Nature's +proper adjustment by peeling the apple. You want the skin because it has +things in it you need for your body, and especially for your brain, and +you have especial need of the roughage the skin gives. + +[Sidenote: Get Enough Sleep.] + +Fifth--Spend eight or nine hours a day in bed. I belong to the +sixty-three hour club; that means nine hours a day rest, seven days in a +week, which is sixty-three hours. If, through business, travel or other +circumstances, I stay up late one or two nights a week, I balance books +before the week is up by taking a rest on Sunday afternoon or going to +bed earlier one or two nights. + +Sixth--Don't stay in bed Sunday morning. It will make you tired, loggy, +stupid and cross. Get up Sunday, say, a half hour or an hour later than +week days. Later in the day take a nap if you wish. + +Seventh--Spend fifteen minutes just before going to bed in quiet, +relaxed solitude. This is the time to slow down your tension, relax your +muscles and soothe your nerves. + +These rules you can easily remember and if you follow them as I hope you +will, the red blood will course in your veins and joy will be in your +countenance and the halo of happiness will be around your face. + + + + +20. + + +Every once in a while the human has a negative day. Every act, thought, +or spoken sentence has a but, a don't, a can't, or some other negative +attachment to it. + +[Sidenote: The Negative Attitude.] + +The children laugh, play and cut up in the morning, and mother says: "I +don't know what I shall do with you, you are just wearing me out." This +puts a fear-thought and a weakness-germ both in mother and the kiddies. + +On Sunday afternoon the family is resting. Mother maybe gets the blues, +and says: "What's the use, I never get anywhere, go any place; it's just +grind, work and worry all the time." + +Mother worries because there's a leak in the roof and the water stained +the paper in the spare room. She worries because she lives in a rented +house, and says: "I have no heart to fix things up because this is a +rented house." + +This negative thought brings on a misery state; it's worry, and the +worry comes because you dwell on the off side of things. You rehearse +your problem, you go over your work, you count your obstacles, and you +pile up the negative and fear thoughts. + +Bless you, my dear sister, I know what this negative can't, don't, but, +and what's-the-use thought is and how it brings misery. I know how the +children get on your nerves and make you say "don't" all day to them. + +[Sidenote: Show Your Positive Side.] + +There's only one way to drive out this negative thought and that is to +switch your will power to the positive current. Next time you have a +negative day and the fear thoughts come, just start in one by one and +count your blessings of health, blessings of home, and blessings of +love. + +Nothing can hurt you. You've been through these negative days time and +time again; the clouds gathered, you were blue, lonesome, homesick and +heartsick, but next day you got busy with work, and occupation drove +away the clouds, and the sunshine came. The next Sunday you get in this +negative state, just put on your hat and go out to see some neighbor, or +go to the park, or take a walk. + +Don't sit and stew and fret over your magnified troubles. + +Let the children play and laugh; they are not hurting anyone. God bless +them. They don't have worries; their little lives are all too short. +Their example of smiles and laughter should make you happy. Soon, too +soon, they will grow up and go their ways in life and how precious will +be the memories of their carefree, golden, happy childhood days. + +Cut out envy; that's a mighty bad negative wire. It's the devil's +favorite food to make worry and discontent. + +[Sidenote: Envy Makes Worry.] + +Many of the people you envied in the past are dead and buried. Many of +the people you envy now are at heart miserable, and you wouldn't envy +them if you could look through the artificial outside and know their +real hidden thoughts and lives. + +"What's-the-use"--that's a bad thing to say; it plants worry seed. + +You are all right; you have far more blessings than sorrows. You can +never be entirely free from troubles, care or little irritations. + +Rise superior to these things; those around you are affected by and +susceptible to your influence and example. + +If you have a "but," an "if" or a "don't" tied to every command to your +children, they will recognize your uncertainty and your negative, +hurtful attitude, and they will take your threats, as well as your +promises, with a grain of salt. + +Be careful in giving commands; don't put a Spanish bit in the children's +mouths to jerk them and torture them. + +Be positive, make your promises and orders stick, and the kiddies will +soon know you mean what you say. + +[Sidenote: Exposing Your Weakness.] + +These negative "driving me crazy" attachments to your commands spell +weakness, and make you drive, cajole and spin out your orders, and the +children hesitate and are slow to obey. Let them see your positive side. +Let them learn to obey with a "yes, mamma" spirit, and your orders will +be less frequent, shorter, and they will be obeyed on the instant. + +The kiddies learn to size you up, mamma, and if they see a wobbly, +worried, despondent, unsure attitude in you, they will discount your +threats and make allowances, saying: "That's mamma's way." + +Don't show your cry side but show your smile side. + +Sunday is a great trial day for you, mamma, but don't let your negative +wires get the best of you. + +Sing as you make the beds and tidy up; let sunshine in and drive out the +gloom. + +Blue Sundays are horror days for the children; you can't expect them to +sit still like older folks. They are full of red blood and active +muscles. + +Don't make Sunday a day of punishment to your children. They get their +cue from you. Don't you be negative and cross and gloomy. It's bad +business for you and all the family. + + + + +21. + + +The benefits of walking are so quickly apparent that I hope to get you +to make the start and keep it up for two weeks. Then you will require no +further urging. + +[Sidenote: The Best Exercise.] + +In walking, there are two most important things to do in order to get +the greatest benefits: first--walk alone; second--walk your natural +gait. So many people tell me they would like to walk all, or part of the +way, between their home and office if they had company. + +Company is the very thing you don't want in walking, and there are two +reasons for this. One is, if you walk with a friend, you will hold +yourself back, or else you will be walking faster than your natural +gait. In either case it is a conscious effort, and this conscious +effort, to a large degree, will cause you to lose much of the benefit +from your walk. + +The most important reason, however, is that if you walk with a friend, +you are sure to talk, and thus you are using your nervous energy and +tiring your brain--the very thing you want to avoid. + +[Sidenote: Walk, Not Talk.] + +Walking gives you physical exercise which is absolutely necessary for +health. It is the best exercise I know of, because you do not overdo +your strength. Walking is beneficial, because when you walk alone, you +give your brain a rest. You cannot read the papers, you cannot talk, and +your mental apparatus gets complete rest. + +I recommend that you walk anywhere from three to four miles in the +morning. If your home is more than four miles from the office, walk +three or four miles of the distance and then take the car. + +Do not walk home in the evening unless the walk is a short one. In the +evening you are tired, and you should conserve your strength. In the +morning you are fresh, and the exercise comes to you at a time it is +most needed. It will give you strength and courage, and help to keep you +in a good mood all day. + +I cannot too strongly emphasize the importance of walking alone, for it +is then that you shift your nerve energy from the dry cell battery of +the brain to the magneto, which is the spinal cord. The spinal cord +works automatically and it doesn't wear itself out. The brain tires if +it uses its energy. + +In walking you use the thought and the brain impulse to start the +magneto, and then the spinal cord action is automatic. + +This automatic action of the spinal cord is a wise provision of nature +to conserve strength. + +The spinal cord energy is what you might call automatic habit. + +For instance, in dressing and undressing yourself, you will recall that +you put on or take off your clothes in regular order without giving the +matter any thought. It is just habit. + +If you wish to demonstrate the difference between the control of the +physical body by brain impulse, and the spinal cord impulse, try this +some morning: Start out for your exercise and mentally frame sentences +like this as you walk--"right step, left step, right step, left step," +and so on. Give thought to each step you have taken, and notice how +tired you will be when you have gone half a mile. + +The next morning, start to walk naturally; give no thought to walking; +keep your mind on the beauties of nature which you are passing, or +indulge in pleasant soliloquy, and you will feel no fatigue. + +There isn't a bit of theory in this chapter; it is positive, practical +sense that I have proved by my own experiences and by the experiences of +everyone to whom I have made this suggestion of walking alone. + +The moral is this--walk every morning and walk ALONE. + + + + +22. + + +The body is made up of billions of little cells. These individual cells +are in a state of perpetual activity. They exhaust, wear away, break +down with work, and rebuild on food and rest. Every process of life--the +beat of the heart, the throb of the brain in thought, the digestion of +food, the excretion of waste--all are due to the activity of groups of +highly specialized individual cells. + +[Sidenote: Body Waste.] + +Every cell uses up its own material and throws off poisonous by-products +during activity. These by-products, or wastes, are very poisonous to the +individual cell as well as to the entire organism. To get rid of this +waste is one of the first duties of the system. + +It is with the body, made up of its countless millions of individual +cells, just as it is with a city and its myriad people: the sewage of +the community must be collected and disposed of. The city forms its +poisons which we call sewage and the body its poisons, which we call +excreta (or carbonic acid, urea, uric acid, faeces, etc.). It is no +more important for a city to gather up and get ride of its poisonous +sewage than for the animal organism to collect and excrete its +cell-waste. Hence, the importance of maintaining normal and constant +elimination throughout the body. + +[Sidenote: Health's Safety-First.] + +Elimination is kept up by the alimentary tract, the kidneys, the skin, +and the lungs. These four are the great pipe-line sewerage systems, so +to speak, by which the body throws off its gaseous, liquid and solid +poisons. + +The lungs momentarily strain carbonic acid out of the blood and throw it +out in the expired air. They likewise exhale other noxious matters from +the system. + +The alimentary tract throws off faeces, made up of the waste tissue from +the whole system, especially the digestive organs, as well as +indigestible and non-nutritious portions of the food. + +The kidneys strain out urea, uric acid, and certain other poisons from +the blood and eject them through the urinary tract. + +Finally the skin likewise is an excretory organ and exhales a very +definite amount of gaseous and fluid waste in the course of each +twenty-four hours. + +The skin throws off all the way from a pint to two quarts of liquid +each day in the form of vapor. + +[Sidenote: Proper Functioning.] + +Thus, to carry on normal elimination from the body, the breathing, +digesting, urinary and cutaneous systems must be kept working normally. +To impair the work of any of these is to retard bodily drainage. To make +certain that elimination is going on naturally, it is necessary to +secure perfect functioning of lungs, bowels, kidneys and the skin. + +Any stoppage in the process of elimination means that some fault has +crept into the work of one of these excretory systems. It must be plain +now why a disorder of any one of these organs of elimination means so +much more profound disturbance to the whole organization than merely +disease in one structure. It means that waste products are retained +which ought to be thrown out of the body; so straightway every cell in +the body begins to be more or less affected. Some poisons disturb one +organ more and some another, but in the end the whole body must +inevitably be affected. + +Lack of exercise, bolting of food, eating soft, starchy things, failure +to chew properly, failure to get enough roughage, insufficient water, +insufficient fruit--these are the general causes of stoppage in the +elimination processes. + +Drink one or two glasses of warm water, not hot, the first thing in the +morning. + +Eat one or two apples, skins and all, every day. Eat toast, especially +the crust. Eat cracked wheat or whole wheat bread often. + +Exercise plenty. Keep cheerful. Eat regularly. + +Very likely you eat too much. You don't need three big meals a day +unless you work outdoors at hard physical labor. + +Your body is an engine. No use to keep the boiler red hot and two +hundred pounds of steam on if your work is light. + +Good health depends upon proper assimilation and elimination as nature +intended. + +Eat less, exercise more, you who work indoors. If you don't use this +caution, you are just slowly killing yourself. + + + + +23. + + +[Sidenote: Never Say "Can't."] + +Many have the habit of keeping their minds on their weaknesses or their +shortcomings. If they read of some one doing a great thing or making a +worth-while accomplishment, they say: "I never could do such a thing." + +These persons are always saying, "I never have luck. I can't do this. I +can't do that." + +Always knocking, always thinking "can't" instead of "can" makes for +fear, irresoluteness, uncertainty and weakness of character. + +To say, "I can't, I haven't the ability, I am unlucky" makes you weak +and knocks out all chance for doing things. + +Nothing comes out of the brain that wasn't burned in by thought. If you +disparage yourself, belittle your capacity, or drown your good impulses +with doubt and self-accusation, you are putting away a lot of bad +thought in your brain, and no wonder you will lack in initiative, +ambition, confidence and courage. + +To those who claim to be unlucky, I want to say you are not +unlucky--you simply lack pluck. + +You start at undertakings with a handicap of fear. You have made up your +mind that you can't accomplish. You are half beaten before the game +starts. In place of the will to achieve, you approach your task in fear +and trepidation. In place of confidence and courage and high +aspirations, you set out on your journey with the millstone of doubt and +irresolution around your neck. + +[Sidenote: Confidence and Success.] + +There is but one way to succeed. That is to cast fear and +self-accusation aside, and throw your full weight into the struggle with +a song on your lips and confidence in your heart. "Victory" should be +your battlecry and "Confidence" should be emblazoned on your shield. + +Many a man has been whipped in a fight, defeated in a contest, or beaten +at an undertaking, but he didn't show it or let the other fellow know +it. He just kept on with a brave front, and finally the other fellow +quit, mistaking grim determination, pluck and perseverance for strength +and victory. + +Ethan Allen with his handful of men were asked to surrender by the +British general with his superior force. By all the rights and rules of +war, Ethan was licked, but he didn't give in. He replied: "Surrender +h--ll; I've just commenced to fight." If Ethan had accused himself and +said, "I can't whip that big bunch; there's no hope," he would have been +whipped to a finish. + +Don't show the enemy or the world your weakness. Don't admit anything +impossible that is capable of accomplishment. + +It's the "I can" man who wins. No man ever won a fight if he started out +by saying, "I can't whip him, he is too much for me; I am no match for +him, but I'll try." + +No person ever made success in business if he started in with +uncertainty, lack of confidence and unbelief in his ability. Confidence +has ever been half the battle. + +[Sidenote: The World's Judgment.] + +Knock yourself, and the world will accept you at your own estimate. Show +streaks of yellow cowardice, and the mob will pounce on you like a pack +of hungry wolves. Accuse yourself, curse your luck, belittle your worth, +be afraid, and you will remain a mere bump on a log, unnoticed, +uninteresting, uninvited. + +The world welcomes men who do things. The world judges by outward +appearances. If your heart is sick, if your courage is low, don't show +it. Put up a stiff attitude and act with confidence, and that attitude +will carry you over many a pitfall and past many an obstacle. + +Show strength and the world will help you; show weakness and the world +will shun you. + +You are prejudiced when it comes to judging yourself. You compare your +weakness with your friends' strength, and this comparison is unfair; it +makes you lose confidence. + +[Sidenote: Doubt and Belief.] + +Nothing hurts one worse than doubting one's own ability, assets, and +character. When you find yourself experiencing doubt, or inability, or +hard luck, turn square around and say: "Begone, doubt; henceforth I have +belief." + +Say: "I have ability; I have pluck, and pluck means luck." + +Always express confidence, faith, courage, and cheer thoughts, whether +you feel them or not. Do this heroically and persistently, and soon the +fear shadows and weakness feelings will leave you, and you will be in +reality strong, courageous, active, and will do things you never thought +possible. + +"As a man thinketh, so is he." Always remember that. + +Get hold of your thoughts; make yourself think up, and have faith and +courage. Hold to your resolve, and the whole world will change. You +will prosper, you will have poise, and every once in a while happiness +will come as a reward. + +No man will be more surprised at your complete change of attitude and +character than yourself. + +Your problems can only be solved by yourself. Friends can advise, _I_ +can suggest, but YOU must act. + +Henceforth, never accuse yourself, never feel sorry for your condition +or position, cut out fear thoughts,--be strong. + +Think faith, courage, cheer, confidence, and strength, and by-and-by the +habit will be fixed and natural. + +This is as certain truth as I have ever experienced. I know it. I've +tried it. I've watched others and the results are always good. + +Don't be passive and forget this chapter. Start right this minute to +THINK RIGHT. + +And you will never regret and never forget this chapter on +Self-accusation. + + + + +24. + + +[Sidenote: Dare to Dream.] + +The great colleges turn out thousands of graduates each year, and the +great newspapers have much sport ridiculing them in funny pictures. +Every great man was once a boy with a dream, and that dream came true +because the boy had pep that made him stick to his ambition and kept him +from being discouraged because of ridicule or obstacles. + +Thomas Carlyle, the poor Scotch tutor, dreamed he wanted to be a great +author. His clothes were threadbare, his poverty apparent. Friends +taunted and ridiculed him until, goaded to indignation, he cried: "I +have better books in me than you have ever read." The crowd laughed +incredulously and said: "Poor fellow, he's batty." + +Carlyle stuck to his dream and the world has the "History of Frederick +the Great" and the "French Revolution" and "Sartor Resartus." When he +had finished the manuscript of the "French Revolution," a careless maid +built a fire with it. He wasn't discouraged, but went to work and wrote +it over again and very likely better than he wrote it the first time. + +Bonaparte in the garden of his military school dreamed of being a great +general. He stuck to his dream and he realized his hopes. + +Joseph Pulitzer, a poor emigrant, crawled in a cellar way in New York to +sleep, and he dreamed of owning a great newspaper. His dream came true, +and the newspaper is printed in a building erected on the spot where he +dreamed in the cellar way. + +Livingston dreamed of exploring darkest Africa; his dream came true. + +Edison dreamed of great electrical discoveries. His monument is Menlo +Park with its great laboratories. + +Ford dreamed of making an automobile for the purse-limited masses--he +was jeered; to-day the world cheers him. + +My friend, Bert Perrine, was chucked off a stage in the middle of +Idaho's great sage brush desert. He said to the driver, "Some day I'll +own that stage and I'll use it for a chicken house." + +He dreamed and schemed, and to-day the desert is the famous Twin Falls +country, blossoming like a rose. And on his beautiful ranch at Blue +Lakes, that old stage is used for a chicken house. + +Rockefeller dreamed, Lincoln dreamed--so did Garfield, Wilson, Grant, +Clay, Webster, Marshall Field, Richard W. Sears and all the other men +who have done things worth while in the world. + +The great West is the result of dreams come true. + +Dream on, my boy; hitch your wagon to a star and stay hitched. That +dream and that determination are the things that are to carry you over +obstacles, past thorny ways, and through criticism, jeers and ridicule. + +Your time will come. Dream and scheme, and make your ideals materialize +into living, pulsating realities. + + + + +25. + + +There are many persons who act and advocate ideals merely for +effect--they are hypocrites. + +Here's a little true heart story that probably passed unnoticed except +to a very few persons. + +[Sidenote: Real Charity.] + +Little Spencer Nelson, a poor boy, eight years old, recently died in a +hospital with a little bank clasped to his breast. The bank held $3.41 +in pennies which the boy had saved to buy presents for the poor children +in his city. + +The little hero had fought manfully through three months' suffering, +enduring the torture of five lacerating operations. The pain failed to +dim the spirit of unselfishness which burned brightly and clearly in his +tired, fever-racked body. + +After each operation his mind became more securely fixed on his project +to help bring cheer to poor children. + +The little savings bank was his companion, and each visitor was asked to +contribute to his fund. + +Three hours before he died, a smile beautified his thin wasted face as +the nurse dropped a dime in his bank. His last words--a message to his +mother--were in a scarcely audible whisper, asking her to remember to +use the money to make poor children happy. + +That was real charity; that boy had no hypocrisy in his heart. + +[Sidenote: Seek and You Will Find.] + +The daily paper chronicles instances of sensational charity, where men +vie with each other to see who can give most and get the most +advertising. These men overlook the wonderful opportunities at their +door--they do not realize the beautiful love and charity that would stir +in their hearts if they would but look into the out-of-the-way places +and get direct connection with pain and suffering. + +Little Spencer looked from his cot and saw the suffering of other little +children and he wanted to help them, and the very resolve and impulse +made him forget his own pain and misery. + +In the Book of Good Deeds, the name of Spencer Nelson will be recorded +as a sweeter act of charity than any million-dollar gift to a great +institution. + +What one of you who read these lines can read the story of that little +hero and not be touched by the generous love and beautiful conception of +charity he possessed. + +I don't believe much in this far-away charity idea so many have. + +[Sidenote: Do Good Here At Home.] + +I believe in helping those near where I am rather than sending money to +Siam. Poverty and destitution, unhappily, are familiar spectres at home, +as elsewhere. He who seeks to do good will not need to range afar. He +can find opportunity close at home, near by, where all of us can find it +if we only look. + +It may be a pleasurable sensation for you to contribute fifty dollars to +a missionary scheme in Siam, and get the Missionary report of the budget +made up by the committee for the foreign missionary fund. + +I know that a bucket of coal in an empty stove, a basket of bread and a +liberal hunk of round steak to the starving family around the corner +brings the donor a better sensation. + +Take a trip to the hospitals, learn about the homes of the suffering +patients in the charity ward, and you will resolve it's a better act to +send flour to the poor than flowers to the rich. + +Little Spencer Nelson had the right idea of charity: definite, +immediate help to those he could reach right where he was, rather than +sending money to sufferers far, far away. + +Let your gifts be principally flour and beef; they help those who need +help. Flowers are all right in their place, but there are more places +where flour can be used to better purpose. + +I'm keener for filling the coffee can of my suffering neighbor than +filling the coffers of the big charity five thousand miles away. + +I try to help both ways, but the home help pays the bigger dividends. +What do you think about it? + + + + +26. + + +You have found a friend who has been so much help and comfort to you. I +have such a friend too. To-night I am in the mood to think of that +friend and write him a letter like this: + +[Sidenote: What I Think of You.] + +This is to You. It is for You. It is about You. You I have in mind and +the good influence you have had on me. It is a happiness and +satisfaction to know you, and to bask in the sunshine of you. + +The world is better because of you. You have helped to raise the +average. + +You and your goodness--you do not appreciate what that means. You are so +modest, so loath to think of yourself, so thoughtful of others, so +unselfish that I must tell you of you and about you. + +You have a warm heart that throbs for others' woes and holds sympathy. +The great world is cold, selfish, and cares little for others. But you +are different; you are a great pillow of rest on which I and others who +love you may lay our tired, weary heads, and you wrap your arms of +friendship and goodness about us and feel our very heartbeats. + +[Sidenote: What I Love in You.] + +You with your great goodness, your quiet, sympathetic understanding--you +soothe our troubled spirits and make us glad of you and glad we have the +precious privilege of knowing you. + +Even now, as I am telling you how I love you, you are trying to wave me +aside and stop me, but I am in the mood and I want to express myself. +You know that it is a great sin of omission to refrain from expressing +our gratitude for goodness extended to us. + +I want to express my gratitude. I do not want to be guilty of the sin of +omission. + +So here, then, is this little message for you, to tell you that I +appreciate you and love you, and these words will last after you are +gone and after I am gone, to tell those of to-morrow about you and what +those of to-day thought about you. + +Your life, your goodness, is an everlasting plant that will flourish in +many hearts. Your influence will last beyond the calendar of time; it is +indestructible. You have a great credit in the universal bank of good +deeds, where you have deposited worth-while acts, deeds, kindnesses, +cheer, help, friendship, sympathy, courage, gratitude, and all the most +precious jewels of humanity. + +I am happy the very moment I think of you. I try to express myself but +the feelings and emotions I would describe have not words or sentences +to express them. You understand. You are so big in heart, so sensitive +in fabric of feeling, so wise in understanding, that I want you to think +and feel all the genuine, noble, lovable, appreciative thoughts you can +gather together about the one you can most appreciate. + +Think hard, sincerely, deeply, about that one, with all your resources +of beautiful thought. Think hard that way, and now you will begin to +understand my feelings about you, and how I appreciate you. + +You, my inspiration, who are so sensitized to feeling, so delicately +adjusted to read heart vibrations--you must feel this within me that I +am trying to express. Not the love between sweethearts, not the love of +kin, not the love of friends, but a great universal love I have for +you--a love which all who are fortunate enough to know you have for you. + +It is a love you cannot return to me in equal measure, because you have +not the object in me that can merit such love. That you should love me +in the way I love you even in the smallest measure is satisfaction +supreme. + +It is glorious to know you. You water the good impulses I have; you +encourage all that is noble, elevating, and bettering, in me. I shall +try to be like you--that is, so far as I can. You are my model; there is +but one _You_. Many may copy you, none may equal you. You my comfort, +you my joy. A great glorious _You_ that a little _I_ am trying to paint +a picture of. + +How futile my efforts. I might as well try to improve the deep beautiful +colors of the morning-glory, or try to retint the lily with a more +beautiful white. + +And so I bid you good-bye, happy that there is such a one as you in the +world--more happy that I know you, and most happy that I know how to +appreciate you. + +The sum of all good things I can say is, "I love you," and the word +"love" I use in its greatest, broadest sense, which covers all the good +adjectives. + +This is what I think of YOU. + + + + +27. + + +There is a time in the business man's life, between the age of 48 and +52, when he undergoes a pronounced change. + +More big men are cut off at 50 than at any other age between 45 and 60. + +From 48 to 52 most men change vitally in their physical and mental +make-up. + +[Sidenote: Dangers of Middle Life.] + +Many men--hitherto straight, moral men--go to the bad at this time, and +per contra, many men quit their immoral and health-hurting habits and +change to moral men. This danger period is when the newly-rich find +fault with the wives who have helped them to their success. They grow +tired of their wives and seek the companionship of younger women. + +The divorce courts give most interesting figures on this point. + +At this danger period, men who have been high livers, voracious eaters +and heavy drinkers find themselves victims of diabetes, Bright's disease +or other forms of kidney trouble. The country is full of prematurely +broken-down men who have failed to heed the danger signals along their +way. To persist in self-indulgence is to invite disaster. You must +deliberately set about to change your mode of living if you would avoid +these shoals on which so many men of middle age have foundered. + +Almost every man between 48 and 52 who works indoors, eats too much, +exercises too little, sleeps insufficiently. + +In this book I have made practical suggestions that have been tried in +the furnace of experience and proven adequate. They have helped me; they +will help you. They will enable you to gain pep and efficiency; they +will give you a new lease on life and make life more worth living. + +[Sidenote: The Simple Life.] + +First, live simply; eat simply. If you have in the past, eaten rich +foods, drunk fine wines, and have been what the world knows as a "good +fellow," your course is clear. You must call a halt on yourself. This +path leads inevitably to the graveyard. Follow the seven simple health +suggestions laid down in an earlier chapter, and you will feel better, +feel happier and will attack the day's work with vim and vigor. + +Avoid undue excitement. Excitement uses up nerve force. It is an energy +consumer. Your mind needs repose as well as your body. When you have +finished your day's work, leave business behind you. Do not drag it into +your home. In the evening, occupy yourself with a good, worth-while +book. Nothing is more conducive to calm and contentment. + +Let supper be your one hearty meal of the day. And after supper, play +with the kids or joke with your wife; get a smile on your face. When you +are home, interest yourself in home concerns. The "home men" are the men +who live longest. They lead healthy, regular lives, and they keep alive +the outside interests that make for peace, poise, content and happiness. + +Keep a sharp look-out for tendencies to change your habits and morals. + +At 50 you are walking on thin ice; look out, danger is near. + +After you are 55, your habits are pretty well established. If you have +lived rightly till then, you're safe thereafter and very likely are on +your way to a good ripe old age if you take reasonable care of +yourself. + + + + +28. + + +[Sidenote: Our Sons.] + +We love our own the best; maybe that's why we indulge our own too much. +Our duty to our boys; that's a subject as old as the hills, and it is as +important as it is old. It is a subject that has come to the forefront +in recent years. Multitudes of paid juvenile workers and sociological +experts throughout the country are engaged in the work of keeping the +youth of the nation healthily occupied and away from corrupting +influences. + +Modern conditions have created a "boy problem" which was unknown two +generations ago. Then there were no slums reeking with vice and squalor +and ugliness. The era of great manufacturing enterprises was just +beginning. There were no densely populated cities numbering millions of +souls. Amusements were simple. Everywhere were stretches of open +country, and boys were allowed to run wild in field and woodland and +stream. + +[Sidenote: Times Have Changed.] + +The great cities of to-day have done away with all this. The good, +old-fashioned, healthful recreations have disappeared in all but rural +communities. In their place has come the lurid "movie" with its tales of +crime and violence and passion. At every crowded street corner, vice +beckons, and glaring signs lure the curious boy into the vicious cabaret +and dance-hall. + +To-day I had the boy problem forcibly presented to me. I saw in a court +twenty-four boys who had been brought before the Judge charged with +petty crimes. Three were sent to the penitentiary, seven to the reform +school and fourteen let go temporarily on good behavior. + +A friend of mine interested in criminology tells me the great bulk of +hold-ups, thefts, burglaries and murders are committed by boys between +16 and 22 years of age. + +These twenty-four boys I mentioned were just ordinary boys, capable of +making good citizens if they had had the right kind of home treatment +and surroundings. Most of them got in trouble through their association +with the "gang" or the "bunch," or the "crowd," and this because daddy +didn't have his hand on the rein. + +That boy must have companionship; he must have a confidant with whom he +can share his joys, his sorrows, his hopes, his ambitions. If he +doesn't get this comeraderie at home, he gets it "'round the corner." + +We know where the boy is when he is at school, but how few of us know +the boy's doings between times. + +Pool halls tempt the boys, and these resorts are breeding places where +filthy stories, criminal slang and evil practices are hatched. + +Pool halls and saloons invite and fascinate the boy. He sees the lights. +There is a keen pleasure in watching the pink-shirted dude with +cigarette in his mouth making fancy shots. + +There is no one to nag him or bother him; it gets to be his "hang-out," +and soon he drifts into a crowd that knows the trail to the red-light +district. + +Painted fairies dazzle the giddy boy. It takes money to go the pace. +Crime is gilded over with slang words. Stealing is called "easy money." +Robbery is "turning a trick," and so on. + +A boy becomes what he lives on mentally and physically; that's the net +of it. + +It is a common saying, but a good one, that the boys of to-day are the +men of to-morrow. If you train a boy with care and kindness, he will +grow up to be an honest and upright citizen. But let him run a wild, +undisciplined course, leave him free to explore the crime-spots and +plague-pools of the city, and sooner or later his moral fibre is +weakened and ultimately snaps. At best he will become an indifferent +citizen; at worst a drifter or a criminal. + +There is nothing better for a boy than discipline properly administered. +And that brings up the whole matter of army life. + +[Sidenote: The Army: A Maker of Men.] + +The army is a great maker and developer of men. Boys who were headed for +perdition have found in the army a new sense of honor and respect. The +rigorous training, the idea of duty, the heroic traditions of the +service--all these are renewers and rekindlers of manhood. Many a lad +who has wasted his health, wealth and substance on the primrose path, +has "come back" gloriously in the service of the flag. + +Look at the average soldier or sailor you meet. His skin is tanned by +sun and wind to a deep brown. His eyes are crystal clear. There is youth +and strength in his tread. There he stands, clean as a whistle. No fat, +no flabbiness--just solid sinew and ruddy health. He is a living +exponent of what military training can do for every boy in the country. + +Hard work, strength-building exercises, sufficient sleep, regular +hours, simple, wholesome food, systematic training--these are the things +the army and navy offers. And these are the things that make real men. + +But no training that school or church or army can give him relieves you, +Dad, of your obligation to the boy. In the last analysis, it is _your_ +influence that will either make him or break him, for it is to you that +he looks for guidance and comradeship in his most impressionable years. + +If you are his chum, if sister shares his amusements with him, if the +family work and live on the "all for one and one for all" basis, if the +boy is kept busy and interested, he can be easily trained. + +[Sidenote: Be Worth Copying.] + +Neglect him and he will neglect you. Love him and he will love you. Meet +him half way, he's impressionable. Show him a kindness, he will respond. +Show him a good example, he will follow. You have to be with him, or +know where he is every minute. + +During his period of adolescence, say from twelve or thirteen years to +sixteen or seventeen, that boy is a mass of plaster of paris, easily +shaped while plastic, but once set, all but impossible to recast. + +That's the time, Dad, you must be on YOUR job with your boy. + +Your counsel, example, love, interest and teaching will MAKE the boy. + +Think of these things, Dad, and think hard, and think hard NOW. +To-morrow may be too late. + + + + +29. + + +[Sidenote: Our Daughters.] + +Our daughters--how much we love them! How happy we are to have their +fresh, smiling faces about us! Their girlish laughter lightens our home +hours and creates an atmosphere of joy. What would we not give if we +could but insure their happiness! Our fondest and most cherished hopes +are bound up in them as they grow up under our eyes and blossom into +womanhood. + +Girl, what a wonderful creature you can be. What a glorious success you +can make of your life if you get the right start, find the right hands +to help you, the right hearts to love you, and the right eyes to watch +you, the right thoughts to make you, and the right ideals to guide you. + +There are so many influences to spoil you--so much convention, so much +artificiality, so much snobbery, so much caste, so much foolish +frivolity. + +Then there are the wrong examples, the wrong grooming, the wrong +environments, the wrong influences surrounding you. Really, it is not +to be wondered at why so many girls lose their heads and make a fizzle +of their young lives. + +The fizzle is generally made because daddy and mama have a lot of +foolish notions about bringing up girls. Especially is this so if the +parents are wealthy. + +[Sidenote: The Wrong Way.] + +Here is the history of many a rich girl: She is born without welcome, +fed on a bottle, reared by a nurse, grows up in a nursery, becomes +estranged from her mother; later on, she is sent away to school, mixes +with a lot of other rich girls, gets lots of foolish notions, false +estimates, and prejudiced views. She graduates and comes home, and then, +to commemorate the event, there are a lot of "doings" which she attends. +Following this is the show-off, which is called a debut. + +She is exhibited like a filly at the horse show, and some high-collared +young man wins her head, although she thinks it's her heart. She +believes it is the proper time for her to marry, and he is such "a swell +fellow," he is such "good company," and he "dances so well"--these +qualities win her head. + +So the girl marries and has children; the husband goes broke, and the +girl awakens to the necessity of coming down from her pedestal, facing +stern necessity, and raising her children as her mother should have +raised her. + +That's the picture of the poor rich girl whose parents are to blame for +the nonsense she crammed into her head. + +But, you, Girl--you are going to learn your cooking on a gas range +instead of a chafing dish; you'll learn to bake bread before fudge; +you'll learn how to cook solids before you learn to make salads. + +You will combine simplicity, sentiment, sense sereneness, sweetness, +rather than envy, frills, feathers and foolishness. + +God's noblest calling for woman is the raising of children and the +founding of a home. + +[Sidenote: Cooking and Sewing.] + +To cook and sew is a higher duty and better occupation than bridge +parties and society. Not that you must cook and sew, my dear, but that +you should be able to in case the need should arise. With the ability to +cook and sew, you can properly direct the cook or seamstress, and they +will respect you for your education. + +I want you to be golden girls--girls who love home and children; girls +who love simple things, natural things. I want you to be sweet rather +than pretty, lovable rather than popular. + +Do not look upon matrimony as a means to provide food and finery for +yourself. + +Do not be ashamed of an old-fashioned mother. Do not be a "good fellow." +Do not be afraid to say, "I can't afford it." + +Help the family. Be part of it, and not apart from it. + +When you are old enough to have a beau, do not be afraid to bring him +into your home, no matter how humble it is. + +Do not esteem your boy friends for the amount of money they spend on +your entertainment. Happiness does not consist of lobster-suppers and +taxi-rides to the theatre. Ten cents will bring just as much real +happiness as ten dollars spent for mere display. + +Be modest, girls; it is your greatest asset. + +Don't gossip or belittle other girls. Find the good you can say of +others; that quality makes you more attractive. + +Watch out for candied words and flattery; these things mark the +hypocrite, and a hypocrite is an abomination. Flattery is a practiced +deceit--a dishonorable bait to catch affections. + +Do not allow any young man to relate a story in your presence that has +the slightest risque turn to it. + +Show by your words and your actions that such presumption is an insult. + +Be square with yourself; be square to the man who is after your heart. +Put yourself mentally in the place of a wife when a man gets serious. + +[Sidenote: The Right Man.] + +Don't hurry, girls; don't judge the man by his money prospects but by +his character and ambition. Have nothing to do with any young suitor who +isn't always kind, considerate and attentive to his mother. And when +real love comes to you and you decide to marry, marry a man of character +who courts you in the sweet, simple, old way. + +If a young man spends money extravagantly before marriage, hard times +will always be around during his married life. + +The most precious possessions in the world are happiness and love, and +these come from simple things, genuineness, and usefulness. + +The painted, powdered, tinsel, fluff, feathers and furbelow girl may be +a dashing creature now, and you may envy her, but you, with your quiet, +sweet, simple, sensible ways--you will win real love, real respect, real +affection, real pleasures, real satisfaction, in all the days to come; +you will make a success of your life. + +Frills and feathers may have an attraction for the girl who makes a +fizzle of her life, but sweetness and simplicity, sentiment and sense, +are precious jewels that will endure for all time. + +[Sidenote: The Road to Unhappiness.] + +The world is full of new-fashioned, slangy, dancy, fancy, foolish girls +who marry for style, stunts and society, and their married life is +failure, worry and regret. They do not realize, poor things, until it is +too late, that money and luxury are not enough to bring happiness. When +this truth comes home to them, there is nothing left but disillusion, +heartache and sorrow. + +Be the golden, pure, old-fashioned, sweet, simple, quiet, modest girl +who knows things, rather than one who is a show-off girl. + +When the right young man comes along, he will recognize the kind of girl +you are when he meets you. He will see in you a girl of pure gold; a +sweet, natural, sensible girl, who will be a helpmate to him and not a +drawback. + +So then, here is the hope that you, girl, will start right, keep right, +and end right. I want you to think of sense, sentiment, and simplicity +rather than dances, dollars, duds and doings. + +I want your life to be one of poise, happiness and serenity instead of +noise, worry and nerves. + +This little message is all for you--GIRL. + + + + +30. + + +Many churches to-day are running to extremes in one way or another. + +On the one hand, they are conducted along the lines of form, ceremony +and ritualism; the other extreme results in excitement, ecstasy and +fanaticism. + +The church of forms, rituals and ceremonies attracts the passive who are +willing to let the priest or pastor or prelate take charge of the +religious work while they, the attendants or worshippers, sit quietly by +and say "amen" and join in the responses. + +[Sidenote: Real Religion.] + +Paul said, "Away with those forms." Christ, in ministering to humanity, +gave no forms and made no set sentences for his followers. The Lord's +Prayer was given with the admonition, "After this manner pray ye," and +certainly not with the command, "Pray ye with these words." + +Form, ceremony and ritual are much like most associated charities--a +sort of convention. Forms cannot express the deep emotions, the natural +longings, or the human desires; they are echoes, hollow and +unsatisfying. + +For those who do not feel, for those who do not act, for those who +belong to churches because of convention, or for social reasons, forms +and frills fill the bill. + +Form is an exterior religion, an outward show. Form doesn't touch the +heart or awaken the soul. Form in religion is like a formal dinner. It +is a gaudy display rather than a plan to satisfy human heart hunger. + +[Sidenote: "Scare-You-to-Death" Method.] + +Opposite to formal religion is the frenzied "scare-you-to-death" +excitement method, which relies upon mental intoxication to stir the +people. Like other forms of intoxication, the effect soon wears off. + +I have little patience or sympathy for the business men who hire +professional evangelists to come to town to start revivals. The +sensational revivalists have too acute an appreciation of the dollar to +convince me of their sincerity in their work. + +A laborer is worthy of his hire, and a preacher, teacher or benefactor +of any sort should be well paid. But when I see these big guns taking +away from ten to one hundred thousand dollars in cold cash for a three +weeks' campaign converting the poor suffering people, the thought comes +to me that if the evangelist were sincere, he would buy a lot of bread, +coal and underwear, and hire a lot of trained nurses with a big part of +that money. + +Christ and his Apostles were of the people; they worked with and among +the people; they had no committees, no guarantees and no business men's +subscription lists. + +It's mighty hard to read about these sensational evangelists taking in +thousands of dollars for a couple of weeks' revival meetings, and +harmonize that religion with the religion of Christ, the carpenter, and +his Apostles, who were fishermen and workmen. + +[Sidenote: How They Do It.] + +The exciting, intoxicating, frenzied revival method is pretty much the +same in its working wherever it is practised. The evangelist starts in +with the song, "Where is My Wandering Boy To-night;" then follows the +picture of mother, which is painted with sobs of blood. Then follows +mother's death-bed scene until the audience is in tears. Gesticulation, +mimicry, acting, sensationalism, slang and weepy stories follow, until +the ferment of excitement is developed to a high pitch, and droves flock +down the sawdust trail to be made over on the instant into sanctified +beings. + +The evangelist stays until his engagement is up, and then departs with a +pocket full of nice fat bank drafts. + +[Sidenote: An Old-Time Method.] + +But there is nothing new about this method. It is as old as humanity. It +is the same method that is practised in the more remote and uncivilized +portions of the world to-day, where garishly painted savages congregate +and render homage to their gods in an orgy of yelling, whooping and +beating of the tom-tom. + +It is a sad commentary on the established profession of the ministry +that sensational professionals are called in and paid fabulous prices to +convert the people in their community. + +I do not take much stock in either the frigid form-and-ceremonial method +with its frills, or the frenzied fire-and-brimstone, scare-you-to-it +extreme. + +Somewhere between these extremes is the rational, natural, sane road to +travel--the religion of brotherly love; of cheers, not tears; of hope, +not fear; of courage, not weakness; of joy, not sorrow; of help, not +hindrance. + +[Sidenote: The Religion of Love.] + +The religion that makes us love one another here--not the kind that says +we shall know each other there; the religion that has to do with human +passions, human trials, human needs, instead of the frigid form or the +fevered frenzy; the religion that avoids the extremes of heat and +cold--that's the kind the world needs most. + +Christ taught love, kindness, charity. He spoke not of beautiful +churches and opera-singing choirs. He spoke not of robes, vestments, +forms or rituals. + +One of the most beautiful things in the Bible is the story of the good +Samaritan with his simple, unostentatious aid to a wounded man--a man +whom the Samaritan knew as an enemy of his people, but who was none the +less a brother. And you will remember how the priest of the temple--the +man who taught charity and love--drew up his skirts and passed the +wounded man by. + + + + +31. + + +[Sidenote: Love of Country.] + +Patriotism--one's love for one's country--is a natural and a beautiful +sentiment. With the spirit of idealism behind it, it becomes one of the +noblest sentiments that has been developed in the course of humanity's +long upward march to civilization. + +To-day, on Europe's battlefields, millions of men are hazarding their +lives. They do so gladly, willingly, with a firm and reasoned conviction +in the justice of the cause for which they fight. That is intelligent +patriotism--the kind of patriotism that is based on understanding and +knowledge. + +But the world to-day is conscious that there is another kind of +patriotism--a false patriotism that is fostered and fomented by +ambitious governments for purposes of aggression and aggrandizement. + +This false patriotism is not a free or voluntary thing. It is the blind, +instinctive feeling of sheep-like men who have been bred beneath the +yoke of servility and obedience and are like clay in the hands of their +overlords. They know not why they fight, but through fear or +intimidation or force, they slavishly submit to the will of their Kaiser +or Emperor and his minions. + +This great war, and most every great war of the past, was made possible +by a distorted understanding of patriotism. This false patriotism is one +of the narrowest and most cruel forces in the world, and when linked +with militarism, it becomes the most dangerous. It causes wars, waste +and desolation. It creates jealousies, inspires jingoism and +braggadocio, keeps alive the fight spirit, and menaces the peace and +security of nations. + +[Sidenote: Militarism.] + +Militaristic rulers, fired by selfish egotism, know full well what a +powerful force patriotism is, and they nurse the babes with fatherland +stuff and give them tin soldiers to play with and tin helmets to wear. + +Patriotism, when it reflects love of the place of one's nativity, when +it is based on home ties and associations, is a beautiful and touching +thing. But when unscrupulous autocrats utilize this sentiment for their +own aggressive purposes, it becomes a menace that must be put down if +other nations are to enjoy the blessings of peace and liberty. + +[Sidenote: False Patriotism a Menace.] + +To keep this false patriotism alive, wars must be made, so that human +blood can be secured to keep the monster from famishing. And so, on +slight pretexts, or no pretexts at all, the war lords and imperial +autocrats rattle their swords in their scabbards and let loose the +avalanche of war on the world. + +Such patriotism is failure and worse than failure. It is a reversion to +the brute age of mankind. It flings a moral challenge to the world that +the world must either accept or perish. + +So much for this monstrous perversion of Right and Reason that has +turned Europe into a shambles, and has banded the civilized nations of +the world together in a mighty struggle for freedom and democracy. + +True patriotism is one of the world's constructive forces. It overleaps +national frontiers, and is inspired by the ideals of international +peace, good-will and amity. It looks forward to the time when national +barriers will be let down, and the brotherhood of man will be recognized +the world over. + +Such patriotism is the patriotism of Right Makes Might--not Might Makes +Right. It is the kind of patriotism that prevails only among the free, +democratic, peace-loving peoples of the world who are fighting to-day +for the preservation of free institutions and the rights of humanity. + +The opposite sort of patriotism is the autocratic, militaristic kind +that has furnished the world with an example of savage ferocity and +vindictive cruelty that it will not soon forget. + +In this great struggle, we see Democracy ranged against Autocracy, Right +against Might, True Patriotism against False Patriotism. The Right will +triumph, as it always has, when pitted against the forces of hate, greed +and reaction. + + + + +32. + + +[Sidenote: The Happy Medium.] + +Danger lies in extremes. Too much of anything is bad for the human +being's health. There is a certain comfortable proportion of exercise +and rest which, when mixed together, will give bodily efficiency. Too +much exercise is bad, too little is bad. + +Until recent years, our vocations and the habit of going to or from our +places of business gave us a well-balanced amount of exercise, rest, +work and pleasure, and all went well. + +Lately, we hear much about worry, neurasthenia, nervous prostration and +the like. There are several contributing causes to the mental and +physical ills which are caused by "nerves." + +First of all, we have an epidemic of labor-saving devices. The principal +argument used by the manufacturer of a labor-saving device is, "It makes +money and saves work." Making money and getting soft snaps seem to be +the objectives of most human beings. + +The labor-saving devices take away exercise. The machine does the work. +The artisan simply feeds the hopper, puts in a new roll, or drops in +the material. He sits down and watches the wheels go around, likely +smoking a cigarette in the meanwhile, and more than likely reading the +sporting sheet of a yellow newspaper. + +[Sidenote: Changed Conditions of Work.] + +Possibly few of my readers have given the matter serious thought, and +they will be astounded at the changed conditions of work which have come +into our modern life. It will be interesting to note here some of these +changes. + +Men used to live within walking distance of their work. Now the electric +street railway and the speedy automobile have eliminated the necessity +for much walking. + +Men used to climb stairs. The elevator has now so accustomed us to the +conveniences that stairs are taboo. + +Machines have replaced muscles. The old printer walked from case to case +and got exercise. To-day he sits in an easy backed chair and uses a +linotype. + +Telephoning is quicker than traveling. No one "runs for a doctor." + +Our houses have electric washers, electric irons and many other +labor-saving devices. + +Even the farmer has his telephone, his auto, his riding plow, his +milking machine and his cream separator. + +In the stores, the cash boy has disappeared. The cash carrier takes the +money to a girl who sits in the office, a machine makes the change, and +another machine does her mathematics. + +[Sidenote: Perils of Inactivity.] + +The modern idea of efficiency puts a premium on the sedentary feature of +occupations, and employees are frequently automatons that sit. The +business man sits at his desk, sits in a comfortable automobile as he +goes home, sits at the dinner table and sits all evening at the theater, +or at the card table. It is sit, sit, sit until he gets a big abdomen, a +puffy skin and a bad liver. + +He tries to counteract this with forced exercise in a gymnasium or a +couple of hours golfing a week. Very likely, his golfing is more +interesting because of the side bets than because of the exercise. + +We are losing out on the natural, pleasurable, and practical exercises, +mixed in the right proportions to promote physical poise and health. +Things are too easy, luxury and comfort too teasing, for the ordinary +mortal to resist, and the great mob sits or rides hundreds of times when +they should stand or walk. + +When my objective point is five or six blocks, I walk, and I think on +the way. I probably get in from two to four miles of walking every day, +which my friends would save by riding in the street cars or autos. + +I walk to my office every morning--a distance of nearly four miles. + +I walk alone, so that I may relax and not expend conscious effort as is +the case when I walk with another. + +That morning walk prevents me from reading slush and worthless news, and +relieves me of the necessity of talking and using up nerve energy. + +I get the worth-while news from my paper by the headlines and by trained +ability to separate the wheat from the chaff. + +[Sidenote: Four Great Body-Builders.] + +I just feel fine all the time, and it's because I get to bed early, +sleep plenty, exercise naturally, think properly and get the four great +body-builders in plenty: air, water, sunshine, food; and the other four +great health-builders, which are: good thought, good exercise, good +rest, and good cheer. + +The great crowd aims at ease, and so the business man sits and loses out +on the exercise his body and mind must have. And therefore the great +crowd pays tribute to doctors, sanitariums, rest cures, fake tonics, +worthless medicines, freakish diet fads, and crazy cults, isms, and +discoveries that claim to bring health by the easy, lazy, comfortable +sitting route. + +Believe me, dear reader, it is not in the cards to play the game of +health that way. "There ain't no sich animal" said the ruben as he saw +the giraffe in the circus, and likewise, there "aint no sich thing" as +health and happiness for the man who persistently antagonizes Nature, +and hunts ease where exercise is demanded. + +The law of compensation is inexorable in its demand that you have to pay +for what you get and that you can't get worth-while things by worthless +plans. + +You must exercise enough to balance things, to clear the system, to +preserve your strength; it doesn't take much time. + + + + +33. + + +This afternoon I am sitting on a glacial rock in the forest at the foot +of Mount Shasta. A beautiful spot in which to rest and a glorious page +from the book of nature to read. + +[Sidenote: Back to Nature.] + +A canopy of deepest blue sky above, with sunshine unstopped by clouds. +The rays of old Sol pulsate themselves into an endless variety of +flowers, plants and vegetable life which Mother Earth has given birth +to. Glorious trees of magnificent size reach up into the blue and give +us shade. Ozone sweeps gently through the forest, impregnated with the +perfume of fir, balsam, cedar, pine and flowers. + +In this spot, nature has thrown up mountains of volcanic rock, which +hold the winter's snow in everlasting supply to quench the thirst of +plant, of animal, and of the millions of humans in the lower country. + +The whole hillside around me is a community of springs of crystal water +laden with iron and precious salts. It is the breast of Mother Earth +which nurses her offspring. + +Here are no noises of the street; the newsboy's cry of "extra" is not +heard. The raucous voice of the peddler, the din of trucks, the honk of +automobiles, the clatter of the city--all these are absent. + +There is no noise here--just the sweet music of falling water, and the +aeolian lullaby made by the breeze playing on the pine needles. + +My eyes take in a panorama of beautiful nature in colors and contrasts +that would give stage fright to any artist who tried to paint the scenes +on canvas. + +[Sidenote: Gaining Pep.] + +I am getting pep. This is my treatment for tired nerves; 'tis the +"medcin' of the hills;" 'tis nature's cure, and how it brings the pill +box and the bottle of tonic into contempt! I'm letting down the high +tension voltage and getting the calm, natural pulsation that nature +intended the human machine to have. + +So quiet, so peaceful, so natural is the view that I drink in +inspiration of a worth-while kind. No war news to read, no records of +tragedy, no degrading chronicles of man's passions, of man's meanness +and man's selfishness. + +A little chipmunk sits upright on a rock before me wondering at the +movements of my yellow pencil and the black mark it makes on the paper. + +A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, and a saucy "camp +robber," or mutton bird, wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man +animal brother. A big beetle is getting his provisions for the winter. I +recognize his occupation, for I've read about him in Fabre's wonderful +books on insect life. + +[Sidenote: Nature's Lodge.] + +Here, in the sanctum sanctorum of the forest, I am made a member of +Nature's lodge, and the ants and bugs and beetles and flowers and plants +and trees are initiating me and telling me the secrets of the order. I +can only tell you, who are in the great busy world outside, the lessons +and morals. The real secrets I must not tell; you will receive them when +you, too, come to the hills and forests, and sit down on a rock alone +and go through the initiation. + +You are invited to come in; your application is approved, and you are +eligible to membership. + +Come to Nature's lodge-meeting and clear away the cobwebs from your +weary brain; get inspiration and be a man again. + +Come--soothe and rest and build up those shredded, weakened, tired, +weary nerves. Let the sun put its coat of health on you, and let the +ozone put the red blood of strength in your veins. + +[Sidenote: Rest and Recreate.] + +Come and get perfect brain and body-resting sleep. Come to this +wonderful, happy, helpful lodge and get a store of energy, and an +abundance of vital ammunition with which to make the fight, when you go +back to your factory or office. The doctor can lance the carbuncle, but +Nature's outdoor medicine will prevent your having a carbuncle. + +The doctor can stop a pain with a poison drug, but Nature's outdoor +medicine will prevent your having the disorder which makes the pain. + +No, brother, you can't get health out of a bottle or a pill box. But you +_can_ get it from Mother Nature's laboratory, where she compounds air, +water, sunshine, beauty, music, thought; where she gives you exercise +and rest, health, happiness, all summed up into cashable assets for the +human in the shape of poise, efficiency and peace. + + + + +34. + + +[Sidenote: Mother.] + +Mother, you are the one person in all the world whose kindness was never +the preface to a request. That's the sweetest tribute we can pay you, +and the most truthful one. It covers devotion, love, sentiment, +motherhood, and all the noble attributes that go to make the word +"Mother" the most hallowed, most sacred, most beautiful word in the +English language. + +There are not words or sentences that can express to you what we think +of you or convey our appreciation of you. + +You want our love; you have it. You should be told of our love; we tell +you. Appreciation and gratitude are payments on account, but with all +our appreciation and with our whole life's gratitude, the debt we are +under can never be paid. + + "We have careful words for the stranger, + And smiles for the some-time guest-- + But oft to our own the bitter tone, + Though we love our own the best." + +We've hurt you, Mother, many times, by our thoughtlessness and by the +resentment we felt over your plans and your views about the things we +did, and you have had heartaches because of such actions of ours. + +[Sidenote: The Mother Love.] + +Forgive us, Mother, we're sorry. And there you are, dear; the moment we +ask your forgiveness, your great, tender, loving heart has forgiven us +and erased the marks of transgression. Always thinking of us, always +excusing us, always doing for us, always watching us and always loving +us in the most unselfish way. + +We love you, Mother; we appreciate you. We are going to show our +appreciation and love so much more from now on. We have just come to our +senses and realized what a wonderful, necessary, helpful being you are. + +Your sweetness, your gentleness, your goodness, your love, are parts of +you. They all go to make up that word "Mother." + +Your life, your acts, your example, your Motherhood, have all helped the +world so much more than you will ever know. + +In the everlasting record of good deeds, your name is in gold. + +In the everlasting memory of those who appreciate you, your face, your +life, is a sacred, helpful picture that grows more beautiful as the days +pass. + +In tenderness, in appreciation, in love, let us dedicate these thoughts +and voice these expressions to Mother, who gives her life by inches, and +who would give it all on the instant for her children, if necessity +called for the sacrifice. + +How feeble are words when we try to describe Mother! + + + + +35. + + +This is your inning, Dad. + +[Sidenote: Just Dad.] + +There have been so many beautiful things written about Mother and all +the rest of the family that it is high time we should tell you how much +we love you and how much we appreciate you. + +You've worked so hard; you've been so ambitious to do things for your +loved ones, and they have accepted your sacrifice and work and +watchfulness as matter of fact. + +You've had dreams of a some day when you would relax and play and enjoy, +but you have set that some day too far ahead. You consider yourself only +after all your loved ones are comfortable and happy, and time is +passing, Dad. + +You are too unselfish, too much centered in that some day. Let's change +things a bit, Dad. Sometimes the "some day" doesn't come. + +You are entitled to happiness and pleasure and health and joy right +here, now, to-day. It's your duty to have them. + +Your loved ones do not want you to spend your health in getting wealth. +They don't want to see you worn-out, tired, weary and unhappy, in the +evening of your life. Besides it's your duty to let them share the +responsibility, and work out their own problems. They will be better +equipped for life after you are gone if you let them gain knowledge by +practical experience. + +[Sidenote: Keep Alive the Spirit of Youth.] + +Come on, Dad; get in the group and enjoy things now and you will live +longer, and get more out of life, and give more pleasure to your loved +ones. Get in the game, Dad; let's see the old light and twinkle in your +eyes; let's have the sunshine on your face; the love-light on your lips, +and the happiness in your heart. + +Leave your cares at the office; prepare your mind for play, and you will +feel so much better and stronger and so much more successful in your +business. + +We don't want to hear any more sh-h-h--sh-h-h--or whispers when you come +home. We don't want to feel that uncomfortable feeling of restraint; +let's laugh and sing and love and play--let's make your home-coming a +joyous event. + +We all love you, Dad, but you haven't made it as comfortable as you +might for us when we try to express our love. You've been too tired, +too busy, too much occupied with those business thoughts. + +Don't you see how we love you and how we appreciate you? Don't you know +that there is no one in the world who can take the place of Dad? + +Keep your heart young, Dad; we will help if you only say, "Come on." We +are waiting for the signal. Let's start the new schedule tonight. Come +on, Dad, what do you say? + + + + +36. + + +[Sidenote: What Our Bodies are Composed Of.] + +We speak of the three kingdoms: the animal, the vegetable and the +mineral kingdoms, and every substance is classified into one of these. +The exact truth is there is but one kingdom, which is the mineral. The +vegetable substances and animal combinations are made of mineral +elements. + +In a rough way we distinguish the mineral kingdom as those substances +called elements, such as iron, sulphur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, sodium +and the like. + +These elements are unchangeable in themselves; they do not grow. The +animal is made of mineral elements associated in certain proportions, +such as albumin, carbon, lime, water, salt and the like. The vegetable +kingdom also consists of these various chemical combinations. + +Seed, when planted, extracts the minerals from the air and the earth and +combines them into a plant, which grows and has for its object the +making of seeds to reproduce and perpetuate itself. + +The plant has life, but it has no spiritual or mental equipment, and +therein vegetable life differs from the animal life. The animal eats +vegetable and animal flesh. Through the vegetable he gets the mineral +matter necessary for body-building. He also gets a plentiful supply of +mineral from the flesh he eats, which flesh was first built up through +the vegetables the animal ate. + +These are definite facts. + +The human body may be analyzed and separated into something like a dozen +substances, among which are water, which is three-fourths of the body's +structure, carbon, lime, phosphorus, iron, potassium, salt and so on. + +By reading a book on anatomy you can learn just exactly the proportions +of the substances in the human body. + +All these chemicals are formed in the shape of little cells, myriads of +which are in the body. These cells are constantly being destroyed and +new ones made to take their place. + +Parts of the body are replaced every twenty-four hours; other parts less +often. + +[Sidenote: What Our Bodies Need.] + +Scientists tell us that the whole body is replaced every seven years. +Every move you make destroys cells which nature has to replace. Isn't it +reasonable then to conclude that if a man should fail to eat enough +lime for his body-building, his bones would suffer? If he does not get +enough iron, his blood will suffer, and so on. I am convinced that most +physical ailments are caused by a deficiency of the mineral elements in +the body. + +Phosphorus and potash are necessary to human welfare. These elements are +in the husk of the wheat, and when the husk is taken off in making +flour, the resulting product is mostly starch. The person who lives +mostly on white bread will suffer from lack of phosphorus and potash. + +Nothing could be better for the health of the American people than the +nation-wide food campaigns the government is conducting. The educational +value of these campaigns is enormous. + +Eat less wheat! White bread is unessential. Bran, or whole wheat bread, +is far more healthful and nourishing, and contains more of the elements +the human body needs. + +Eat more fruit. People do not eat enough fruit. Every year thousands of +bushels of peaches and grapes and other fruit go to waste because the +demand is not great enough to ship the entire output to the great +consuming centers. + +Study your body's needs. Health is maintained at its proper level only +so long as you eat carefully and wisely. + + + + +37. + + +The practice of medicine in the past has been directed towards the +curing of disease and physical ailments already developed. The practice +of medicine in the future is to be along preventive lines. Science is +showing us how to prevent infection. Science is fighting the deadly +microbe which comes to us in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and +the food we eat, and the infected things we touch. + +[Sidenote: The "Why" of Disease.] + +Nature has supplied the human body with a home guard of necessary +bacteria, and in the circulation system are phagocytes which fight the +invading microbes and generally destroy them. When the system is +weakened through disease, through lack of exercise, or through improper +food, disease has an easy time. + +I want you to remember this golden prescription. It is composed of the +following: Good Air, Good Water, Good Sunshine, Good Food, Good +Exercise, Good Cheer, Good Rest and Good Thought. If you take this +golden prescription, you will make of yourself a giant in brain and +brawn strength. + +You can't get health out of a bottle. You can't get the system to absorb +iron if you take it in the form of tincture of iron. You can eat a pound +of rust, which is oxide of iron, and none of that iron will be absorbed +in the system. + +[Sidenote: What to Eat.] + +As I have explained in another chapter, you must take the mineral in the +system through the vegetable route. You will get iron that will be +assimilated when you eat beefsteak. Beefsteak has blood; the blood has +iron. You will also get iron when you eat spinach. + +Every element necessary for your body is found in some vegetable or +animal food; therefore, you should refrain from confining yourself to a +very few articles of food. + +[Sidenote: Fads, Cults, Isms.] + +Don't pay any attention to the faddist who gives you a rigorous diet or +unpalatable food. You simply make yourself miserable, and you generate +more worry and unhappiness by your discipline than the good you get from +these freak fads. There are a thousand different fads and cults and +isms, each one claiming to be right. Probably each one contains a small +portion of right. But it is a sure thing that The Right is too big a +thing to be confined within narrow formulae and creeds. + +We all eat too much meat, but that a strict vegetarian diet is the +necessary thing for good health I deny. The sheep, the cow, and horse +are vegetarians, and they are short lived. The eagle, the lion, the man, +eat animal food, and they are long lived. + +I may be prejudiced, but it does seem to me that the strict vegetarians +are a skinny, sallow-looking lot of humans, speaking generally. I do +find that the healthier specimens of vegetarians are those who eat +plenty of eggs and drink plenty of milk, both of which are animal food, +and both of which have nearly all the elements necessary to sustain +life. + +I don't like fads in the matter of eating. The amount a person consumes +should be in exact accord with the body's requirements--neither more nor +less. + +The human body is a machine from a food standpoint. It is an engine that +has work to do, and accordingly the amount of fuel necessary for the +engine should be in proportion to the amount of work that the engine is +called on to perform. + +[Sidenote: Eat Less, Exercise More.] + +The majority of city-dwelling people eat too much. This is especially +true of men in sedentary occupations, and women whose household +duties are light. If your engine needs twenty pounds of steam, +how foolish it is to keep up a hundred pounds pressure! If you had +five-horsepower work to perform, how foolish it would be to install +a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound engine! + +Eat less of everything. Fat and flabbiness and over-feeding is a +national vice with us. The fashionable cafes and restaurants are +thronged with puffy, heavy-jowled men and women, eating and drinking. +Hotels and food-purveyors are constantly inventing new palate-tickling +dishes to tempt your appetite. Orchestras and dramatic troupes are +engaged to entertain and amuse you while you overload your stomach, take +on fat, and lay the foundation for future cases of indigestion or +dyspepsia. + +There is no escaping a day of reckoning for such mistreatment of +yourself. If you would keep yourself fit, it is important that you eat +only what is necessary to maintain yourself at normal weight and +strength. + +You do not often find dyspepsia or indigestion among men or women who +work hard physically. Isn't it reasonable to suppose that this is +because they work hard? + +You who work indoors, with little physical exercise, will find wonderful +benefits if you will cut down the fuel. + +Much of the physical trouble comes from filling up the boiler too much. + +Cut down the food and you will feel better. + + + + +38. + + +Anger and revenge are great pull-backs to health. + +Anger makes the blood rush to the head, weakens the body, and distorts +the vision. + +When a woman gets angry, she quarrels with her lover, her husband or her +children. Any one of these things is a calamity. + +When a man gets angry, he is a wild man. His eyes glitter, his mouth is +cruel, his fists clinch, his body trembles, his blood veins strain, and +he does more harm to his system in five minutes of anger than nature can +repair in a day. + +[Sidenote: Anger and Poise.] + +Anger makes weak stomachs, dizzy heads, poor judgment, lost friends, +despair and sickness, and if the habit becomes confirmed, will likely +lead to apoplexy. When two men have differences, watch the cool man +finish victor; the angry man always loses. Keep your head; let the other +fellow fret and fume. + +He will tie himself up in a knot, and when the gong is rung, he will be +the loser. + +Serenity is one of God's blessings. Fortunate is the man who can hold +his serenity. + +When you get a letter that stirs you to anger, don't answer that letter +for forty-eight hours, then write a moderately vitriolic letter--and +then tear it up. + +[Sidenote: The Futility of Revenge.] + +I know you are tempted and goaded, and your limit of endurance is +sometimes reached. But I know that revenge is sweet only in +anticipation. I know that revenge by anger and by the cruel "eye for an +eye" measure is never, never sweet. + +I have been the victim of imposition, ingratitude and insincerity, and +advantage has been taken of me because I kept my poise and serenity. + +I have been called easy, and soft, and friends have shown me where I was +imposed upon, but I was stooping to conquer. I kept my reserve, my +resistance, and my power ready until time, place, and preparedness let +me spring my coup, and then I cashed in beautifully in principal and +interest for those acts and hurts. + +I have power now in my hands to make others suffer keenly and deeply for +wrongs they have done me. Yet I do not exercise that power to revenge. + +I have been misjudged and misunderstood, because cowardly persons have +lied and villified me, and have accused me of motives and acts of which +I was innocent. + +I am well hated now by one person in particular, who blames me for +things another is guilty of. A word from me would clear myself, but it +would bring gloom and despair to that person and would not make me any +more cognizant of my innocence. + +[Sidenote: Time, the Arbiter.] + +Time somehow will bring out the truth; the cowardly, guilty individual +who basks in the favor of the one who is angry at me will surely pay for +his wrong. This I know, and I am satisfied with the ultimate result. + +My former friend, who is angry at me, would simply switch the anger +current to the guilty one if I told the facts; the guilty person +couldn't stand that anger like I can. My act would break up a home and +bring misery. The satisfaction I would receive would not equal the +sorrow my act would cause to others. + +I am far removed from the location where these people live, and I can +stand the anger of the one who puts the blame on me by accepting the +lies of another as truth. + +I have the documents in black and white, yet I don't use them because I +have poise and the consciousness of knowing I am right, and those who +are dear to me know it, too. + +I've tried both plans, the plan of anger and the plan of poise, and I +like poise better. + +I believe I hear more birds, I believe I get more pleasure out of life +and living than the man who gets angry and loves revenge. + +Anyway, I think so, and "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." + + + + +39. + + +Sleeping, like breathing and digesting, is controlled by the +subconscious brain centers. Natural sleep requires no positive mental +impulse; it's just relaxing, and nature takes care of the process. + +[Sidenote: Can't Sleep.] + +That is natural sleep, but when you start your dry cell battery, the +brain, and commence to worry and fear, you are going to stay awake. Then +the conscious mind dominates the subconscious mind, and you banish the +very comforter you seek to woo. + +Business men who work under high tension all day on business matters, +and high tension all evening in threshing over again the business of the +day, are almost sure to suffer from insomnia. + +The continuance of this habit of thinking of business day and night +brings on the insomnia habit and that, in turn, gives rise to the +delusion that you are fighting for your natural sleep. This produces +worry, the demon that kills and maims. + +To have an occasional wakeful night is natural; it is an evidence of +intelligence: the mental dullard never has wakeful nights. + +Unless the fear of sleeplessness becomes a full grown phobia, no anxiety +need be felt. The fear of insomnia, the over-anxiety to go to sleep, is +to be more dreaded than insomnia itself. + +[Sidenote: To Get Results.] + +To get refreshing sleep you must put yourself in a state of actual +physical tiredness. Take exercise. Walk in one direction until the first +symptoms of becoming tired appear, then walk home. Take a hot bath, then +sponge with cold or cool water. Put a cold cloth at the head, and rub +the backbone with cold water. + +Open your windows wide, then relax. Don't worry; you are going to sleep. + +Lie on your back, open your eyes wide, look up as if you were trying to +see your eyebrows, hold your eyes open this way ten to twenty seconds, +then close them slowly. Repeat this several times. + +Sleep will have descended on you before you realize it. + +Or occupy your mind with auto-suggestions like this: "I am going to +sleep--sound, heavy, restful, peaceful sleep. My eyelids are getting +heavy--heavy. I am going to close them and go to sleep." + +Don't try to count imaginary sheep jumping over fence rails. Don't +count numbers. It is a bad habit. + +If these suggestions do not help you the first night, say: "All right, +my brain was too active; to-morrow I will let down a bit." + +Next night eat one or two dry crackers; chew them slowly, masticate them +thoroughly until you can swallow easily. + +This little food will draw the blood pressure from the brain and help +you to go to sleep. + +Drive out business and worry thoughts. Think faith and courage +thoughts. + + + + +40. + + +To live down the past and erase the errors, live the present boldly. + +Do not chastise or condemn yourself for mistakes you have made. You are +not alone; everyone has made missteps--has hurt others or wronged +himself. + +[Sidenote: Making Mistakes.] + +Everyone has had reverses and met trouble and misfortune. It's the plan +of things. It is by undergoing trials like these that we gain in +experience and wisdom. We are enabled to correct our future acts by +utilizing the lessons which our mistakes have taught us. + +Yesterday is dead; forget it. Face about. Live to-day; be busy, be +active, be intent on doing right and accomplishing things worth while. + +The world's memory is short. A misdeed, an error, a wrongful act on your +part may set busy tongues wagging to-day, and you may suffer from +calumny and criticism. Of course, your errors will be magnified and your +wrongs enlarged beyond the truth; that's the penalty you pay for your +transgressions. + +Lies are always added to truth in telling of one's misdeeds. Be brave. +Weather the storm; it will soon blow over. To-morrow the world will +forget. + +You've suffered in your own conscience; that's all the debt you can pay +on the old score. + +[Sidenote: Worrying Won't Help.] + +Now, then, get busy with the glorious opportunity that today presents. +Don't make the same mistake again. There are no eyes in the back of your +head; look forward. Don't worry by envying the other fellow and +comparing his good deeds with your mistakes; you only see his good. He +has had troubles and made mistakes, too, but you and the world have +forgotten them. + +If every man's sins were printed on his forehead, the crowds that pass +by would all wear their hats over their eyes. + +I'm trying to comfort you, and slap you on the back, and tell you that +you are just human, and all humans make false steps. + +The patriarchs in the Bible made mistakes, but they got in the fold. +History has perpetuated their names. Their lives, on the whole, were +worth while. It's the sum total of acts that count. + + + + +41. + + +[Sidenote: To-day and To-morrow.] + +One man says the present is everything, that eternity is nothing. The +other man says eternity is everything, that the present is nothing. I +believe the real truth is that both are man's chief concern, and neither +view comprehends all truth. In this matter, the general rule I have so +often pointed out will harmoniously apply. That rule is: Avoid extremes. + +Those who believe that the Now, the Present, is the all-important thing +in man's life have the fashionable or favorite point of view. + +Man has much definite information about the present, he knows much about +life. He is in the midst of life--it pulsates all around him and in him. + +We know positively that the law of compensation is inexorable in its +demand for right and positive in its punishment of wrong. + +We know that on this earth kindness, love, occupation, help, truth, +honor and sympathy are investments which bring happiness to-day. You +get your pay instantly when you have done a helpful act, and you get +your punishment instantly when you have done a hurtful act. + +[Sidenote: The Hereafter.] + +That there is a future most of us agree, because good sense and logic +point to that sane and reasonable conclusion. So be it. With a belief in +the future estate, it is reasonable to assume that our acts and lives in +the present will have influence on our future estate. + +We know positively of to-day; we know the happiness we can get from good +deeds done to-day. We come to this knowledge by experience. + +If we will have power in the future to look back on to-day's acts, well +and good if to-day's acts are worth while. + +The other view, that Eternity is everything and the present is nothing, +is the antiquated view, the narrow view--the, I might say, illiterate +view. + +That view warps the present life; it calls for present +self-chastisement, present gloom, present sorrow and present misery. + +It takes the tangible definite to-day, calls it nothing, and accepts the +intangible unknown eternity as everything. + +[Sidenote: A Cheerless Philosophy.] + +It trades the definite for the indefinite. It calls life a bubble, a +vapor, a shadow. In fact, it throws a pall over to-day's sunshine, and +regards our earthly life as a sort of purgatory--a dismal unhappy +punishment ante-chamber where man exists and waits, peeping out of his +cell windows for a little imagined view of eternity. + +He waits and endures the unpleasant interval, steeled against the +definite pleasures of to-day, his whole outlook colored by a fanatical +and intoxicated belief in the expected happiness of the undefined +future. + +He refuses to think of the definite life of to-day that we all know, and +spoils the thought of those who do. + +He is a blockade to progress, a disagreeable part of life's picture. + +He gets no happiness in the to-day which is in his hands; he loses his +opportunity to be of service here, and lives in the hope of a vague and +nebulous future state which has no connection with the realities of +every-day life. + +Both theories as ultimate beliefs are wrong, yet each has some truth in +its conclusion. + +By taking the words "Eternity" and "Present" and saying that both mean +everything, we avoid extremes and form a truth that is rational, and +harmonious to good reason. + +The man who says that the present is all, does so because he is an +utilitarian. He reasons from the definite and the seeable, and refuses +to believe in the abstract. Anything that is outside the sphere of his +vision and action is of little concern to him. + +The man who says eternity is all, wastes a golden opportunity and warps +himself into a miserable hermit. + +Life is irrevocable. Every act in our life is placed, set, and fixed. + +Every act goes in the record book of yesterday, and it cannot be +changed. + +Acts that hurt others will rebound and hurt us. Deeds that help others +will rebound and help us. This much is certain. + +There is a future, I believe that. There is a God, I believe that. + +Just what the future is, and just what God is, I do not know in perfect +detail. + +Reward for good and punishment for evil is part of God's plan, and I am +conscious of this truth. + +I know that justice prevails in this life, and this life is what I am +living now. + +[Sidenote: The Good That Lies at Hand.] + +If I live and act to-day in accordance with what I sincerely believe is +in tune with God's purpose, I shall, in my future estate, benefit by +those acts. If I live and act to-day in disregard of all around me, +selfishly catering to my personal desires and believing that eternity is +everything and the present nothing, I am neglecting the opportunity to +do good now in the hope of a future personal reward, the very nature of +which is unknowable. I shall therefore strive to do, and to be, +right--to be kind, helpful, cheery and smiling now, for the reward such +acts bring now. + +And I shall doubtless have as good a record and passport to the future +as the man who suffers now and lives only upon his selfish hope of the +future. + +His is the faith of fear, mine the faith of reason in the all-wise, +all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing Ruler of the universe, who gave me +my life, my brain, my reason, which I am trying to use, as well as my +limitations will permit, in helping myself and helping others to smile, +to be happy, to be serene, to be confident, to be competent, to be +useful. + +Everything lives and dies in accordance with the plan of the Creator of +the Universe, and you are an atom and I am an atom in that Universe, +which is governed by a power too big and too great for us to +comprehend. + +Verily we presume when we say: "We have all the truth; think as we do or +you are lost." + +The old world has not told its full story. The Universe of which this +world is a part is still a deep, unfathomable mystery. + +We shall not know all truth until the great revealing time. + +[Sidenote: The Use of To-day.] + +We cannot change the pages of the millions of years gone by. We can do +every little to change the pages of the millions of years to come. What +little we can do, we can only do TO-DAY. To-day is yours and mine; let's +do the best we can with our possession in act and thought and word. + +The sun goes down behind the sky-line on the West as it has done for +millions of years. I lay aside my pen with a bigger view, a deeper +appreciation of the Creator, and a profounder faith in His wisdom and +works than ever. + +God made. God rules. God plans. And verily, we are weaklings and foolish +who presume by selfish prayer to suggest to Him what He shall do. + +Let us strive to be appreciative of Him; let us try to lift ourselves to +the sublime plane of realizing that we are part of Him and His plan, and +that failure is impossible to us, if we keep up and on, doing good, +speaking softly, dealing gently, showing kindness to-day, and living in +accordance with the big, broad, generous, charitable plan instead of in +the little, bigoted, narrow, selfish, conceited idea that we are sole +possessors of truth and that the man who differs with us in belief is in +error. + +This chapter is about big things, and in it is a big moral for all who +are big enough to grasp it. + + + + +42. + + +"I believe in him because he is so sincere." + +[Sidenote: Sincerity and Truth.] + +You've heard that, haven't you? I never could understand how a sensible +person could use such logic. Sincerity is no evidence of truth. The +Hindu mother is sincere when she throws her babe to the crocodiles, but +her sincerity is no proof that by this sacrifice she is sure of her +salvation. + +The Christian Scientist is sincere in the belief that medicines do not +cure diseases. The doctor is equally sincere in his belief that +medicines do cure disease. + +The Theosophist is sincere, the Atheist, the Agnostic, the Christian, +the Pagan, the Mohammedan, the Buddhist, the Sunworshipper, the +Republican, the Democrat, the Progressive, the Prohibitionist, the +Brewer, all these are sincere in their beliefs. And as these beliefs are +different, it is common sense to say that no one creed, sect, belief, +branch, dogma or system includes or embodies all truth. + +[Sidenote: No Monopoly on Truth.] + +It is true that every channel or avenue we meet in life's travel has +some truth, but it is not for you or me to assume that we are the sole +possessors of wisdom and the real discoverers of all truth. We must not +take the conclusions we arrive at and expect to force the world to +accept without protest our rules for conduct, our methods for living, +our practices for morals, or our beliefs for their guidance. + +Converts to new doctrines, new issues, new cults, and to the old ones, +too, are made largely because the ambassadors or proselyters seem so +fervid and sincere in expounding what they claim is the definite truth. + +The believers in a cult or code of ethics are auto-hypnotized; their +visions are narrowed. + +By focusing their thought on their special belief, they bring together +sophistry, argument, example and so-called proof that gives them +facility in arguing the case or expounding their doctrine. + +[Sidenote: Christian Science.] + +You can make no gain in trying to argue with a Christian Scientist. You +ask for concrete rules, definite answers and proofs other than their +flat statements, and you are told you have not the understanding--you do +not view the subject from the right plane, and that the truth cannot be +shown you. You are told to have faith and belief, to eliminate +antagonism, and to study "Science and Health," and you will receive the +divine spirit and see the light. + +The Scientist is sincere; he shows you "Science and Health" with a lot +of testimonials in the back to prove that Christian Science cures +disease. Every patent medicine, every science, every system of healing +has testimonials by the hundreds. + +Scientists say there is no disease, no material--that we are only spirit +or soul or thought--that we are not matter but mind. Health, they tell +us, is truth and disease is error. They deny disease, yet "Science and +Health" and the midweek experience meetings have testimonials of disease +cured by Christian Science. + +There is much truth in Christian Science. People are helped by it; +people are sincere in their belief in it, but that Christian Science is +all truth, all-powerful, all-right, all-sufficient, cannot be proven. + +What about the people who have gone hence before Christian Science was +ever heard of? + +The theological religion of to-day differs radically in practice and +belief from what it was fifty years ago. + +If the Protestant religion be all truth, what became of our religious +ancestors who died before Martin Luther found the truth? + +[Sidenote: The Spirit of Tolerance.] + +I have no quarrel with the Christian Scientist, the Protestant, the +Roman Catholic, the Buddhist or the Mohammedan. I must be generous and +broad enough to admit that others have the right to think and be +sincere. All sciences have truth, but no science, sect, cult, dogma or +creed is ALL truth. + +Sincerity is evidence of honest conviction, but that your sincerity in +your belief must be accepted by me as proof that I should believe as you +do, is, I believe, the place where I have the undoubted right to say: "I +reserve the right to my own conclusions, and I would be unjust to myself +if I should force myself to accept your viewpoint without fully +satisfying myself that you were right." + +So, because a person is sincere in a conviction that is contrary to your +conscientious belief, do not be disturbed. There is no need to swerve +from your own common sense analysis of the matter, or be convinced +against your better judgment. + +No one possesses all the truth. It is for you and me to do our plain +duty as we see it--to do the best we can each day in act and thought and +word. + +We can pretty much agree on the simple essential truths which are +proven. That is--being honest, truthful, kind, lovable, sympathetic, +cheerful; doing good, helping one another, and doing things worth while. + +[Sidenote: Unprofitable Speculation.] + +If we agree on these things, and do useful work, and think helpful +thoughts, we are doing our duty. Theories, arguments and studying too +deeply on bootless systems, codes, beliefs, cults, isms and doctrines, +is a waste of time. When we can, here and now, derive definite benefits +from doing the simple and helpful things, and acting and thinking the +simple, practical cheer thoughts, it is neither necessary nor helpful +for us to waste time on spiritualism or theoretical beliefs that cannot +be proven to our own satisfaction. + +We are asked to believe these strange, impractical, unnatural beliefs +because of the sincerity of others. It's better to believe and to credit +the things we can ourselves measure, understand and sincerely adopt. + +There are hundreds of strange beliefs and spiritual systems, each +claiming to be all-powerful, all-right. If any one is all truth, then +all the others are all wrong. + +The bigot who assumes he is the sole possessor of truth--the cult, +sect, ism, or science that claims to possess all truth and presumes to +lay down the exact rules for the world to obey--should be classed with +those misguided religions and institutions of the dark past which burned +human beings who dared to doubt their claim to the possession of all +truth and knowledge. + +God never gave his approval to any one man-made religious sect. + +God is the universal good power. Man often tries to dwarf God's idea to +the narrow dimensions of his own small soul. + + + + +43. + + +[Sidenote: Whiskey and Fake Medicines.] + +Whiskey must go. It is written on the pages of the record book of man's +progress. Likewise must the quack doctor and the fake medicine go. They +have had their day. The quack doctor has already breathed his last in +many parts of the country. The fake medicine schemes are still with us, +but they are becoming increasingly difficult to put over. That they are +doomed to extinction, there can be no doubt. + +The side-whiskered advertising doctor who magnifies symptoms and +proclaims them to be grave forerunners of awful, debilitating disease, +is nothing short of a criminal. He is one of the worst of criminals, +because he imposes upon the credulity of the ignorant, excites their +fear by means of sensational scarehead advertising, and then when he has +finally lured them into his spider-web, fleeces them unmercifully. These +charlatans are really more contemptible than any thief, for the thief +does not pretend to be anything else but what he is, while the quack +doctor swindles and exploits you under the guise of being your +benefactor. + +As I have repeatedly explained, illness, feeling "out of sorts," local +pains and sickness, unless of the contagious or infectious kind, are +largely conditions of the mind. + +Most of the temporary ailments are caused by constipation, wrong diet or +lack of exercise. The doctor gives a laxative, nature re-asserts +herself, and the patient is cured. + +Chronic ailments require long treatments--making long bills and many +visits for the quack doctor. + +[Sidenote: Your Family Physician.] + +Your health and happiness are things largely in your own control. +However, when you feel you must have a doctor, go to your family +physician and not to a strange doctor who advertises. His advertisement +is merely a spiderweb to catch and hold you while he robs you. + +It is a hopeful sign of the brighter future toward which man is +progressing, that the respectable papers will not lend their aid to +swindling doctors. The best papers will not carry these quack doctor or +fake medicine ads. + +Before long the government will pass laws abolishing this baneful, +shameful, quack advertising. Quack doctoring, gambling, liquor +selling--these are all swindling methods to get money, and in the +getting, the ghouls and parasites who practise these "professions" are +killing men, ruining homes, destroying happiness, holding back progress. + +The one object of the quack doctor is to size you up and see what you +"are good for." "Good for" means how much money can he get from you, and +how long can he keep you as a patient to contribute to his coffers. + +Let every reader of this book enroll as an opponent to quack doctors and +quack medicines, and by word and influence help to hasten the day when +such pernicious swindlers and swindling schemes are things of the past. + + + + +44. + + +No two minds can see the same picture in the same way, nor can two +persons, armed and equipped with logic, come to the same definite +conclusions on religion. + +The old Scripture said: "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." +The new Scripture teaches us to "turn the other cheek" and "love our +enemies." + +[Sidenote: Religion, Old and New.] + +Two hundred years ago witchcraft was practised and miserable human +beings were burned at the stake. Thirty years ago the preacher who took +exception to the universal belief of a hell of fire and brimstone was +thrown out of the church. To-day no preacher believes in such a hell. + +Present day religion is really a Sunday religion. One and a half hours a +week the members of the church join in singing, "We shall know each +other there." The remainder of the week they make it a point to keep +from knowing each other here. + +[Sidenote: Sectarianism.] + +The Protestant church divides itself into numerous sects, each one +built on some particular ordinance or practice. Each one, in matters of +doctrine, will swallow a camel but will strain at a gnat. One sect +insists that baptism shall be by immersion because the disciples +baptized that way. They believe in following custom literally, yet in +the cities they immerse the members in a big tub under the pulpit, which +practice is entirely different from the method employed by John the +Baptist. + +Another sect insists upon having a communion every Sunday because the +Bible says, "As often as you do this," etc. To be literal in the matter +of communion, the Lord's Supper should be served at night, as the +original was, and it should be supper and not a few pieces of broken +crackers. + +The sect that insists on following the Scriptures in the matter of +baptism by immersion fails to follow the Scriptures in the matter of +washing the feet or anointing the head. + +Many years ago, churches considered it a sacrilege to use an organ. +To-day they have orchestras and hire operatic singers. + +So it seems that the church is broadening out. Thinking men refuse to +believe that religion should any longer be a matter of self-chastisement +and worry, sobs and misery. Because so much of this sort of teaching is +prevalent, the church is not making the gains it should. The church is +largely supported by nice little women--many of them maiden ladies who +have little to do and know little of the great problems of the busy +world. + +[Sidenote: A Live Religion.] + +I am thoroughly convinced that the church must recognize that a great +evolution is taking place--that we must be more charitable, more broad +in our views, less technical in our tenets and more practical in our +work. We will have to cut down the fences between the sects and get +together in the great field for a common cause, rather than try to +maintain little independent vineyards. + +Religion must teach smiles and joy, courage and brotherly love, instead +of frowns, dejection, fear and worry. + +It must teach us how to be and how to get good out of our to-day on +earth. If we are good and do good here, we certainly need have no fear +for our future prospects. + +[Sidenote: The Universal Church.] + +Day by day we are progressing from narrowness, bigotry, selfishness and +envy, to broadness, reason, brotherly love and contentment, and we shall +progress from the narrow confines of obstinate orthodoxy or +bulldogmatics, by breaking down sect and cult barriers until we are +joined together in a universal church in which all can put their hearts +and beliefs--in which all can find full range for their spiritual belief +and expression. That big, broad, right church will be in harmony with +God's purpose. + +The Creator made all men, and He doesn't confine His love or His +interest to any one little man-made, narrow sect or creed. + +"God is love." "Love thy neighbor." "Help the weak; cheer the grief +stricken." Those are the commands and purposes we find everywhere in the +Scriptures. + +"He that believeth in me shall be saved." That's a definite promise, and +it is not qualified by a lot of creed paragraphs and beliefs. That +promise doesn't have any "buts" or "ifs." It doesn't say we shall be +saved if we be Methodists or Catholics, Baptists or Presbyterians. Those +names are man-made, and the creeds of those churches are man-made, too. + +At the congress of religions in the World's Fair at Chicago, over three +hundred religions and sects were represented by delegates from all over +the world, and every one of these delegates, with hearty accord, sang, +"Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow" and "Rock of Ages." Those +hymns were universal; they fitted all creeds and sects. + +Big men in the church are intensely interested in the get-together +universal church, and each year will mark a definite progress toward +amalgamation of sects and divisions. + +There should be no Methodist Church North and Methodist Church South. + +There should not be churches like the Congregational and Presbyterian, +whose creeds are identical, the difference being only in the officers. + +The country village of 1,000 population has five churches; it should +have only one. The country is full of half-starved preachers and weak, +struggling congregations. + +The get-together movement will help religion, and it's going to happen +surely. + + + + +45. + + +Every year the business man goes over his stock, tools, fixtures, and +accounts, and prepares a statement of assets and liabilities so as to +get a fairly accurate understanding of his profit and loss. + +If he didn't take this inventory, his net worth would be a matter of +guess work. + +This inventory, which deals with money, materials, etc., and things +which are mixed more or less with the human element, is affected by +conditions of trade, crops, competition, supply and demand. + +The business man takes all these conditions into consideration in +preparing for the coming year. He red flags the mistakes and green flags +the good plans. + +[Sidenote: Self Inventory. Listing the Liabilities.] + +The business man should carry the inventory further. Every month or so +he should take a careful inventory of himself, putting down his assets +of health, initiative, patience, ability to work, smiles, honesty, +sincerity, and the like. So also he should put down on the debit side +in the list of liabilities the pull-backs, hindrances and other +business-killers. These items are untruth, unfairness, sharp practice, +grouchiness, impatience, worry, ill-health, gloom, meanness, broken +word, unfilled promises and the like. + +In making up the inventory, pay particular attention to your habits: +smoking, drinking, over-eating, useless display, useless social +functions, and other useless things that pull on your nerves and your +pocket book. + +Then check up department A, which is your family. How have you dealt +with your family and children? + +Department B is friends. How do you stand in your treatment of them? + +Department C includes all other persons. Did you lie to, steal from, +cheat or defraud any one? How much cash profit did you make? How much +less a man did the act make you? + +Go over your self-respect account. Does it show profit or loss? + +Check up your employees' account. What has your stewardship shown? Have +you drawn the employees closer, or have you driven them further from +you? + +Analyze your spiritual account. Is your religious belief a sham or a +conviction? Do you sing on Sunday, "We shall know each other there," or +do you make it a point to know and love your brother here, seven days a +week? + +[Sidenote: Balancing the Statement.] + +Be fair in your inventory. Write down the facts in the two columns +designated "good" and "bad," then go over the list and put a red danger +flag on the bad. Keep the list until next inventory and see whether you +have made a gain or loss in your net moral standing. + +Don't read this and say, "A good idea." Do the thing literally. + +Take a clean sheet of paper and write your personal assets and +liabilities down in the two columns marked "good" and "bad." + +If this inventory doesn't help, then you may call me a false prophet. + +I know the plan is a good one. I know it will help you. If it helps you, +you will thank me. There can be no harm in trying, because it's a +worth-while thing to test. + +The business man who never takes inventory is likely to bump some day. + + + + +46. + + +The ego is in us. It is a good thing to have, but egotism needs the soft +pedal when we speak or do things. + +Many people are unconscious of their egotism, yet their conversation +carries the suggestion, "Even I, who am superior to the herd, would do +this or that." + +[Sidenote: The Personal Pronoun.] + +For instance, two persons were arguing about the merits of an +inexpensive automobile. Parenthetically, I may say that one belonged to +the Ford class, and the other to the can't-afford class. A can't-afford +snob came to the rescue of the Ford champion by saying, "That's a good +car; why, I wouldn't mind owning one of them myself," and he beamed at +the party with the consciousness of having settled the matter and +removed the stigma from the Ford car. + +This egotism often crops out when one shows a group picture in which he +appears. He doesn't wait for you to find him; he pokes his arm over your +shoulder and says, "That's me." + +To each of us, in the very nature of things, the "I" is the center of +our world. We see things always through our I's. + +If we wish to get along without friction, we must remember that the +other fellow has his I's also, and when we try to make him see things +through out I's, it makes trouble. + +[Sidenote: Good Breeding.] + +The hall mark of education, refinement and character, in the broad +sense, is the ability to exclude the personal so far as possible from +our conversation. And be big enough to grant to others their undoubted +right to see and think from their own standpoint. + +Argument develops egotism more than almost anything else will. + +How often have you convinced another in an argument? + +How often have you been convinced in an argument? + +The world is big; there are millions of others in it, and our job is a +big one if we 'tend pretty well to our own knittin'. + + + + +47. + + +Four hundred and twenty-six years ago Christopher Columbus landed on an +island which he thought was India. + +Chris was mighty happy as he put his foot on good old Mother Earth, not +so much because he had discovered a new way to India, as he thought, but +because his foot touched land. + +Two days before he landed on San Salvador, his crew pitched into him and +threatened to throw him in the sea and turn back with the ship to Spain. + +[Sidenote: The Last Step Counts.] + +If Chris had shown the white feather, 1492 would not be the date of the +first line in the geography, announcing the "Discovery of America." +Chris had perseverance--the stuff that makes men successful. He started +to find India by sailing westward. He didn't succeed in his purpose, but +his determination was rewarded just the same, for he found a new +country, and that was worth while. + +Before he started, he was promised ten per cent of the revenue from any +lands he might discover. Just imagine what that would mean to-day. + +Columbus had perseverance and pep, and his unwavering fidelity to his +cause brought him success in his efforts. + +The world has improved since 1492, but the percentage of men who would +keep everlastingly at it like Columbus did, has not increased, perhaps. + +Columbus sailed with three ships, the largest sixty-six feet long. He +steered in the direction of the setting sun. His crew was 120 men. None +of them were enthusiastic at the start; all of them disgusted, +discouraged and ready to mutiny toward the last. + +[Sidenote: Keeping Everlastingly at It.] + +But Christopher kept the ships pointed West, through rain and shine, +through drifting, breezeless days and through wild stormy nights. He +kept on and on and on, and he brought home the bacon, which, being +interpreted, means that success crowned his efforts. + +Perseverance and pep--when all is said and done, these are the factors +without which no great achievement is possible. + +It was the mileage made on October 12th, 1492, that counted. + +It is the last step in a race that counts. + +It is the last stroke on the nail that counts. + +The moral is that many a prize has been lost just when it was ready to +be plucked. + +Perseverance--patience--pluck--pep--these are magic words. They are the +"Open Sesame" of modern life. They open the door to opportunity, and +will bring you prosperity, peace and plenty. + + + + +48. + + +The man who ridicules everything is on the toboggan slide, and he will +end up by becoming an out-and-out grouch. + +You and I know men who never have a pleasant word to say of anyone, or a +serious commendation of anything. + +[Sidenote: Ridicule and Humor.] + +Ridicule and sarcasm are often coated with would-be humor, and are +sometimes decked out as puns. By and by, however, this bias toward +ridicule and sarcasm gets to be a habit, and the coat of humor becomes +threadbare. + +Just at this time friends depart, for the grouch phase of the disease +has started. + +Sarcasm and ridicule are powerful weapons when used adroitly and for +good purposes. But when sarcasm and ridicule are used constantly as a +means to generate fun, or as vehicles for humor, then the evil +commences. The fun disappears; the sting remains. + +People will listen to you for awhile if you good-naturedly ridicule a +thing, but when you are known to have the habit, that is when friends +give you the go-by. + +Sarcasm and ridicule wound deeply; they are hot pokers jabbed in +quivering flesh. + +[Sidenote: A Dangerous Weapon.] + +Don't juggle with ridicule or sarcasm, for people look beneath the +veneer nowadays. They remember and repeat the axiom, "There's many a +true word spoken in jest." There are so many beautiful things to say, so +many kind expressions to utter, so many helpful hints to give, that we +should be ashamed to say or do things even jokingly that may hurt +another. + +When you ridicule a thing or a person, you may ridicule the tender heart +of one you should cheer and help. + +Ridicule is the negative approach to a subject anyway; the only good it +can accomplish is by reflex action or rebound force. + +Ridicule is mistakenly conceived, by many, as humor. It is used because +it can so easily be employed, in a seemingly clever way, to create a +laugh. + +Humor of the clean sort is a rare gift. Humor may easily descend to low +comedy through the use of ridicule, and often the audience does not +differentiate between low comedy and rare humor. + +The masses will laugh when the comedian on the stage hits his friend +with a club; that sort of fun-making satisfies adults who have +children's brains, and people of similar brain-construction will also +laugh at jokes which ride on ridicule. But you who read these lines are +worthy of better things; that's why you are reading this book. If, in my +audience, there are those who have the ridicule habit, I want to arouse +you to a better sense of humor than is possible through the employment +of ridicule and sarcasm. + +I don't want you to descend to the level of the grouch. The slide-down +is so easy; the climbing back is so very hard. + +Ridicule and sarcasm are cheap, slap-stick methods to produce fun. They +leave a sting many times when you are not aware of it. + +[Sidenote: When You Can Go the Limit.] + +When fighting whiskey, sin, corruption or organized evil, then use +burning ridicule and caustic sarcasm to sizzle and destroy the things +that need to be destroyed. Next time you find yourself using ridicule or +sarcasm to provoke mirth, remember you are toying with a habit-forming +practice that is likely to get the best of you unless you stop and stop +now. + + + + +49. + + +[Sidenote: Your Wife and Partner.] + +A wife is either a partner or an employee. If a partner, she has a +right to the fifty-fifty split on profits; if an employee, she is +entitled to her wages. A thrifty husband is commendable, but a +show-me-what-you-did-with-that-money husband should be punished by +being sentenced to attend pink teas, afternoon receptions, and to +match samples at the dry goods store. + +Married folks must be on a partnership basis, or there's sand in the +gear box. + +Give the wife the check-book; let her pay the bills. Play fair with her; +show her what your income is; give her all you can afford and what +economic and wise administration warrants. She'll cut the cloth to fit +the garment. + +When the husband questions every turn, every move, and doles out every +cent, the wife feels like a prisoner or a slave. Wives will do good team +work when they are broken to double harness with their husbands. + +Women are generally raised without being required to economize. They +have probably been petted and humored, and are used to preening and +smoothing their plumage and looking pretty. + +[Sidenote: Fine Feathers.] + +It's the female instinct in the human. In the animal world, the male has +the plumage and does the strutting and fascinating; but in the human +animal, the female is the bird with the bright plumage. + +You can't expect her to know much about the economic side of the home +the moment you slip the ring on her finger. + +But she'll shop better than her husband if he takes an interest in her +shopping and encourages her in the economical administration of the +household budget. + +She wants a word of appreciation once in a while. She chills under the +surveillance and parsimony of an eagle-eyed, meddlesome husband. + +She's a sweet bird, and sweet birds and hawks don't nest well together. + +Where the hawk and the dove are in the same cage, the feathers will fly. + +As I came through the park this morning, I saw a pair of robins who had +the right idea. They shared home responsibilities and did fine team +work. I think they were mighty happy, too; daddy red breast looked +mighty proud as he hustled worms for the family breakfast. + +Mama Robin looked down with loving eyes at her hubby, and the little +baby robins sang a chorus of joy at the very privilege of living in such +a home. + +Worry will fly out of the window the moment the husband and wife lay +their cards on the table and play the open hand. The moment one or the +other keeps a few cards up their sleeve, then worry and trouble come +back. + +The moral of this is, husbands and wives: live together, get together, +stay together, play together, save together, grow together, share +together. Travel the same road; don't take different paths. + + + + +50. + + +To-night I am in the Ozarks, and old Mother Earth is passing through the +belt of meteoric dust--that great mysterious sea in the universe through +which we pass every year about the middle of November. + +[Sidenote: The Stars.] + +I look out into the night and marvel at the countless stars in the +infinite black void, and wonder how closely those stars may be connected +with humanity. That they are connected, I have no doubt, for truly, "the +sun, the moon, the stars, and endless space as well, are parts, are +things, like me, that cometh from and runneth by one grand power of +which I am in truth a part, an atom though I be." + +How many stars are there? Well, let's get ready to appreciate number. I +can see about 3,000; with opera glasses I could see 30,000. + +Franklin Adams some years ago photographed the whole canopy with 206 +exposures. He counted the stars by mathematical plans, and published his +finding that there were 1,600,000,000 stars. That number is just about +the number of humans on this earth. So, then, there is one star for each +of us. + +[Sidenote: Finite and Infinite.] + +Each of those stars, practically speaking, is larger than the earth. It +is thought that many of them may have human beings who think and reason +like we do. Multiply the 1,600,000,000 population on this earth by any +portion of the 1,600,000,000 stars that may have thinking creatures on +them; multiply that total by the millions of years and millions of +generations that have passed out of existence. + +Think of these numbers and limitless boundaries, and then tell me, if +you can, that one little man on one little star we call Earth has a +strangle-hold on truth, and that his viewpoint, his ism, his little +dogma, his narrow creed, is all-sufficient, all-right, all-inclusive. + +Verily, little protoplasm, you have another guess. We can, by experience +and tests, prove two and two make four. We can by practice and +experience prove that love, kindness, help, gentleness, sympathy, cheer +and courage bring happiness. + +[Sidenote: The Sense of Proportion.] + +These are tangible things that fall within the province of human +experience. But when one wee Willie with sober face tells you and me +and others that he has the truth about the definite, full workings of +God's plans and purposes, I think of the greatness of 1,600,000,000 +stars, each with 1,600,000,000 humans, and of the unnumbered generations +gone by, and say that verily, we must live TO-DAY and do the best we can +to-day in act and thought and word. + +Yesterday is dead; to-morrow is unknown. Where we have been, where we +will be, we know not. Where we are to-day, we know, and only God in His +omniscience knows the final answer as to our future estate. + +He will take us and hold us and place us in His keeping and according to +His purpose, even though we do not or cannot follow or believe any one +of the little man-formed creeds, isms or cults as the measure and rule +for our beliefs. + +Those stars testify to the certainty of God, and I believe in Him. + + + + +51. + + +[Sidenote: Success and Envy.] + +When a man by his brains, or by a fortunate combination of +circumstances, rises to a position of prominence, he becomes a target +for the envious and a pattern for the imitator. Emulation and envy are +ever alert in trying to steal the fruits of the leader or the doer of +things. + +The man who makes a name gets both reward and punishment. The reward is +his satisfaction in being a producer, a help to the world, and the glory +that comes from widespread recognition and publicity of his +accomplishment. The punishment is the slurs, the enmity, the envy and +the detraction, to say nothing of the downright lies which are told +about him. + +When a man writes a great book, builds a great machine, discovers a +great truth or invents a useful article, he becomes a target for the +envious many. + +If he does a mediocre thing, he is unnoticed; if his work is a +masterpiece, jealousy wags its tongue and untruth uses its sting. + +Wagner was jeered. Whistler was called a mere charlatan. Langley was +pronounced crazy. Fulton and Stephenson were pitied. Columbus faced +mutiny on his ship on the very eve of his discovery of land. Millet +starved in his attic. Time has passed, and the backbiters are all in +unmarked graves. The world, until the end of time, will enjoy Wagner's +music. Whistler and Millet's paintings attract artists from all over the +world, and inventors reverence the names of Fulton and Stephenson. + +[Sidenote: The Price of Greatness.] + +The leader is assailed because he has done a thing worth while; the +slanderers are trying to equal his feat, but their imitations serve to +prove his greatness. Because jealous ones cannot equal the leader, they +seek to belittle him. But the truly worth-while man wins his laurels and +he remains a leader. He has made his genius count, and has given the +creature of his brain and imagination to the world. + +Above the clamor and noise, above the din of the rocks thrown at him, +his masterpiece and his fame endure. + +And compensation, the salve to the sore, makes the great man deaf to the +noise and immune to the attacks of the knockers. + +In his own heart he knows he has done a thing worth while; his own +conscience is clear, and he cares not for the estimate of the world. + +His own character is his chief concern, and he is content in the +knowledge that time will bring its reward. + +If you have high ideals in business, if you achieve success on a big +scale, mark well, you will be a subject of attacks, of lies, of malice, +of envy, of disreputable competition. There is no way out of it. + +[Sidenote: Compensation.] + +But you will be repaid. The lover of fair play, the grateful, true, +honest, worth-while people will flock to your standard; the riff-raff +will skulk behind bushes and throw rocks and mud, but their acts will +prove to the great mass of the people that your purposes, practices and +policies are right. + +Therefore, courage is to be your chief asset; patience, pride, +perseverance, your lieutenants. + +Be not weary, grow not discouraged when your progress is hampered by +obstacles. Every truly great man of the past has had his backbiters and +detractors. + + + + +52. + + +There are three periods in our lives: the youthful, or prospective +period, the adult, or introspective period, and the old age, or +retrospective period. + +[Sidenote: Growing Old.] + +Too many there are who look forward to old age with fear or dread. But +old age has its joys and pleasures as well as middle age and youth, and +these pleasures are the keener if the first and second periods of life +were lived sanely, worthily and properly. Numerous are the great men of +the past who have extolled the old-age period of human life with its +wisdom and wealth of worldly experience. + +If the middle period is spent in getting dollars only, then old age will +be days of empty nothingness. + +Youth is the planning time--the time for ideals and ambitions; middle +age the building time, and old age the dividend time. + +With many, old age is spent in reading the book of the past--with +sadness as the reader recognizes that the ideals, plans and hopes were +shattered. As age turns the page in the book of the past, he reads one +hope after another vanished in smoke. + +Anticipation is seldom realized, and this is as it should be, for in +time, men will learn to live each day for each day's good and each day's +happiness. + +Let us perform our duty to-day; let us lay away a kindly act, a smile, a +word of cheer in the bank of good deeds. + +Each of us has a share in this world's work. It matters little whether +our actual share is what we had guessed or wished it to be. + +[Sidenote: The Value of Ideals.] + +Vicissitudes will cross our path here and there; so-called misfortune or +bad luck will strike us when least expected. The failure of our dreams +should not grieve us. We cannot reach up and grasp the stars, but like +the pilot at the wheel at sea, we can steer by those stars that help us +on our way. + +Our ideal may not be realized, but the journey to it may still be a +pleasant one. + +Our ideals, plans and hopes had a real purpose, a real service; they +gave us courage and made us work, and thus they were well worth while. + +We must not, in the old age period, condemn ourselves because our plans +failed or our castles were shattered. + +There is no hard luck except incurable disease or death. It is not for +us to mourn the past or weep for the flowers that are gone. + +In our active days, we should realize that we are putting memories away +in our brains that will come back to us in old age. + +Only that which we put in our brains can we take out. + +So then, Mr. Avarice, I warn you: If gold is your God, it's cold comfort +you will get in your sunset days. + +Build up loving ties, appreciation and the worth-while riches of good +deeds, and in your evening of life, you will be welcome wherever you go. + +[Sidenote: Put Not Your Faith in Gold.] + +If your life was sold for gold, your evening of life will be short and +miserable; legatees will grudge you your every breath; they will endure +you simply because they are checking off the days from Time's calendar +until the day of your passing, and the dollars you sold your soul and +heart and life for, will be lavishly spent by cold-blooded heirs who +cared nothing for you. + +Leave a legacy of love, example and character, and if, with these, +there are a few dollars, they simply prove your frugality, economy and +independence. + +A few dollars left to heirs will help. Many dollars will hurt. Dollars +in old age will give you pleasure by helping in tight corners. They will +enable you to help your loved ones over the bumps in the road. + +Use the dollars to help those you love to help themselves, and your old +age will be a busy, happy one, and you won't be in the way. + +To prepare for that happy period of your life, the foundation must be +built in the active to-day period. + +Carry smiles into your old age; they will keep the heart young, the +digestion good, and life will be worth while. + + + + +53. + + +I have traveled horseback over the great arid plains of the West, and +have read the story of the ages gone before. + +[Sidenote: The Remote Past.] + +In Arizona and New Mexico there are ancient ruins of forts and cities +built by people we know not of. Chalcedony Park with its petrified +forest of mammoth trees silently testifies to a period when vegetation +was rampant on what is now a desert. + +In Wyoming there is coal enough to furnish fuel for the United States +for several centuries. + +Coal is carbon made from decayed trees and vegetation, which became +covered with earth and rock, and was subjected to tremendous pressure +throughout the thousands of years required to effect the transformation. + +Oceans and floods gradually covered millions of acres of trees and +plants with ooze and soil and sand. Ages turned some of these deposits +to stone. + +There in bleak Wyoming is testimony and evidence of changes that time +only can bring about. + +"A thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years." Thus +wrote the scribe of old. So, then, we must consider this estimate of +time in reading the first chapter of Genesis which describes the order +of the world's creation. + +First took place the dividing of light from darkness, thus bringing +about the rotation of day and night. + +Then, the separating of land and water; then, the birth of vegetation on +the land, the creation of fish and reptiles in the sea, the fowls of the +air, the beasts of the field, and finally, the higher animal, man. + +[Sidenote: The Measure of Time.] + +The pages of the earth's surface carry in their stratification indelible +records harmonizing with this scriptural account of the evolution of the +earth from its chaotic misty past to its concrete definite present. Yes, +this earth of ours is old, so old that mere man cannot contemplate or +accurately estimate its wondrous age. + +The fossils of the mammoth reptiles and beasts which lived before the +appearance of man on this planet are numerous in the fascinating West I +know so well. + +In those arid desert hills are bones of the ancient rhinoceros--parent +of our horse--and there are shells, and fossils of fish, and bones of +animals imbedded in the strata of rock. + +Man reads these pages and he is lost in bewilderment, impoverished in +thought, dumb for words, paralyzed by his inability to co-ordinate this +evidence with any measure of time that will fall within the range of +human comprehension. + +[Sidenote: Age of the Earth.] + +Historians say the world was 4,004 years old before the Christian era, +and 1918 years have passed since then, making the age to date 5,922 +years. It is not surprising that through the dark ages, dates and facts +were lost. We have not a complete history in written language, but we +have some very definite history in the rocks and hills and lands and +seas. + +The world certainly is more than 5,922 years old. Read the record of +time so plainly visible at Niagara Falls. + +Niagara Falls eats away about two feet of rock in a century; the gorge +is a good many miles long. At the present rate of erosion, it takes +2,640 years to eat away a mile. Multiply that by the distance between +the falls and Lake Ontario and you have an idea of how many years +Niagara Falls has been at work. + +Before Niagara Falls was in existence, the country round about was +under the sea; before that, under glaciers; before that, in the tropics, +and I don't know how many times it has swung on its pendulum between +Frigid, Temperate and Torrid Zones. + +We are certain to become lost in a labyrinth of mystery when we take +these known facts concerning the earth's age, and try to specify any +particular number of millions of years as the old world's age. + + + + +54. + + +And now my pleasant occupation of writing this book draws to an end. I +sincerely hope you have received some definite suggestions that will be +helpful to you. + +To get you to think--that has been my aim. To get you to analyze +yourself--to take stock of yourself--to know yourself--that has been the +task I set before me. + +[Sidenote: How to Think.] + +Think vital thoughts of courage, faith and hope. Then will your days +pass joyfully, and your path be one of peace, happiness and contentment. +If you fill your mind with gloom and sorrow thoughts, your surroundings +will reflect your mental attitude and will accentuate your misery and +dejection. Do not give way to this weak, gloomy, pernicious thinking. +You can be strong, you will be strong if you learn to control your +thought habits. + +Can you face disagreeable facts without wavering? Can you meet adversity +with courage in your heart and a smile on your lips? You can, if you +have read this book carefully, calmly, thoughtfully, and put into +practice the rules I have laid down. + +Do not think that you can go through life without your share of pain, +disillusion and disappointment. It can't be done. No man has ever done +it. Clouds will come, but they can be dispelled. Obstacles will arise, +but they can be surmounted. Troubles will visit you, but meet them +boldly and courageously and do not show the white feather. + +To the thinking man or woman, life is a great arena wherein good and +bad, joy and sorrow, faith and disillusion, happiness and unhappiness, +success and failure are inextricably intermingled. The joy and +happiness, accept gratefully; the sorrow and disillusion, bear with +fortitude. And remember, although it is not possible to enjoy an +absolute and continued state of happiness, it always lies within your +power to have serenity, poise, peace and contentment. + +When you are in the dumps--when that feeling of the hopelessness and +un-worth-whileness of life comes over you, then, more than ever, +_think_. Do not give way to fear and despondency. Think cheerful +thoughts; think of the good things that life has given you, not the +least of them being life itself. Think of the ringing words that Milton +put into the mouth of Lucifer, the fallen angel, in "Paradise Lost": + + "The mind is its own place, and in itself + Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." + +[Sidenote: Life's Ever-Newness.] + +To the person who thinks, life is ever-new, ever-interesting. If you +have lost your grip on reality--if you have dwelt too long in the +shadowland of doubt, fear and despondency--the thing to do is to correct +your thinking. Let your mind soar in contemplation of the beautiful +things of nature. Steel yourself against petty pull-backs and recognize +them for what they really are--trifling annoyances that serve no purpose +except to distract you from the pursuit of the great and glorious goal +that lies ahead. + +Only to the thinking man is it given to see life and see it whole. He +only has the true sense of proportion. He keeps his eye on the main +objective, secure in the realization that he is master of himself and +captain of his own soul. He is self-sufficient, for he knows that no +matter what befalls, he carries happiness and contentment within himself +wherever he goes. + +The practice of thinking is a tower of strength. If you are a thinker, +life's little troubles serve but to reinforce your spirit of resistance +and make you stronger. + +So then, let this be my last word to you--_think!_--for it is by +thinking that man has risen to his present high estate in the world. It +is by thinking that the future joy and happiness and peace of the world +must be increased. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Think, by Col. Wm. C. 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