trained deeper self may be trusted. Oftentimes, when your ordinary thinking becomes over-anxious or flurried,' you confuse your own skill. Some things which we do perfectly without conscious effort, we immediately muss up' if we try carefully to attend to all details. Do not permit the hurried feeling to take possession of your nerves. When such feeling does occur, quiet yourself by an act of Will; turn, if necessary, to other work for a time, and thus prevent the habit of unsteadiness of spirit and body, so obviating hair-trigger' conditions and a thousand blunders." Exercise No. 9. Above all, never permit yourself to be pushed in your work beyond a pace consistent with the best results. A young woman was engaged in constructing a very decorative piece of lettering and bordering, the subjects being the "Creed" of the author and "The Ten Golden Laws." In her haste to meet his wishes on time, she pushed herself just beyond her normal skill and correctness. The result was two rather serious errors which called for laborious revision. Here we see the fact of unsteadiness both of hand and mind. Remember, when the mind is steady the hand is almost sure to follow that condition. These exercises may be continued with profit, provided the idea of Will is everlastingly borne in mind. BUBBLES. Bubbles, filmy, evanescent, Never a moment quite quiescent Darks their rainbow hues in death Bubbles, surface ebulitions, Born of alien attritions; Rocks at bed and shores at side, Jealous of the far-off tide. Soul, thy many souls elusive Sphere the outer life obtrusive: Films diaphanous emerge Where frets hinder, small things urge. Seek the large life quintessential, Holding self all reverential! Seek thy sea, majestic, vast, Where the steady stars are glassed. Sea? Thou art the sea, ne'er river, -THE AUTHOR. defective. CHAPTER XVI. EXERCISES IN STEADINESS. HE most interesting fact about these experiments in steadiness is that the Will is to have a steady position, but the execution is As the Will is exerted the steadiness of position is increased. This is sometimes so marked as to be visible to the eye directly. I have seen the scalpel tremble in a surgeon's hand so that a serious accident appeared inevitable; yet when the supreme moment came the hand guided the knife with admirable steadiness."— Prof. E. W. Scripture. THEORY OF THIS CHAPTER. Physical quietness conducive to self-control; The importance of steady nerves is everywhere apparent. The unsteady duelist is doomed. The nervous surgeon acquires small practice. The trembling pen writes a crabbed "hand." The agitated speaker loses his audience. Great undertakings frequently require perfect mastery of the body-in games, in business, in national affairs. The ninth inning of an even game of ball will largely depend upon Will and self-control. When the engineer of a fast mail train cannot "hold himself up" to a mile a minute, he must give way to a better man. Diplomacy, in trade, politics and international councils, demands the impassive face. The movement of an eye lash often involves the destinies of life and of war. Under fierce provocation men sometimes find the nerves giving way to pressure of anger or fear; the soul then commands itself: "Steady, now! Steady!" Body responds to conditions of mind. If mind is a-tremble, nerves reveal the fact. The panic of fear sets the nervous system on the edge of collapse, resulting, unless mastered, in the stampede of a western ranch or the tumultuous rout of a Bull Run battle. The controlling and fearless man is one who is "nerved" to the situation. The value of attention to steadiness is thus indicated. Such value has a physical relation through mind; but it may also affect mind through body. PRELIMINARY. Of course 66 trembly" nerves which are the result of disease require medical treatment. But this trembling may frequently be overcome by intelligent practice and determined Will. In the end any such practice must tend to increase the power of Will itself. Dr. Scripture asks: "Can steadiness be increased by practice? This problem can be answered in respect to the hand." And, after records of experiments, he says: "The question of the possibility of gaining in steadiness by practice is thus definitely settled." The chief object of the following suggestions is growth of Will. Hence, Will must always be present in the movements directed. Let the mind constantly affirm: "Attention! I resolve to will! I am wholly engaged in willing this act!" RÉGIMES. (a) Exercise No. 1. Stand erect. Breathe naturally. In the most resolute mood possible stand perfectly still while counting one hundred at a moderate rate. There should be no movements except those of breathing and winking. Do not stare. Do not permit the body to sway. Stand firmly, but naturally. Relax and rest one hundred counts. Repeat, with rests, six times. (b) Be seated, erect, but in an easy posture. Remain perfectly quiet as above directed while you count one hundred. Rest as before. Repeat with rests, six times. (c) Repeat above exercises every day for ten days, with rest of two days. The time suggested is merely an example; practice may well be continued indefinitely. and large Place the (1) Exercise No. 2. Stand erect. Breathe and wink naturally. Fix the eyes upon some small object on the wall of your room, say a nail-head or the corner of a picture, or a round spot made with a pencil, enough to be seen at a distance of eight feet. tip of the forefinger of the right hand, palm toward face, directly on a line running from the right eye to such object or spot. Slowly move the hand, palm toward the face, from your body along such imaginary line, keeping the tip of finger rigidly thereon, until the arm is fully extended, and return to original position in the same manner - six times. (2) Repeat with edge of hand toward face, six times. (3) Repeat with back of hand toward face, six times. (4) Repeat, shutting thumb and first finger, with second finger, six times. (5) Repeat with each of the remaining fingers as above suggested, six times. (6) Repeat with the fingers of the left hand. (7) Continue these exercises every day for ten days, with rest. |