satisfaction. A full meal is a sound foundation for a good Will. If the habit is the result of a psychic desire, the Will must be bolstered by a new psychic ideal, of any character whatever. Anything that will introduce to the soul, and maintain there, a suggestion stronger than that of liquor, will win and nothing less can win. Hugh Miller relates that a man-o'-war sailor in an engagement had become so exhausted that he could scarcely lift a marlinspike, but, the enemy renewing the fight, "a thrill like that of an electric shock passed through the frame of the exhausted sailor; his fatigue at once left him; and, vigorous and strong as when the action first began, he found himself able, as before, to run out the one side of a twenty-four pounder." The habit-conquering Will must be fed. Régime 4. Some physicians recommend for the tobacco-habit the incessant eating of peanuts, inasmuch as a condition of the stomach seems to be engendered by them which revolts against nicotine. If you can nauseate a man every time he craves tobacco he will cease to desire it. It is said that milk has the same effect in some cases. Every person long addicted to these habits needs some medical assistance, because a physical state is involved which usually requires counteraction. Having then, a genuine desire to reform, follow the directions below: Régime 5. Procure a tonic prescription from a physician who understands your case. Eat heartily plain food, especially any kind which does not seem to agree with tobacco or alcohol, and keep forever in mind the goal of freedom. Eat peanuts or drink milk instead of indulging your appetite in habit. Fix deeply in your soul the conviction that the difficulty is not insuperable, but will yield in time. This is true, because the entire physical system tends to adapt itself to new conditions. Continue these reform conditions long enough and you are a free man. Régime 6. Don't talk about your effort. Don't dwell upon your suffering. Keep yourself busy, in out-ofdoor activity as much as possible. Contrive to get a great amount of sound sleep every day. Take a noon nap daily. Flood your stomach with pure water day after day. If the weather permits, perspire freely. Put tobacco and liquor out of sight. Keep them out of mind. When their thought arises, banish the suggestion instantly. As you do so, and in order to do so, set the mind upon other matters. Régime 7. Don't suffer yourself to fall into the "dead stare" that unconscious stand-still of mind which occasionally seizes men who are fighting these battles. Anticipate such "spells," and throw yourself into action. requiring no concentration of thought. Régime 8. Don't pity yourself. Entertain no sympathy for your suffering nor your weakness. Don't play martyr. Don't class yourself with heroic reformers. Don't nurse your egotism. Do n't imagine that you are doing some great thing. Forget all these temptations. People have lost track of neuralgia over Mark Twain's "Innocents Abroad," and have fought on in battle with shattered arms. You can absolutely forget tobacco and alcohol, if you determine to do so. Régime 9. Do n't ask the Divine Being to cure these habits. All such "cures" have been psychological. Deity is the author of a true psychology, and religious experience is psychological, to be sure; but the Infinite works through His own laws, one of which, underlying the crowning achievement of moral realms, soul development, is that Divine help is given to no human being in an especial manner or degree who can achieve success by obedience to ordinary principles of right living. A person once declared that "the Lord had taken away his craving for tobacco." When closely and persistently questioned, he confessed that there had been times at first wherein his throat and mouth had felt "raw," one of the symptoms of tobacco denial. He had forgotten his desire in his intense religious excitement. Here was "Divine assistance," of course, but without any distinctively supernatural element. Some people can get "cured at the altar." It does n't matter what notions they entertain, so long as they escape the "beggarly elements." But other people can never quite surrender to the auto-suggestion necessary, and frequently these fail of achieving what is called "victory" because they rely upon mistaken ideas and ignore the true law of these subjects, the curability of habits where there is genuine desire backed by resolute Will and proper mental conditions. Any method which will create desire for reform, foster determination, and occupy the mind with absorbing thought or excitement long enough to enable the system to readjust itself, will realize the happy results of the "converted drunkard" or the "sanctified tobacco user." In conclusion we may quote from "The Culture of Courage" suggestions which make for the conquering spirit. "Faith, conceived as the affirmatively expectant attitude of the whole self, is one of the mightiest powers in this world. It is the fundamental element in auto-suggestion. You are therefore invited to make your entire thought and life a suggestion to self that these directions, faithfully carried out, will infallibly eliminate from your nature" the habits indicated. But remember, "faith without works is merely a 'sayso.' Real faith is confident action toward a goal. The continuation of such action measures the kind and power of faith supposed. You should, therefore, determine to persevere a thousand years if necessary, for you are yourself everlasting, if you will. But let it be remembered that mere resolution is only one-half of real determination. Some people resolve-and then resolve, never achieving victory. Others put 'bite' into the matter in hand once for all, and do not seem to know how to let go. The only cure for resolution is determination, for determination is just doing the thing resolved upon. "The soul that says, 'I am going to overcome,' will very likely fail. The leverage runs too far into the future. A valiant Will always acts on a short lever. You should, therefore, declare: I am overcoming! The thing is now being accomplished! The matter in hand is mastered.' This may seem a trifle false, but it is more than a trifle true if you really mean it. When a man swears the needed thing now, it is by so much already done in his Will, and a good deal of it, unknown to him, is accomplished in the concrete." "T IS WISE SURRENDER CROWNS THE KING." Our Mother Life her children slays— Yet has her madness wisdom's ways True living counts its passing days, To London Town from ancient Ur. No God-soul after impulse strays What evil thing may growth defer If life with death has reckoning? 'Tis wise surrender crowns the king. -THE AUTHOR. ཆ |