Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-08-03
Presence oTMind.


emergency are very striking nor do we al
ways find the best conduct in such circum-
stances from those who act best in the or
dinary affairs of life.
Often has it happened that q clever.
shrewd man of the world has lost all re1ec-
ton and power to act when unexpectedly
overtaken by danger and not less FREQUENT
ly do we see prompt and vigorous conduct
manifested on like occasions, by women who
have never before given token of their being
in any respect endowed above their neigh
bors.
Presence of mind thus appears as some
thing not necessarily to be found in union
with high intellect or skill. 1t is natural
endowment, capable, like all others, of being
cultivated in everybody by the use of APP
proprate means.
/ have heard of gentleman who took his
son to bathe, and actually threw him into a
situation of danger, in order to elicit and
train his presence OF mind We also know
that barbarous nations of warlike character
use similar methods with their YOUTH by
way OF lifting them for every kind of peril
and ambuscade.
We so continually, in the journals of the
day, see evil consequences from want of
presence of mind, in circumstances where
the proper conduct has long been generally
agreed upon, that we might be tempted to
believe it quality beyond mortal reach. if
we were not aware how many things, which
appear notorious to all, are i'm reality un-
known to many. Hardly week passes
without telling us of female having caught
fire and lost her life in consequence of rush
ing out into the open air. instead of rolling
herself In carpet, or at least prostratino
herself on the floor
Presence of mind is exemplified in its
simplest form, where all that is necessary is
to take deliberate view of the circumstan-
ces, and then do that which seems most ad-
vantageous. 1t may be shown, for exam
pie, III choice between the door and win
dow in case of fire, or in the selection of
something to be saved, as that which is
most important. a gentleman Just escaped
from fire in his house, joyfully told his
congratulating friends that, in the midst of
the confusion, he had been able to omen n
drawer and save his principal papers. He
cmptied his pockets, and found only scraps
of no use, which had chanced to lie in the
same place. [ have also heard of Il gentle
man and his wife who escaped with the
greatest difficulty from their burning house
he bearing, as he thought, their infant in his
arms. 1t proved to be but pillow which
he had snatched up in his haste
a moment devoted to a steady, thought
full consideration of the circumstances. mirht
IN these cases have been attended with The
opposite consequences.
Presence Of mind is occasionally shown
in quick conception of some device or expe.
dient, such as we usually suppose to be ar
emanation of superior intellect. This has
been repeatedly eXemplifed in recountres
IA A l,,1,
one evening sitting in her drawinp-roon
alone, when the only other inmate of tho
house, u brother, who for time had beer
betraying tendency to unsoundness O
mind, entered with a carvng-knife in hi.
hand, and shutting the door, came up to hel
and said,
margaret, an odd idea has occurred tC
me. | wish to paint the head of John tho
Baptist, and think yours might make N
excellent study for it. So if YOU please.
will cut off your headn
The lady looked at her brothers eve, anf
seeing in ii no token of lest, concluded tha
he meant to do as he said. There was al
open window and balcony by her side, will
a street i'll front but a moment satisfied
her that safety did not lie that way. s.
putting ON smiling countenance, she said
with the greatest apparent cordiality,
THAT is strange idea, George bu
wouldn't it be pity to spoil this prett,
new lace tippet | have got ;? I'll just steI
to my room to put it off, and be with vol
again in half II minute
Without waiting to give him time to con
slider, she stepped lightly across the floor
{ and passed out. In another moment sh
was safe in her own room, whence she easi
ly gave an alarm, and the madman was Sc
cured
The story of gentleman commanded b,
some insane persons to jump from the tol
of tower in their asylum, and who escaDe,
by telling them he would rather iump from
, the bottom to the top, and ran down stair
as if to execute his intention, is well known
but the following anecdote of Il similar sit
uation will be new to most readers
a gentleman accompanying a party t.
inspect an asylum, CHANGED to be left benin,
in the kitchen amongst number of the in
r mates who acted as cooks and scullions f
dron of boiling water ON the fire. into whicl
the madmen declared they must put him. il
order to boil him for BROTH They woul
fain have assisted him into the large pot
t and as they were laying hold of him. he re
t flected that in personal struggle he woult
S have no chance with them-all he could d
was to endeavor to gain time. So he said
every well, gentlemen, am sure shoul
p make good broth, if you do not spoil it b
boiling my clothes with it,"
Take off your Clothes" they cried out
and he began to take of his things yer
!, slowly, calling out loudly, the whole time.
''Now, gentlemen, my coat is off, wi
soon be stripped. There goes my waistcoa
d I shall soon be ready !" and so on. III
nothing remained but his shirt.
Fortunately, the keeper, attracted by hi
loud speaking, hurried in just in time t
savehim.
One of the most striking cases ofpresenc
, of mind and self-possession of which hay
any recollection, came TO light in tril
u which took place some years since in Ire
land. The story looks like fiction but
/. have reason TO believe it quite true.
A woman travelling along road TO ioi
her husband, who was soldier, and qual
tered at Athlone, was joined by poddlel
who was going the same way. They enter
ed into conversation during a walk of som
hours ; but as the day began to wane, the
agreed that they would stop for the night Q
house of entertainment, and pursue thei
pedestrian journey the next day. The
H reached humble inn, situated in lionel