New-York tribune., 1869-04-14
OXYGEN and METAPHYSICS.

One of our young cotempOraries urges tho
imnortance of pure air upon the attention OF
oll who would have fresh thoughts. We are
told that there are two grades of mental actiy-
ity. tho first of which becomes automatic In Its
character, and people think and act as they
care in the habit of thinking and acting"
This is n lower form of intellectual manifesta-
ton. The higher form reflects, compares,
iudres. makes new combinations, and forms
independent conclusions, and these two forms
have their respective physical conditions and
accompanments. In the higher form "the
"brain draws upon the system for greater
"supply of blood, and the cerebral changes OF
(which oxygenation is the main spring, pro-
"ceed at an accelerated rate" On the con-
trary, "autOmatic thinking goes forward with
little or no disturbance in vitiated air. There
"is then q state of mind to which pure alr Is
Essential, and another with which foul air Is
"congenial.n Fresh air raises the spirits, stlm-
"ulates hope, and encourages to actlonj foul
"air depresses the spirits, favOrs gloomy and
"discouraging views, and thus paralyses activ-
"ity.n Good air, then, is favorable to deep
thinking, bad air to routine, and to mechanical
work, in which little thinking is required. In
short, we are told that truth has affinity with
Oxygen, while error flourishes in an atmoS1
"phere laden with carbonic acid.D
TO most readers this will be new, and 1t
looks as though it ought TO be true. But why
the Indians of the Plains, who have had full
supply of oxygen from time immemorial, should
exhibit paralyzed activity, or why such of our
own race as live in log cabins SO open as to
give free entrance and exit to snakes should
have only automatic thoughts" seems to re-
quire explanation. On the other hand, we find
most of our philosophers and high thinkers
living in cities where, at best, the air is second
handed, nor is it expected that those leading
country life are in any manner receptive Of
elementary ideas, however unexceptionably
pure may be the air which surrounds them.
Of course pure air is of great importance, and
we are free to confess that error and vice are
taken in with the air of theaters, and that it
may be as great sin to sit in some churches
as to stay at home but it is doubtful whether
oxygen and truth are as inseparably united as
our authority would lead us to suppose.
As regards automatic thoughts they are, in
our judgment, derived neither from carbonic
acid nor from a low grade Of thinking. Our
first ideas como by the senses, these the rcflec
tive faculties compare, weigh and consider,
and the result to which the mind comes will
be another idea, or q group Of ideas, which, to
be of use, must be 80 familiarized as to become
automatic, and these alone give expertness and
facility, whether in tho musician, the ready
writer, the orator, or the philosopher. The
number, the compass, and the importance OF
these automatic ideas indicate the readiness
and ability of n man With a full store of
this class of thoughts tho mind is possessed of
materials for originating what may be called
Unborn, or perhaps innate ideas, and if these
are found of sufficient value they will in their
turn become automatic. ..t..