The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-04-19

: rules applicable to this sort Of thin
o ing. But much indulgence in th
$ kind of dreamy thinking weaker
4 the mind and begets u mental laz
q ness that is fatal to progress. 1t b,
1 numbs all but the purely animal ia,
ultics and instincts. It is, therefor,
. to be deprecated in the stronycs
terms. 1t has proved and will ye
: prove the ruin Of many promisin
youth.
The kind Of thought worthy til
name, which strengthens instead O
weakening the mind, is what W.
mean we speak of thinking as an art
This kind Of thought is the pleasan
labor rather than the luxurious east
of the mind. 1t is only perfect wher
under complete snbjection to will.
The first great thing in learning to
think is to learn to bring though,
under subsection to will. There has
been great deal said about the i'm
portance of gaining mastery over
our animal passions, propensities,
and emotions. Many an earnest
prayer for help to conquer these
ileshly lusts has been breathed The
fact is, however, that with minds
trained to perfect, subservience, the
passions can have but little sway
1t is unrestrained imagination that
kindles the fires Of passion. Cool
blood generally goes with cool heads.
Too much stress cannot be laid ON
the fundamental Importance of per-
feet command over thought. How
many student finds the luck of this
power chief hinarance to progress
How many q page must be rc-rcad,
how many lesson must be conned
over and over to compensate for
IApses of thought +! In the possess
sion Or absence Of this power over
mind, lies the chief difference be-
twcon mental strength and mental
weakness. Some won think as a 1
child plays with hammer, striking
little blows here, there, anywhere, at
any object within reach. The action
of a strong mind may be composed
to lhe stone-breaker's s'cdge-ham-
MGR, dealing Stubborn blows success
s!vely upon one spot till the hard
rocks cracks and yields.
When this command over thought
has been acquired through the long
exercise of rcsolute will, the power
to arrange ideas and think system
,tica!ly will come with it, and no
amounts to much unless it
S systematic. This, then, may be
the second important ac-
luirement in the art Of thinking.
The power to classify and arrange
deas in proper order is ono that
comes more or less slowly to even
he best of minds. In proportion as
his faculty is strengthened, dasalto-
y and wasted efforts diminish -
When the mind acts, it acts to some
and can begin where it
caves off, without going over the
Whole ground to take up the threads
f its ratiocinations. 5
Concentration and system are
llus seen to be chief elements in tho
1T Of thinking. To cultivate the
rst constant watchfulness to detect
he least wandering and the imme- f;
late exertion of the will to call .
ack and hold the mind upon the $
inject under consideration should {
g vigilantly exercised. To secure {
ac latter the practice of ana!yzing ,
nd considering the different parts \
the subject, first separately, then {
l their different relations toward Y
ach other, is a discipline to which Il
very young mind should be subject !,
l, and which, we are sorry to say, |,
much neglected in the methods of S
practiced in this coun- V
y.-Sclentlfc american. "
An editor in Victoria, Australia, a.
US "The people of this region l.
I've become so virtuous and wcll-be- !, :,
~. n