The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-09-07
Presence of Mind.

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 pe
tempted to believe it quality beyond
mortal reach, if we were not aware how
many things, which appear notorious to
all, are in reality unknown to many
Hardly week passes without telling us
of female having caught fire and lost her
life in consequence of rushing out into the
open air, instead of rolling herself in
carpet, or at least prostrating herself on
the floor. Panics still occasionally take
place in theaters and churches, and scores
of lives are lost by crowding to the door;
not one instance do I remember of an
alarm in such places of resort being at
tended ny the proper cOnduct-sitting
still. individuals are also still much
given to throwing themselves out of run
away carriages, an act which may he pro-
nounced the very opposite Of the proper
conduct. But the fact is, that, while
some OF these errors are consequence of
mere confusion of mind, many are also the
result of ignorance. The right conduct in
situations of difficulty is far from being
generally impressed, as it ought to be, on
the minds of the young. Or, if it has
been taught as a lesson, there has at least
been no effort to train the mind to look to
it as the only course of action in which
there is the least safety; so that when the
critical moment arrives, we are still too
prone to act upon some mere instinct for
self preservation. A young lady, few
years ago, caught fire, while going to bed
in country house where she was q visitor,
She had been told that the carpet and the
floor were the proper expedients; but
more immediate impulse directed her to
lake in front of the house. She rushed
along the passages and stairs, and was
found exhausted, and almost hopelessly
scorched, a few yards from the outer door.
1t is necessary to make the lesson a vital
principle in the mind.
Presence of mind is exemplified in its
simplest form, where all that Is necessary
is to take deliberate view of the circum-
stances, and then do that which seems
most advantageous. It may be shown,
for example, in a choice between the door
and window in case of fire, or in the
selection of something to be saved, as that
which is most important.
Presence of mind is occasionally shown
in quick conception of some device or ex-
pedient, such as we usually suppose to be
an emanation Of superior intellect. This
has been repeated exemplifedin rencoun-
tiers with the insane. A lady was one
evening sitting in her drawing room alone,
when the only other inmate Of the house,
brother, who for time had been be.
traying a tendency to unsoundness of
mind, entered with a carving knife in his
hand, and shutting the door, came up to
her and said, Margaret, an odd idea has
occurred to me. l wish to paint the head
of John the Baptist, and I think yours
might make an excellent study for it. So,
if you please, will cut off your head.
The lady looked at her brothers eye, and
seeing in it no token of jest, concluded
that he meant to DO as he said. There
was an open window and balcony by her