The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-03-04
PRESENCE OF MIND.

Immediate service in the hour of need.
Vet while all acknowledge its import
ance. how few are taught from child
hood to cultivate and practice it. A
LARGE proportion of the accidents which
astonish us by their frequency and
appal us by their frightful results might
have been averted if the sufferers or the
lookers-on had learned in youth to
exercise this habit. Some, to be sure,
are so constitutionally sensitive, or
through inlirm health so nervous, that
it may be difficult, but seldom impossi-
BILE, to bring this important acquisition
into their daily lives so perfectly as to
serve them in times of necessity or
danger.
1t is comparatively easy to guide the
younp who are well into such self
Government as will give them the
presence of mind needed by every
human being. 1t is hard task to build
up the weak-minded and nervous; but
in all cases parents-especially mothers
are under sacred obligations to labor
patiently, and continually, so to lead their
children that sudden disasters or COM
ING danger will not shake them or pre-
vent the prompt, energetic action that
comes through the established habit of
calm self-government. Parents must
first learn this lesson thoroughly them
selves, so that their teachings will be
Endorsed by their daily example. And
the instructions should be pre- eminently
gentle and loving, appealing first to the
children's confidence in their mothers
truthfulness and superior Judgment, and
then to the child's good common sense,
a quality of which even very young chill
dren have far more than some mothers
suppose.
If a child fails in self-control when
alarmed. or in case of accident, never
reprove it, or speak sharply. That will
only increase the nervousness. But
whatever may be the mothers own
alarm she must endeavor to speak quiet
Iy, calmly and very gently. In an
emergency, If the mother becomes ex-
cited and screams, probably the chill
dren will instantly follow her example,
rush about wildly and aimlessly, and,
all through want of presence of mind in
the mother, become so demoralized that
anv sensible action for precaution or re-
lief will be well-nigh impossible.
Suppose horse takes fright with q
lady and perhaps young children in the
carriage. The animal has become un-
manageable, past the lady's control. If
the mother also loses all self-control the
children will far outscream her, and the
horse, maddened by the noise, increases
his speed and bears his shrieking burden
to dire disaster, if not to almost certain
destruction. Through want Of physical
strength the lady may find it impossible
to control the horse. But what excuse
can be offered when strong, able bodied
men, who see such a precious load in
danger, do not come promptly to the
rescue, but run at safe distance behind
the fast receding carriage, goading the
horse to fiercer efforts by their shouts OF
stop that horse! Stop that horse!"
instead of quickly but silently putting
themselves beside the horse (never rash
" and uselessly running in 'front.' where
they might possibly grasp the rein, or
bride, soothe the horse with gentle
words, and avert a fearful accident by
exercising that presence of mind which
goes hand in hand with true courageP
ANY one ahead of the runaway can
easily, by walking slowly toward the
carriage, without shouting or brandish-
ing cane, be almost instantly so near
the horse as to catch the bride, or reins,
before he can dash by, while others be-
hind may safely come up to aid IN re-
straining him.
But this invaluable quality of mind is
absolutely necessary in cases of fire.
There are some rules that should be
taught every child from earliest child
hood as thoroughly as the Ten Com
mandments. We know it is very easy
to give wise directions, and how easy it
appears to act upon them when one sits
safely at home, and how different 1t
must seem if one sees the flames creep
ing stealthily through the house, or, still
more fearful, if some person is envel-
oped in the flames but the more fright
full and urgent the danger the stronger
the reasons for self-control and presence
of mind.
The loose garments worn by women
and children expose them to especial
danger from fire. If the fire starts
from the bottom of the dress, the nat,
ural upward tendency of the fame soon
. envelops the whole person, unless by
self-control and presence Of mind the
necessary care be taken by the sufferer,
or some one near, without moments
hesitation. To obey the first impulse,
and open the doors and rush out, is sure
destruction. The only safety is to fall
down instantly on the floor and roll over
on to the fire, snatching a wooden shaw
or rug, if near, to wrap round the body
One is comparatively safe by rolling
over and over, for the flames will moi
rise to the face, and the lungs and
breathing will be less likely to be in
jured.
Those who may be in the room, OF
may come in, have their work plainly
before them. Keep doors and windows
closed; snatch the first wooden thing to
be found-a table cover-without think
ing of the works of art on it. Pull II
off! Who cares where the 6rtc-d -brdt
rolls to? 1t is human life in danger
Or snatch wooden shawl from a chair
a curtain or rug; any thing but tina
one human form is valuless. Wrap The
sufferer instantly in something WOODEN
the coat from your back, if nothing els
offers-and thus closely wrapped rol
her on the floor in the folds. Scores o
lives have been saved in this way, scores
lost for want of such immediate action
In case the house is on fire Their
should be one Z" captain if possible
who can lead the less self-possessed GU
of the burning building. Every door
window or aperture through which al
can find entrance should be closely shut
except during egress.