Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-03-17
HABIT.
DR.. Hodges Lecture at the Y. N. O. A.
Rooms.
From the st. Louis Republican.

DR.. John T. Hodge delivered a
lecture for men only, on the subject
of Habit" last night at the Y. NJ
C. A. hall. The audience-com-
posed wholly of men and boys, prin-
cipally young men from the medical
and commercial colleges of the city
was the largest, according to one
of the officers of the Y. NJ. c. A.,
that was ever seated in that church.
The lecture, said DIR. Hodge, would
relate to mans habits, physically,
mentally and morally. Tue mind is
closely associated with the nervous
system, and the nervous system is
developed and maintained as other
parts of the body. The mind can
have NO contact with the outside
world, or make itself known or gain
knowledge except through the physi-
cal organism. The organism is vari-
ously impressed. 1t may be changed
and made capable of many things by
training. In order that the muscular
tissues may be developed it Is neces-
sary that they receive nourishment
from the storehouse of blood. The
nutritive functions must be perform
ed. The muscular tissues must be
brought into action and made con-
tract. They have no power of them
selves to contract, and hence, they
are provided with cords of nerves.
If the muscles cease to perform their
offices they cease to be muscles. If
limb is not used TOR long time
the muscles turn to fat and are lost
forever as muscles. The eyeless fish
of the Mammoth cave are eyeless
simply because they have no use for
eyes. They descended from fish that
had eyes. Every portion of the body
must perform It's natural functions or
it becomes useless These faculties
and organisms may be developed or
they may be dwarfed, and they may
be developed in different degrees and
in different directions. How are
habits acquired? The mind acts
through the nervous system. The
nervous organism may be said to
have four kinds Of nervous centres.
One is self acting, as it were. A
man puts his finger uncorsciously in
to a flame, and it is jerked back with
out the knowledge of the danger be-
ing first conveyed 10 the mind. The
action is involuntary. Then there is
an action that is involuntary and at
the same time not the offspring Of
reason, or not in accordance with
reason. A man may walk of his own
volition and not be thinking of it.
Then there is what may be called an
emotional centre of nerves. All men
are to some extent creatures Of emo
ton. The emotions may be develop.
ed, and they need to be controlled,
particularly in childhood. They are
normally under the control somewhat
of the will and the reasoning facul
ties, but they often get beyond The
control of both. A mans emotional
condition may be such that Sigh
draft of air will throw him into con
vulsions. A man must necessarily
be governed often by emotions. HI
cannot stop to think out the probable
consequences OF such action he takes
| He is guided by his feelings, and hi
feelings are the result of training
The child's emotion must be subject
ed to the will of the parent, for he il
not capable himself Of determinin,
what he should do. Even the man i
not perfect, for his emotions are de
pendent in o great measure on bi
training, and that was defective. Th
law makers understand this and tn
Iman is brought under the guidanc
, of the law, as the child is brpugf
under the guidance of the parent.
is not q diff :ult matter for man t
allow himself to be controlled by hi
feelings instead of by his judgmen
even in matters where judgmer
should prevail. If, however, juds
ment does prevail, it may be wrons
for the intellect may be warped +.
we'll as the emotional faculties
Training is at the bottom Of al
, Habit is the result of repeated aciiol
The habit of chewing the finger-nai
was formed in this way. One Of Il
finger nails had 3 ragged edge, as
we're, and ins cad of taking kni
and cutting it off he simply bit it o
At another time the same thing "
done, and it Was q great while ua