Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-08-15
Presence of Mind.


Presence of mind is a quality
much talked of, much honored-
little cultivated; yet, like most other
good things in the world, itrequires
cultivation to bring it to any de-
gree of perfection, for in very few
cases it is q natural gift. Some
people there are, doubtless, to
whom it comes naturally and by in,
stinct to do the right thing at the
right time and place; but they are
few in number. Then, again, some
people are by nature co0ler-headed
than their neighbors, and do not
scream and otherwise become use.
less inst when their services are re-
auired. Bnt this quiet composure,
though very valuable, is not
quite the same as presence of
mind. The latter consists not only
in having your wits ready for use,
hit in knowing how to use them,
and being sufficiently calm and
steady in mind to remember and
turn to account that knowledge.
from the earliest age children
should be taught self-control, and
The instinct of trying to remedy any
mistake or accident they may en-
counter. Teach your child, if he
cuts himself anywhere, at once to
hold the two sides of the cut tightly
together, to stop the bleeding, and
then TO cry il he Lies, instead of, as
children usually do, dancing aboUt,
bowling and shaking the wounded
part violently. Show him thatlf he
burns or scorcteS himself he can
save himself much pain by covering
the place with wet soap, or cold
cream, or fuller's earth, or violet
powder, all or any of which are
plctty sure to be within reach IN
the nursery.
But if boys require to be taught
self CONF. doubly so do girls
Having, 81 nature, weaker nerves
and a more vivid imagination, they
shrink from pain. suffering and
danger in fashion utterly unintel-
ligible to their brothers, But the
more natural this shrinking is, the
more carefully should they be taught
to govern it.. Girls should acquire
tleast the rudiments OF nursing
ami learn the best and easiest at
tainable remedies for the ordinary
accidents of daily life, just as GER
tainly and as a matter of course as
they are taught to sew and to read.
Especially should quiet and cool
ness be impresst d on them. Calm
l,eSs is not insensibility, though
many people confound them. A
girl is not hard hearted and unfeel-
ing because she can witness painful
sights, and, if need be, lend a
steady, firm hand to the doctor or
nurse. On the contrary, she has
usually twenty times the sympathy
and unseltiSh kindness of that deli
cate little damsel who has no COM
mand whatever over herself, and
fills the room with shriekS, winding
up by running away the very mo-
ment all extra hand might be use
fui.
It may seem hard to say so, per
haps, but those dainty bodies, who
are so utterly useless at any emer.
gency, or, astheir friends plead. $50
highly endowed with sensibility"
(those who are not their friends
make unpleasantreferencet o"folly"
aud s.hysterics') are generally sell
fish and se1f-absorbed to a degree
utterly unintelliglble to their more
sober sisters, who are taught to tor
get self, and control both mind and
body by their large hearted sym
pathy with, and comprehension OF,
suffering. But the sick-room is not
the only place where presnce ofmind
is required. Scarcely a day pass
es when we do not more or less re
quire it. Thank goodness the no.
tion that women should faint or go
into Mysteries for the smallest thing
is pretty we'll exploded; still, even
yet the opposite lesson might be
nero strongly Observation-Disclosures
to Globe.