The midland journal., 1886-06-25
THE HUMAN MIND.

The human mind Is like pondorous en-
gine upon a railway track, speeding on from
station to station. A small point of iron at a
switch will turn it to the right or left-send-
ing it on its proper course, or perchance
causing it to be hurled over an embankment,
or to run into another, crushing both into
shapeless mass of destruction. The mind is
ever passing from one subject to another |;
and the sight of some small object, q word
spoken or read, will give ones train of
thoughts new direction or some direction
altogether different from what it would
otherwise have taken, Upon very small
things often depends ones future course in
life. A look, word, q thought, undoubt-
edly has often laid the foundation of manya
useful life. Almost every object around lis
is constantly influencing our thoughts, and
books and papers are doing this in greater
measure than anything else, except perhaps
In some cases associates and neighbors. In
reading the views and ideas Of other men,
of learned, experienced and eminent men, of
The present and past, and especially those of
philosophers and moralists, the channels of
thought are directed to more useful life,
to higher attainments, to the influence of
nobler conquests, and very often to far su-
perior plans than those suggested by our
own minds.
Let person read any worthy production
or work on any subject whatever, and when
through it, see if he cannot recall many pas
sages of profitable instruction, or curious and
Interesting fact, or particular advantages
gained therefrom. But then it requires the
careful observance or treasueing up of these
passages to give them lasting influence
upon the mind, and to fill it with the varied
and solid thoughts that will almost uneon-
sciously advance and elevate him.
The pinions OF the intelleot set strong In
Che perusd become capable Of q wide range
of profitable excursion in tho world Of in.
quiry. Even the reading Of good news-
paper or journal will often 60 far in fairly
and favorabiy influencing and stimulating
the mind, besides the news accounts and
taports, and amusement it affords. In read
ing the eulogies Of good and distinguished
men, which often occur in these, o spark l.
sometimes struck, o fame kindled, q love for
useful knowledge engendered, which will
animate one through life to become as useful
as possible to the human kind. But the
reading of fictitious tales, senseless novels,
and works composed of vulgar or immoral
language will almost invariably have mega
tive tendency to influence and excite the
thoughts and feelings, and should be severe
ly neglected. The world affords better read
ing in great abundance, and why not make
use of this and receive the healthful and ra-
Gonal discipline of mind which it affords?
Into how many new channels Of thought
has the mind bsen led by what one has
read! How many views and plans which
reading could have afforded, have come
slowly, indirectly and unimpressively. How
much vacancy there would be If one but
blot entirely from his mind all the informa-
ton gained and all the thoughts afforded by
what he has read during limited portion of
time? And how much more if he blot out
oil the new ideas and plans Of his own, sug-
gested directly or indirectly, by that read
ingl The truth is one cannot easily read
and likewise think-too much about things
pertaining to his occupation or business, to
the objects and phenomena among which he
is placed, and to the history and morality
and destination of his fellow-beings. .-Es-
change.