, 1886-04-14
THE FOLLY OF FRETrlna


Loss of Power. Damage 40 Health ana
Weakening of Mind Through Worry.
Exactly as the unburdened, unfretted,
unworried lily attracts power to grow
and clothe itself with beauty from the
elements about it. exactly 10 does the I'M
fretted human mind attract to itself a
thousand times more OF what is neces-
sary TO carry out its plans and relieve its
happiness. You lose that power the mo-
ment you m to fret l mean
here, power TO carry on any kind Of bust
ness. from preaching up TO street sweep
ing. Every man OF business knows that
he is in the best condition to do business
when his mind can fix itself on the one
plan and shut out everything else. Every
artist knows hat he does his best work
when his mind is wholly fixed, concen-
trated and absorbed in the work OF the
minute. Because then it is able to use
all Its power, and what is more, 1t Is
drawing then to itself more of power,
and what is ever so attracting it is fasten-
ing to itself forever.
/ hear you say, Il can't help worrying.
times are hard, wages low, living high;
the family's large, they must be housed,
fed and clothed, and this is on my mind
day and night. You talk of not worry
ing under such circumstances. It's all
nonsense" You see, my friend, l have
tried to give you the full force Of your
objection. II you want more you may
call me hard names in addition. It is
all nonsense too to say you can't stop
worrying, at least for the present. But
that makes no difference as to the re-
suit, the loss of power through fretting,
the actual damage to health, the weak
ening OF mind through worry, the aging
Of the body, and worse than all, the loss
or cutting of from yourself Of the minds
attractive power which, il allowed free
operation like the lily's. would give you
all that you can enjoy for the day, be-
cause you can enjoy but just so much
for the day though you have, or think
you have ten thousand times more. A
man can eat and enjoy but one dinner at
a time, though he has money enough TO
buy a thousand.
II you .nre in a crowd rushing in a
panic you must go with the rest and
perhaps be crushed. Life as now lived
by thousands is as a crowd panic stricken
by fear OF coming to want, or fear of
something or othor. Any fear from any
cause brings loss of power. l don't say
that people ought to stop worrying.
There is no such word as ought" in my
dictionary. People can't help worrying.
The habit is born with US. Our ancestors
for generations have worried before US.
But that makes no difference as TO the
destructive results of taking thought for
the morrow" The law involved goes ON
working. 1t Is merciless in its working.
1t is as certain TO run over and crush you
IL you get in its way as is the locomotive
If you step before it on the track.
The best way is to take advantage of
the law and get on the right side OF it.
How? Think hopeful things instead OF
hopeless things. Think succe instead
OF failure. Why, the habit of thinking
hopeless ~disagreeable things is 80 con-
irmed up here in New England that If
you remark, at is a fine day." half of
these grouty croaking old shellbaclSs will
growl, "Yes, but it is one of your weather
breeders" Just so SURF as the universe
is governed by fixed and immutable law,
Just 80 sure will that law be found to
read, "If you think bright things YOU
attract bright things to you. l. you
think lark things you cut off the invisi-
BILE wires with the bright things and you
make instantaneous connection with the
ground circuit attracting dark things"
Perhaps you say this is simple or
childish. Now, what is simple in this
universe? The sprouting of a seed is
called by some a simple affair. But
nobody knows the real cause OF its
sprouting. 1t is only known if you put
1t in the ground where it can have a
certain amount Of the suns warmth and
some moisture, 1t will sprout. The rising
and falling of a tea-kettle's cover over
the fire gave Watts his first idea of the
mighty force Of al That is, he got
there his first hint of the power in steam,
or rather behind steam. That is heat.
But then there is a power behind heat.
What's that Don't know. Simplicity,
indeedl What in the world is there so
simplel-Prentice milford in San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
N.thluU Naufura-- NnfhInr ~ In