The Arizona sentinel., 1889-07-06
A LENGTHY WORD.
What It Means-A Habit That Should Be
 Cultivated.

l
 What It Means-A Habit That Should Be
 Cultivated.
 Concentration" is rather a long word, but let us not be afraid of it, for it says in one word what we must otherwise use several to express. When I was very little girl was put to writing my first composition. and the teacher gave me as a subject Pro crastination. Think of it! But am sure now it was a real kindness, for those five syllables sent me to dic- tiOnary. don't remember whether l learned there that "Procrastination is the thief of time," but 1 do know that from that day the dictionary and have been pretty good friends. 1 shall not mind, you see, if you turn at once to find out what concentration means.
 It is a common trick to hold glass 1 in a certain way so as to catch the rays of the sun and unite them on one point; if that point happens to be one of your eyes you can not bear the blinding light-you drop the lid at once. Or fl you draw the rays to a paper it is scOrched; the heat which is so gentle when diffused through space burns when focused thus.
 So, 1 think concentration is the focusing of power; or, to put it in simple phrase, it is the ability to do one thing at time, and that may not be so easy as you suppose. It does not follow that you should use more power than is necessary for given purpose; you need not take a sledge-hamm to drive tack; but the ability to employ just the power needed, to so put your thoughts on the matter in hand as not to be distracted by other things. is what I have in mind. It is a habit distinctly to be cultivated by the con- straint of will.
 I do think it comes easier to men than to women. because women have such multitude of cares which beset them all the time. One can not won der if in the midst of delightful con- versatiOn the hOuse-mOther's thoughts wander to the jelly which Bridget may let burn, or question whether the new maid will spill the soup at dinner. But such anxieties will not come to you.
 How many of you can read with any s-e'-- WI, -.,ss eNA talking? How mauy can come in from the playground. and in two minutes be absorbed in the lessons? don't think it would be so difficult ques- tien to determine how many could go out to the playground and instantly leave the lesson behind. There would be a great show of hands on that.
 You will not fail to catch sight of the advantages gained by this ability to do one thing at time. It will make you thorough in any work, physical or mental. thorough in play, too. It is sign of a healthy mind; none but a sound mind can so act. It will make you clear thinkers; you will be able to follow an argument through many windings, and detect the falla- cies if there be any. It will give clear expression to thoughts, and you will find it a great time saver. He who thinks clearly, thinks quickly; his thoughts are not like brood of chick ems, only gathered to stray away again; he need not spend his time in continually calling them back. It will be safeguard against temptation and wickedness, since you have gained the power to turn the thoughts and keep them turned, and for the same reason it will save you from the harassing cares and sadness which so often darken ife's day, by enabling you to persist in looking on the bright side. It will multiply a thousand-fold your power for good work. The suns rays might fall all summer long on the white paper, and only dim it's whiteness; it is when they are focused, concentrated 1t one point, that the paper burns.
 The world has seen many examples of this power. Most men who have had great influence have been able to say when occasion required: ''This one thing I do." Perhaps would bet ter say here that 1 am not wishing you to become fanatics, men with hobbies, those who are called men ''Of one idea" for that means parrOwness of mind, but rather that whatever comes within the circle of your duty or your rightful pleasure, you may attend upon without distraction. "-N. '. Ob- server.