The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-22
A LENGTHY WORD.
What 1t Means-A Habit That Should BE
Cultivated.

- ICN1 ! II WSnGs
What 1t Means-A Habit That Should Be
Cultivated.
Concentration" is rather 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 l was very little girl l 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 a die
tionary. l don't remember whether /
learned there that Demonstration is
the thief of time" but do know that
from that day the dictionary and have
been pretty good friends. / shall not
mind, you see, if you turn at once to
find out what concentration means.
1t is a common trick to hold a glass
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 binding
light-you drop the lid at once. Or il
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, | 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. 1t does not
follow that you should use more power
than is necessary fer given purpose;
you need not take sledge-hammer to
drive a 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 / have in mind. 1t is habit
distinctly to be cultivated by the con-
straint of will.
| 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
satisfaction in room where others are
talking? How many can come in from
the playground. and in two minutes
be absorbed in the lessons? l don't
think it would be so difficult ques-
ton to determine how many could go
out to the playground and instantly
leave the lesson behind. There would
be 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. 1t will
make you thorough in any work,
physical or mental, thorough in play,
too. 1t is a sign of a healthy mind;
none but a sound mind can so act. 1t
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. 1t will give clear
expression to thoughts, and you will
find it 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.
1t 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 life's day, by
enabling you to persist in looking on
the bright side. 1t will multiply
thousand-fold your power for good
work. The suns rays might fall all
summer long on the white paper, and
only dim it's Wilderness; it is when
they are focused, concentrated at 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 l do" Perhaps would bet
ter say here that am not wishing you
to become fanatics, men with hobbies,
those who are called men ''of one
idea," for that means narrowness of
mind, but rather that whatever comes
within the circle of your duty or your
rightful pleasure, you may attend upon
without distraction" IN. Y. OBJ
server.
"A curious illustration of the treas
ures of the soil, often overlooked for
long time, is the discovery of mineral