Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-03-28
THE EYE AND THE MIND.
The Importance of Bringing tho Two
Powers Into Close Relation.


1t is popularity and somewhat loosely
| supposed that every one who is. pro-
| vided with the requisite organs of sight
can see; that to do this requires no in
struction and no mental effort, and
that consequently it may be fairly left
to the natural desire of simply OPEN
ing the eyes and fixing them on sur
rounding objects. Now this would be
| quite true if by seeing we meant merely
picture unconsciously formed ON tie
retina of the eye, conveying no special
impression, and leaving no trace be-
hind. Perhaps this is all it is to the i'll
FAINT who first opens his eyes upon the
strange new world he has entered. But
| gradually, as his mental power begins
to assert itself, he sees in very diff
ferent way. He thinks, he wonders, he
tries to comprehend, he makes expert
ments, he learns something Of distances,
of form, of color, of various prep rites
and uses of objects around him, and of
how to adapt himself to them.
The first difference we notice letween
mentally bright child and dull one is
the degree to which this is done. In
one the mind gladly comes to the aid Of
the eye, suggesting a thousand ideas,
which are constantly being tested by
questions and experiments, while in the
other the vacant gaze excites no sur
prise, develops few conceptions, and
leaves only feeble impressions. Thus it
is the mind, after all, that enables us to
see to any purpose. The eve furnishes
the opportunity, but only so far as the
mind avails itself of the occasion is the
result either pleasurable or useful.
There is very common error made in
limiting mental work to the study of
books, and to that solitary thinking
which can go ON with shut eyes. The
truth is that mind and its labor enter
into all conscious impressions of the
senses to dignity and exalt them, and
only through its action can their real
value be developed. And the culture of
the mind can lie as fully and thoroughly
carried on in these directions as in auy
region of scholastic instruction. Neither
in childhood nor maturity is it con-
sidered very essential to teach the art of
observation, yet it is an art in which
every one needs to be proficient.
Some valuable efforts have been put
forth in this direction through the me-
dunn of the kindergarten system, ,by
which the little ones are led, among
other things, to notice carefully, to re-
member, and to recount the details of
what they see, and SO to combine men
tai exertion with the act of looking
that it becomes a general quickness of
their intelligence instead of mere idle
pastime. Such discipline, if skillfully
administered and kept up in after years,
will add much both to the pleasure and
the value of life. When we reflect on
the pains that are taken with the blind
and the deaf, to compensate for their
loss, by cultivating and stimulating
their other senses, we see what it is pos
sible to do in these directions. If only
half as much effort were expended to
develop the art of seeing, or rather to
bring the mind into active cooperation
with the eye, what favorable results
might we not hope to see! 1t is impos-
sible to compute how much more we
should know with such training. For
as we now gaze at nature, or art, or
people with an idle OF preoccupied mind j,
much valuable Information escapes us.
Let any one test this in his own case
by withdrawing his gaze and recounting
to himself what he has seen, and he will
often be astonished at the paucity of the
results. When he looks again, with
this in view, he will see 100 things to
which he had before been insensibe.
And the concentration of thought which
is necessary for this is one of the best
means of strengthening and dsciplining
the mind. Still more would this help us
in our employments. Many of them
consist chiefly in skillful imitation, and
all of them are benefited by view ing
closely superior models. But when the
faculty of sight is unframed there is
much that remains unnot;c, d. and that
is either learned slowly by hard exper-
ence or is never gained at all. This is
specially true in all manual and artistic
occupations. Both the artisan and the
artist depend largely for their success
upon the degree to which the attentive
eye and the intelligent mind are CO.
workers.
Through the trained and olservant
eye we also learn much Of our fellow
men that would otherwise lie a sealed
book to us. Character may be read in
the features, though but few as vet
know the language. The changing
feelings, the ebb and flow of emotion,
the firm resolve. the vacillating will,
hope and fear, love and hate, the con-
test between impulse and principle, the
triumph of good or of evil, all leave
their imprint on the face, for those to
read who have the power. He who has
attained some ability in this direction
can test the effect of his speech and his
influence; he can tell when it is wise to
| speak, and when to be silent, when to
offer help, or sympathy, or comfort,
and when to refrain.
Much of the knowledge of human
nature, which is felt by all to he pow
erful factor in our dealings with one an
other, comes from this very habit of
keen and careful observation. Much of
the pain, given without intention
through careless conduct, rough man
ner, blunt words, and thoughtless neg
lect, is due to our ignorance of each
other, and of the effects we thus pro-
duce. A keener perception, a more
delicate apprehension, a deeper insight
would often draw together, in bonds of
friendship and good will, those who, for
the lack of these, grow further and fur
ther apart.-[Philadelphia Ledger.
Tyyn cit:zans of paln,vro Ma have