The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-12-04

406 US QO6 uQQ0r value 10 Dy VOICE OF
deed. Never mind what fun may be
made of US by those who pirate about
their resignation to the ills of human
ity."
Mrs. Ames then impressed upon her
hearers that spiritual thought con
tinually persisted in was the ~wellspring
of youth and beauty, and this continual
living on a high plane of spirituality
would enable them to stop even the
ravages of time. She added, in conclu-
sion, that she would be glad to be of
service to the members who were in
terested in the preservation of youth
and beauty by the renewing of their
minds.
Everybody applauded the speaker,
and Miss Mary Shaw began the discus
sion by declaring that she found it diff
cult to do her practical work and live
on a high plane at the same time.
"What little incursions 1 have made
into spiritual thought" said she, have
weakened the hold my profession has
upon me. I find it very hard to be
practical and very spiritual at the
same time"
DR.. Williams said she did not believe
in the theory presented. While she
Thought it very beautiful, her expert
ence convinced her that inherited dis
ease and tendency toward disease and
all sorts of innate tendencies interfered
with our freedom and perfect control
of ourselves.
At this Miss Banks arose. She said
she vas in entire sympathy with Mrs.
Ames, and said, with a wave of her
hand:
I'VE can throw off mentally every
thing we don't want just as easily as
we can clothes. This is what we
must do. for inherited tendencies"
with another wave, I'VE. can throw
them off also. Even DR.. Williams will
admit that there have been cases where
inherited disease has been overcome
by healthy environment. All of US r
capable of doing this. We can form
our own environment and make it a
healthy one"
Miss Banks admitted that she had
di-covered that spiritual thought did
interfere to some extent with practical
business at first, but declared that later
the habit of dwelling on spiritual
heights so strengthened and developed
the mind and soul as to make it easier
to do ones work. She gave a patron
izing tribute to religion, saying it was
to be thanked for keeping alive a spark
of spirituality. She also said that there
was considerable difficulty in keeping
alive the spiritual lite, especially on
the stage, for, she added, pathetically,
managers know nothing of spiritual
ity, and want none of it." The only
way to get along with a manager was
to be sordid, grasping and keen.
Mrs. Theodore Roberts took occasion
to say that in her opinion it was a very
artificial spirituality which could not
mainta!ntain itself in an day
atmo1phere, and that spirituality
ought to mean the power to endure all
these things without allowing them to
touch the inner life. She spoke of emo
tions as q factor in life as strong as
heredity. At this Miss Banks said
loftily:
I'VE consider emotion one of the
10 Her attributes"
Just to whom 1--WE" referred she did
not say.
Pardon me-" said Ms Roburts
emotion is an integral part of the in
dividual."
"Perhaps," admitted Miss Banks,
but we don't regard it So"
Then she took the league into her
confidence, explaining that she was a
most impractical person, liked plays
that were not successful and parts that
did not amount to much and was so
blind to the lower consideration of
what pleased the popular taste that
she always had soma difficulty to get
engagements. Miss Banks then spoke
somewhat vaguely, but always lOftily
and impressively upon the spiritual
theme.
Mrs. Charlotte Gregory pulled the
discussion down from it's lofty heights,
and astonished every body by declar
ing that she was sixty-one years old.
Now, Mrs. Gregory looks like a well
preserved woman of forty, with her
fresh, unwrinkled complexion, erect
form, and dark hair. Her secreR for
youthful looks was eagerly inquired
for, and she replied that nature had
blessed her with a cheerful disposition,