Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-09-10
.IentaI Conditions the Source OF
Happiness.

Ordinarily n person going to a
summer resort or elsewhere for
pleasure will seek and enjoy the
apartments in the hotel the most
attractive, those which are fur
nished with the most tasty and
pleasant suggestions; and in 60
ing out into the fields and for
ests will notice and take in the
most pleasing features OF the
scenery. He will 60 in the most
accessible and smooth directions,
avoiding the bog holes and mud,
and those places which bring an
novance and discomfort. This
is the natural tendency of human
beings under such circumstances.
1t is strange that this tendency
does not influence mankind in
the pursuit of happiness in every
direction. But it does not,
neither in acting with reference
to self or as to Others. In visit
ing a sick friend or associate
psychological aid is usually rem
dered to the suffering either by
plainly exaggerating or foolishly
expressing pity for one who is
going to die, or by the express
sion of some impossible hope
which gives the victim plainly to
understand that the CONSIDER ex-
poets the sufferer is going to die
and wishes to let him down easy.
Many individuals, too, in defend
ing themselves against evil con-
,ditions of body and mind do not
pursue the pleasant things before
them. Instead of making beau
tiful pictures on the walls of the
sick room, ornamenting it with
elegant imaginative furniture
and fixtures, portraits of pleas
ant friends, getting up magma
Recommendations with acquaint-
ances and going off into a quiet
slumber through pleasant hopes
of what will occur when they re-
cover, they look at every incon-
venience that attends them,
every unpleasant and undesira.
BILE thing in the room, get angry
and fretful at every little mat
tention and perhaps toss and
tumble all day amid fancied and
real tortures and troubles, and
perhaps fear of death itself. Mer
who are in perfect bodily health
go in just such foolish directions
They imagine that everything is
awry and going to the dogs just
because other men do not con
duct their affairs as they do, be
lieve as they do, and have the
same ideas with reference tt
ethics and morals. They look or
the bad side of everybody, see il
them malice and envy toward
themselves, thus making every
thing bad and everybody enemies
In this manner they create al
atmosphere about themselves
filled with all kinds of dishonest
immoral and base elements
They breathe this atmosphere
1t nurtures them. They becom,
permeated with it, and in it in
crease themselves in perfdiou'
debasement. They are creating
devils for their own associates
and in such association they cor
rupt themselves.
On the other hand there ar,
those who seek the contrary as
sociations, read the pleasantes
and most enlightening books, in
dulge in the most elegant litera
ture, passing by the horrid de
tails of murders and the gross
details of debasement and crime
They take in and contemplate
the good qualities of Others
They are enlivened and encour
aged by the pleasant and kindl,,
demonstrations of others. The,
make of them good, kind and in
structive associates, agreeabl
and. profitable companions. Il
this manner they create an at
mosphere in which they grow
better, acquire courage, happi
ness and content.
1t does not follow from thi
that one should be Indifferent t.
the faults of Others or off guar
AGAINST the wileS and evil df