The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-04-18
IT. itten for The Prison Mirror.

N n ENIAL pnllOSOpny mas as
IAv many different departments
" of action as applied mechanics
The ability to think correctly
is not an end, but means; it is. like
the blacksmith's hammer, the carpen-
ter's saw, the engraver's chisel, or the
painters brush, merely tool, not an
example of finished work:
The best tools ever made never were
of any service to their owner or to the
world until they were used. On the
contrary, if simply kept instead of being
used to some purpose, they become in
time disgrace instead of an honor to
their owner. Good tools do not imply
good work, for the work depends upon
the will and purpose of the man who
uses them.
Almost any one can recall some per-
son regarding whom other men oc-
casionally say, "What could not do if
l had that mans mind?" Nearly
every one knows men of fine education
men of intelligent faces and noble
foreheads, who nevertheless never do
anything in particular. These men
have good mental tools, but lack the
will to use them, so they are distanced
by other men, naturally their interiors,
who do the best they can with such
mental equipments as they have
Many years ago the Russian ship
builders, stimulated by the example of
Peter the Great, built handsome ships
with no tool but the axe, while the
shipwrights of France and England,
with all the tools that centuries of
experience had developed, did no better
work.
Benjamin West did good work with
rude brushes and colors which he him
self made, but West knew what he
wanted to do, and determined to do it,
No one in his day had fewer facilities
for learning languages than Elihu
Burritt, Connecticut blacksmith, yet
he became wonder of linguistic ac-
quirements.
Intention and force are necessary,
besides tools, if man means to do
anything. Nevertheless, the more sim
cere the intention and the stronger the
available force, the greater the benefit
of good tools. Any one wishing to
turn mental philosophy to good use,
after forming an honest and distinct
purpose, first, should prepare his mind
for the work-he should develop his
mental powers. Comparing himself
with other men, he may conclude his
mental powers are too weak to be
worth developing, but such conclusion
would be mistake, even if formed by
lunatic. The resources of the human
mind, like those of the soil, cannot be
known until tested Thousands of
acres which now yield only wild grass
or worthless weeds would prove more
fertile, if properly worked, than some
"model farms" which are bringing their
owners much praise and money. Not
many years ago the great wheat fields
VI C1O w CSU WClC UolI w doUCO VI
noisome swamps. Some men who now
are acceptably governing their fellow
beings, healing the sick, or preaching
the gospel were once loungers, gamb-
lers, or debauchers. Their minds, like
plains and swamps of the West, have
been cleansed and cultivated-been de-
veloped. The development of the mind
is therefor the first duty of man with
a desire to become true philosopher,
no matter in what direction he may
wish to exert his mind; no matter
whether he wishes to be pers onal
influence in ethics, theology, or what is
called pure philosophy, he must not
trust entirely to good intentions, he
must fit his mind to give his intentions
most effect. 1t is quite possible to
read someone's treatise on logic, on
mental, moral, or spiritual philosophy,
and accept it unquestioningly, but that