The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-02-20

Y Y none of forgetfulness.
There are various methods
which teach us how to recollect, but
no method teaches us how to efface
unwelcome memories from the mind.
Yet there is method for those few
who have the determination, the will
power and the perseverance to pursue
it.
In the first place, throw away every
memento and token of the person and
experience you desire to forget. If it
is possible, change your location and
go among new scenes and surround
yourself with new faces. Fill every
hour with work and study, and try to
take upon yourself new engrossing
duties. BE occupied, employ your days
so thoroughly that you are physically
and mentally fatigued when night
comes. Exercise in the open air as
much as possible and take cold water
baths once or twice day. This will
induce sleep.
When the unwelcome memory un-
dertakes to assert itself turn immedi-
ately, busy yourself about peoples
lives. Do what you can every hour of
every day as you pass along the high
way of life to cheer, encourage and
comfort every fellow traveller. If you
can afford the time necessary, take up
some one line of study and endeavor to
perfect yourself in it. Music, language;
painting, wood carving, stenography,
blacksmithing-no matter what; any
thing which appeals to you and which
you think you can do we'll.
When you have chosen your study,
make it point to read whatever you
can find regarding the lives Of those
who have exceiled in this vocation.
All this will help to lead you away
from the pursuing memory. Avoid
solitude. Surround yourself with people
as much as possible. Do not talk about
your trouble to them; listen rather to
the stories of their lives. Good listeners
are always more popular than good
takers. You will for weeks, perhaps
for months, imagine that you are
making no progress in forgetting, yet
as time wears on you will discover
longer and longer intervals in which
you do not think of your sorrow.
Then again, when you imagine you
have almost forgotten it, it will rise
suddenly from its grave and confront
you; but if you do not cuddle it and
entertain it, it will go back to the tomb
where all ghosts belong, and if it finds
you busy, active, occupied and anxious,
it will not trouble you so soon again.
Ghosts do not enjoy the companionship
of people of that type, but rather of
the dreamer lost in languorous retro
spection.
The science of forgetfulness is one
of the most difficult to attain. 1t
cannot be achieved in a moment, it
must be waited and worked for.
Some people contrive to get hold of
the prickly side of everything, to run
against all the sharp corners, and find
out all the disagreeable things. Half
the strength spent in growing would
often set things straight. You may as
well make up your mind to begin with,
that no one ever found the world quite
as he would like it, but you are to take
your share of the troubles and bear
them sturdily. You will be very sure
to have burdens laid upon you that
belong to other people unless you are a
shirk yourself; but don't grumble. If
the work needs doing, and you can do
it, never mind about the other person
who ought to have done it and didn't.
Those workers who fill up the gaps,
smooth away the. rough spots and
finish up the job that others leave un-
done are the ones who count. Busy
yourself and pass along the highway
of life to cheer. and do not think of
sorrow or the ghosts from its grave will
confront you. Remember ghosts do
not enjoy the companionship of people
of that type. The busy, active, occupied
and anxious are the true peacemakers
and worth whole regiment of GROWERS.
I'M