The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-21

leading periodicals of the day a large
number OF helpful subjects. A list that
should be of incalculable benefit IN help
ing the Individual reader not only to
overcome pressing difficulties, but to meet
with greater courage and fortitude the
ever increasing exigencies of our very
strenuous life. If the text was equal In
value to the subject such would be the
case. But 1 am sure many readers with
me are forced to admit that 1t is rare,
very rare, that the article bears in any
degree the help and suggestion promised
in the title. What Is written generally
sounds well enough and covers very In
teresting ground of facts and conditions,
premises which the reader agrees are
forcible and true. The difficulty is appar-
ent in the pancity of helpful suggestion,
the lack of any hint that will assist one
in meeting daily conflicts. A little volume
is just to hand, however. which meets
this need in every line of its contents.
THE Heart of the New Thought by
Ella Wheeler Wilcox is the volume and
1t bears upon every page loving phil
osophy of thought and deed which can
not fail to be of incalculable benefit to
every reader. Mrs Wilcox's writings have
been the inspiration of many men and wo-
men, and her hopeful practical, master
full views of life are appreciated by In
Vulnerable admiring readers. What she
thinks is so clear and practical and ex-
pressed with such plain, tender forceful-
ness that her words never fail to win
loving response. I remember a little
couplet of hers which though written at
the beginning of her career may be taken
I believe as the foundation of her belief;
If 1t could be compassed in so few words.
1t runs:
Hide in your heart a bitter thought
Still it has power to blight;
Think love, although you speak It not,
1t gives the world more light"
The backbone of Mrs. Wllcox's phil
osophy as expressed in her new book is
the Power of right thought" In THE
Heart of the New Thought" she has
made the spirit Of her philosophy of pro-
gress and upbuilding so terse, and win
ming and convincing that even the casual
reader feels the contagion of its vigor
and its optimism. 1t deals with the prac-
tice of new thought In our daily lives
and is written in some thirty essays
which cover number OF interesting and
helpful subjects. She says. THE young
men Of France are studying alchemy,
hoping to learn the secret of the trans
mutation of gold. If you will study your
own spirit and its limitless powers, you
will gain a sweeter secret than any
alchemist ever held, a secret which chall
give you whatever you desire. Think of
your body as the silver jewel box, your
mind as the silklining, your spirit as the
gem. Keep the box FURNISHED and clear
of dust but remember always that the
jewel within is the precious part of it."
Mrs. Wilcox has made the tenets of the
New Thought very simple and plain and
her teaching, covers the physical re-
quirements as well as the mental and
spiritual needs. 1t Is very different phil
osophy from the pessimistic beliefs held
by many; but its optimism is so cherry
and stimulating that 1t is very persuasive.
-
I give few suggestive precepts from
the work. although their full value is
lost in detaching them.
Every woman who passes thirty
ought to keep her brain, heart and mind
alive and warm with human sympathy
and emotion. She should keep her body
supple and avoid losing the lines of grace
and she should select some study or
work to occupy her spare hours and to
lend a zest to the coming years.
Make your life after 1t reaches its noon,
glorious with sunlight, rich with harvests
and bright with color. Be alive In mind,
heart and body. Be joyous without gid
diness, loving without Stiffness attrac-
tive without being flirtatious, attentive
to others needs without being officious
Be noble, loving, lovable woman.
Thought is eternal in its effects, and
every hopeful thought which enters the
mind sets vibrations in motion, which
shall help minds millions of miles dis
tant and lives yet unborn.
The great nature makes its ouy, an
vironment, and dominates circumstances
1t all depends upon the amount of force
In your own soul.
Believe absolutely In your own God
given power to overcome ANYTHING and
everything. Think of yourself as per-
forming miracles with Gods aid Desire
success so intensely that you attract 1t
as the magnet attracts the steel.
What do you thing about the very first
thing in the morning? If you set out
with worry. and depression. and bitter
ness of soul toward fate or man. you are
giving the key note to a day of discords
and misfortunes. If you think peace, hope
and happiness you are sounding a note
of harmony and success.
There are natures born to happiness
just as there are born musicians, mechan-
les and mathematician. The man not
endowed with joyous impulses needs to
set himself the task of acquiring the
habit of happiness. To the sad or rest
less or discontended being would say:
Begin each morning by resolving to find
something in the day to enjoy. Look in
each experience which comes to you for
some grain of happiness.
The withered and drawn face of fifty
indicates withered emotions and drawn
and perverted ambitions The dried and
sallow face tells its story of dried I'D
sympathies and hopes. The furrowed face
tells of acid cares eating into the heart
All this is irreligious.
Mrs Wilcox is now connected with the
New Thought magazine published in Chi
cago, in the capacity OF associate edi-
tor, and her writings now appear regu-
larry in that magazine
"Silver Lived Days" by Clara Conway.
In most artistic cover of blue and silver
comes a little volume entitled "Silver-
Lined Days, Leaves from a Notebook
OF Old World Travel" by Miss Clara
Conway. This is day OF books of travel
notes and the number Of recently pub
lished ones seems to be almost limitless
But If they were all as charming in
thought and expression as this one. we
surely would wish for even more. Miss
Conway is a prominent and successful
educator of Memphis. Tenn, and in adj
dition to her richly stored mind has en-
5oyed many leisurely stays abroad So
that 1t is peculiarly fitting that Miss Con-
way should at last open her notebook
and give to admiring readers the benefit
of her thoughts and observations during
her foreign travel. "Silver-Lined DAVIS"
is In no sense bookish, holding in view