Gilpin observer., 1903-10-01
The Usefulness
Of Se1f-COr7trO


What is dangerous for one person
may be. perfectly safe for another.
Very, very few inherit so much money,
muscle or mind that they can squan-
der all their life, never acquire and
die rich. AS one mans food may be
another mans poison SO one mans
pleasure may be another mans pain.
Self-control is quality desirable in
all phases of life. in social profession
al and commercial fields. 1t means
money and victory.
There are some people whose per-
sonality seems to throw me off the
track, and no matter what they say or
do irritates. For some time have
been trying, when see such a person
to study out how l can be useful to
that person, and when l meet him
make an extra exertion to be agree
able and sensible. Sometimes unset
fish work pays. The other evening on
the train the above kind Of person
sat few seats from me. No doubt
scowled, as l felt it, and though
we know and saw each other. neither
of us spoke. l resisted my tempta-
tion to remain where l was and took
a seat by his side. l introduced myself
as though l had been forgotten, and
we had very pleasant chat after we
got started. l SO forgot myself that l
left the train with him before reach
ing my station, but subsequent events
proved it was to my advantage to get
off at that place.
From a number of communications
which 1 have received on the subject
of self-control, the following are some
extracts:
thinking OF consequences is one
way of gaining or maintaining self
control"
Thinking of the uselessness of fly
ing to pieces is another.
First of all, Christian principle;
second, strong will power-the God
given power to hold still, no matter
how hot the furnace; third. fear of los
ing ones hold on ones SELF
"The source of self-control lies in
an earnest purpose to show strong
manhood and womanhood."
"Self-control is the result of expert
ence; mistakes fortify one in the fu-
ture against the same acts, and help
to decide kindred actions. Education
tends to give one command over self,
partly by the wider range of view
acquired and partly by the knowledge
of experience of others. Some per-
sons can not profit by the experience
of others, but must pass through the
fire themselves. Self-control appears
at times to be the gift of nature, as
some people even in childhood re-
veal a self-command which could not
have been acquired. l believe self.
control to be an acquired accomplish
ment, resulting from experience and
observation rather than from any
study of books"
About the severest test of self-con-
troll is to say mo- to friend and
run the risk of losing his friendship.
Good solicitors tell me that self-con-
troll is one Of the most valuable forces
in their line of work. An attorney
who is a collector told me as a rule
he thought it was a good thing to
leave his club at home, as he might
feel 1t necessary to hit back some
times, but at all events be sure never
to lose your head. l believe that it is
very profitable for us to undermine
our own errors and explode them our
selves. 1t does you more good to kick
yourself three minutes than to kick
the people thirty years. To have self.
control is to have almost everything
else desirable. but self control is an
indirect product Of daily good judg.
ment.
In order to have selfcontrol you
must have something to control. A
thistle-down has no self-control be-
cause 1t has no weight. and 1t would
be the same IL 1t had intellectually
and had no weight A very smart
man with very weak muscles Is sure.
ly much in need of selfcontrol Sys.
tematic saving fosters self-control and
good judgment. Think-think twice
thrice IL necessary. Practice In
order to be able to perform suddenly
and satisfactorily. Be something and
prevent your blood getting thin. The
world needs more agreeable disagree
Ing but before 1t can have 1t. 1t must
contain more self-control.