The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1903-10-02
The Usefulness
OF SeIf-COntrO

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 | can be useful to
that person, and when | 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 a person
sat few seats from me. No doubt |
ScOwled, as | felt it, and though
we know and saw each other, neither
of us spoke. l resisted my tempta-
tion to remain where | was and took
a seat by his side | introduced myself
as though | had been forgotten, and
we had a very pleasant chat after we
got started. | so forgot myself that |
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 | have received on the subject
of self-control, the following are some
extracts:
Thinking of consequences is ono
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
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-cOntrOI 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 no to a friend and
run the risk of losing his friendship,
Good solicitors tell me that self-con-
.rOl is one of the most valuable forces
n their lire Of work An attorney
who is a collector told me as a rule
ne thought it was a good thing to
cave his club at home, as he might
,eel it necessary to hit back some
lines, but at all events be sure never
% lose your head. believe that it is
iery profitable for us to undermine
)ur own errors and explode them our
selves. It does you more good to kick
7Ourself three minutes than to kick
he people thirty years. To have self
control is to have almost everything
Use desirable, but self control is an
Indirect product of daily good judg-
nent
In order to have seif-cOntrol you
must have something to control. a
histle-down has no self-control be-
suse it has no weight, and it would
Ie the same if it had intellectually
nd had 70 weight. A very smart
nan with very weak muscles is sure
much in need Of self-control. Sys-
ematic saving fosters seIf-cOntrol and
God Judgment. Think-think twice
thrice if necessary. Practice in
rder to be able to perform suddenly
nd satisfactorily. Be something and
reveut your blood getting thin. The
'orld needs more agreeable disagree
lg, but before it can have ii, it must
0ntain more seli-controI.