The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-18
THE SILENT ROOM.

lent room, says the New York Herald,
which have come most fiamboyantly
into notice. The room is used solely
for the purpose of promoting "concen-
tration," a word which nowadays is
much heard in the especial hauntS of
society folk. Indeed, it would seem as
though many women were feeling
strongly the need of some private spot
of retirement, free from the movings
of every day life, absolutely silent, and
wherein the nerves may be altogether
relaxed. 1t is, however, not for the
purpose of relaxation that the silent
room has become an institution, al
though this may be regarded as a pri-
mary state of its true purpose-con-
centration.
Forgive me, it is my hour for concen-
trating" is an excuse which has pass
ed freely at Newport this summer, and
one against which a protest in I'M
available. The individual who thus
speaks then leaves whatever amuse-
ment is in progress, no matter how en-
tertaining it may be, and goes to the
silent room. Once behind it's door,
no messages are allowed to be given to
her; no interruptions are permitted.
When later she appears the casual OBJ
server might notice in her no change,
yet in reality her energies are refresh
ed and her hour of silent meditation
has equipped her to meet calmly the
days emergencies.
1t is said, by one who knows, that
no two people should make use of the
same silent room. This is said to be
because the air of the room becomes
infused with the personality of it's reg
ular occupant, and acts. therefore, as
an irritant to one visiting it but sell
dom. Also, if used exclusively for con-
centrating, this action of the mind be-
comes easy within its walls, while out
side, amid the worlds distractions, it
is often most difficult of accomplish
ment. A certain hour each day also
should be set aside for concentrating,
when the mind. aided by the atmos-
phere of the silent room, falls grad
ually into the habit.
The ideal silent room should be on
the top floor of the house, and If pos
sible have window, or skylight, from
which only the miracles of nature can
be seen-the sea, abundant foliage, or
the blue sky alone. 1t should be abso-
lutely simple in arrangement, having
no furnishings that might attract the
eye either pleasantly or to form a dis
cordant note. An ashen, dull shade
of green for its background appears to
be regarded as most conducive to re-
pose. Above all else rocking chairs
are excluded from the silent room. Its
quietude, moreover, should be perfect
So sensitive, indeed, to outside noises
does the occupant of silent room be-
come that various plans for deadening
their walls are now under discussion.
One New York man of abundant
wealth has in his home a silent room,
which has proved to him so helpful that
he has found 1t worth while to hedge
1t in by unoccupied rooms on either
side. These rooms are securely fasten-
ed, and outside of the purpose of pro-
curing silence for it's eanctum are thus
rendered useless. A young woman at
Newport has fitted up the formerly I'M
used cupola of her home as an admira-
BILE silent room. 1t is reached by so
many flights of stairs. she says, that
she is secure from interruption and is
nearer the sky than she often gets.
Another interesting silent room known
to the initiated is in dormer window,
boarded off from the rest of the roof
It's furnishings consist of a large, old
desk rug and straight back chair.
On the desk the young woman who
uses this room has number of books
treating mostly of mental science and
the habit of concentration. Not a pic
ture, not an ornament or decoration of
any kind is seen there. The walls
and this is quite unusual-are painted
white.
The occupant of this last room tells
amiably that she first felt the need of
some such help through an encroach-
ing habit of vagueness, and because a
day seldom passed without her losing
or forgetting something really impor-
tant. An intimate friend then whis-
pered into her ear about the silent
room. She resolved to test it's efficacy.
When first she began thus shutting
herself up the hours were those Of long
drawn out misery. She could not con-
centrate. Day after day she would
in despair throw herself on the floor
and perhaps doze the time away. 1t
was when on the brink of abandoning
the idea that she laid in the stock of
books which still are seen on her desk.
For half an hour then she would read
endeavoring the rest OF the time to
concentrate. Still II was very difficult
Gradually, however, with perserver-
ance II came to her. At first she could
keep her mind fastened on some one
subject no longer than five minutes
and regarded even that as an achieve
ment. To-day she concentrates abso-
lutely for an hour each morning. A
longer time than this is deemed in
advisable.
II is not only for the selfish purpose
OF mental poise that concentrating Is in
vogue. II is declared by those who
have practiced IL that others may be
helped through directing toward them
strong thought forces-even that the
friction Of a household may be held in
allegiance by the efforts Of one individ-
ual given 70 concentration.
ufcuT pAnrEoorrn