The San Francisco call., 1906-08-12

majesty Of the mind" is a
sentence which viii strongly
suggest the import Of the new book
called The Philosophy of Life" which
briefly and beautifully proclafns the
hne philosophy which has been worked
out by the writer OF the little volume.
Charles Gilbert Davis. Chicago physi-
clan In another sentence from the
same book we are reminded Of the fact
that even as some men can run faster
Ehan others and some throw farther
Nan others, so there are some who
can suggest more forcibly than others"
One OF the first OF the favorable i'm
pressions made upon the reader by this
attractive volume is that this physician
Charles Gilbert Davis, has the rare gift
Of suggesting more forcibly than 9TH
ers. He is a master in that art Of men
tai influence which he has made the
cornerstone OF his life's philosophy and
the subject Of his enthusiastic and very
optimistic treatise
The book is dedicated to all the
weary millions OF humanity who are
seeking happiness" II is one OF the
most pleasing and convincing books OF
that class Of literature known with very
varying degrees Of approval as the new
thought. Much of the writing done by
the advocates Of this theory of Iife's
conduct and meaning sounds absurd TO
the average reader because the over
feTvent faddists of the cult impress one
as being persons who. having got hold
OF a happy thought which INDUCED in
moderation would be sane. wholesome
and helpful, ride their theory like a
hobby 10 a ridiculous extreme. There
IS a something in the quality of this au-
thPr's force of suggestion which takes
n ay the fear that he may be faddist
whose line OF thought is a waste Of time
70 try to follow.
Although he speaks of the mind as
omnipotent, he is no advocate of a men
tai healing cult which would preach
against medicine and surgery. He saws
that his volume is not an argument, il
IS an assertion. and from his physi-
clans experience he tells of the wonder
f0i influence Of the mind over the body:
assuring US that people can make their
bodies seriously sick by the force Of
misdirected thought and that they can
cure themselves OF disease by the
power OF wholesome and beautiful
thoughts and giving as an Illustration
OF minds influence over matter the
fact that he had seen an infant die, poi 4
soned by the breast Of a woman who
had let a nj OF rage dominate her /
thoughts while she nursed the child.
Although the average reader will be 4
by natural conservatism reluctant to
follow DR. Davis in the enthusiastic ex-
tent OF his belief in the omnipotence of (
the mind power Of a mere mortal man,
he. seems both so sane and so deeply 4
earnest an advocate Of this theory the 4
thinker viii be inclined to admit that
there may be much more Of truth in this I
idss Of the majesty OF the mind than (
~ been recognized in any previous /
age.
Glorious equipoise of spirit" is one
Of the much to be desired results .
which the author tells US may be OBJ 4
tained as the result Of a course of
training in mind control. He empha-
sizes his belief that his influence /
grows through cultivation.
The object OF life is the develop /
ment Of the human soul'' is a tenet to !
which he holds consistently. OF imag- 4
instion he says;
''Why, indeed, should we reject /
Imagination? Is it not the bright 4
star in the east that led man always 4
70 every height that he has conquered? 4
Has It not conducted him from cave
life to the mountain top. whore he
csnRht the first glimpse of his Cod?" ]