The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-13

VI,
Mass, 1900
AS a man thInketh so he Is," seems
to contain IN n nutshell, the central
thought dominating this new and inter-
csting booklet. The author writes In
an easy flowing style and as II In a
very comfortable frame Of mind and
easy circumstances financially, and his |
arguments In favor OF his theory are
quite plausible and certainly some of
them will hardly be dsputable. The
frontispiece shows the author to he a
very we'll fed well nourished. comfort |
able and prosperous looking young man
who to use colloquialism or two
looks as If he never was down on his |
luck" or ''up against II" to any extent,
and we suspect that all the "concen-
tration of thought" and control of
thought" which he so we'll advocates
wouldn't have brought him the adj
vances of salary he obtained and the
subsequent prosperity out in oklahoma
when he branched out for himself, II he
had not been possessed of more than
usual natural talent and ability for
business. One can't lift himself by
his boot-straps," usually. and we sus-
pect that some men not built that
way" might will TO be Rockefellers or
]. P. Morgans or Carnegies, from one
year to another without ever becoming
l-millonaires or even the owner of
ali automobile. But much that Is adj
vocated in Prosperity through thought
forces" appeals to reason and common
sense and the advice given would be
profitable II taken and adopted and
adhered to, For instance as he says:
know thyself' Is the deepest and best
advice ever given to mankind. II en-
braces the knowledge that character or
self can be strengthened and ennobled
The author then says: Tho mind at
tracts success in all things as It Is
freed from jealousy, envy, distrust, III
WILL anger hate or fear" all Of which
is no doubt true, providing every such
state Is attainable to mortale here be-
low. 1t is hardly possible to conceive
Of the attainment Of state of mind
where for instance a man will never
be wholly destitute Of fear. as in cases
where one is in great bodily peril, say
for instance when anarchists are close
at hand with bombs.
Again the author says: Now let (the
poor impecunious doubter or the timid)
al .f III,
occupying better position in life, hav-
ing money and friends and every
thing he desires. In time that be-
comes the reality. His circumstances
change as his mind changes. He has
risen above circumstances, has con-
trolled them. Fortunately. however,
the author at once adds that II what
he designates as the law of vibration"
be invoked simply to bring worldly
gain there would he no response"
But, he adds all good things come to
him who builds up purity and strength
of character. BY "al good things" the
Inference Is that money is included. But
the author proceeds to argue that per-
feet peace may be attained that
Heaven is within you, condition and
not place This practice Of auto
suggestion must be persevered in he
says to bring results and he adds
"A man is the product of his ances-
tors thoughts and conditions.
His present condition will he the re-
suit Of past thoughts.
His future condition will he the re-
suit Of present thoughts"
"one object Of autosuggestion is to
the thought that You can and will and
success follows"
Dwelling on any quality Of mind
adds that quality to you. whether 1t he
helpful or injurious"
"The induction of any positive quail
ity, such AS courage. decision or aspir-
alton destroys the opposite negative
quality, such AS fear, ndecison or
gloom
After all, the author again main
tains that wealth Is attained through
thought force. He says: what brings
wealth? Did you say opportunity? Do
not believe IT, | tell you the man
makes the opportunity Thousands
are losing their wealth daily. Other
thousands are accommodating wealth"
The author evidently does not share
shakespeare's view when the latter
says: There is a tide in the affairs
of men" etc. but he adds, TITS all IN
the mantle winning of wealth,
which is what we averred in the OPEN
ing of this article. There always will be
"hewers of wood and drawers OF wa
ter no matter how much one lies
awake and thinks and thinks about IT.
he cannot upset the idea In the parable
of the talents, that some are more rich
" endowed with brains (talents) than
others.
But the autho" proceeds vigorously to
develop his argument that clean, sane,
forceful thinking upon what is w1oIe-
some, lovely and OF good report is up
lifting and beneficial; that Cooking
upon the bright side" Is helpful; that
the doctrine of cheer up It may not
be So is ispiring. The effects Of an
ger, jealousy, hatred etc, are we'll
known to be harmful and dwarfng in
tendency. So get prosperity Through
Thought Force" and think hard good
thoughts and the dawn Of better day
Is before you even II you cannot think
yourself into u good job when hard
times and closed shops are upon you.
It won't hurt you to be optimistic even
II you find that the following view Of
the author Is fallacy viz: Financial
success may be brought about by
keeping the mind fixed in determined
resolute way on larger income keep
up being optimistic even If you fall to
find It true that as the author further
says; Learn to control yourself that
your desires may be for peace, love,