Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-04-15
PROFESSOR NC FARLAND
speaks to the Union Normal Glass
on N abits''

A regular meeting of the Union Nor
NAL Glass was held on Wednesday even
ing at 730 O. clock, in the chapel of the
Methodist church. Mrs. S. r. Patrick.
the secretary, presided in the absence
of DIR. Averill, and prayer was offered
by Rev. Arthur T.. Hartman. The
secretary announced that future meet
lngs of the class will be held in the YES
try of the Memorial Baptist church.
Prof. Mcfarland was then introduced,
and he spoke in a most interesting and
helpful way on the important subject of
"Habit."
He said in part as follows" The
word habit is one of the most signif-
cant words in our language. 1t comes
from Latin participle which means
the way of holding ones self, or the
way of being held, and it refers to the
tendency of human nature to react in
the way it first acted. For example,:
fold this sheet of paper, and then open
the sheet. | note that, when | refold
the paper, it has a tendency to fall into
the original fold; it has, so to speak,
formed habit Clothing, though
cleaned and pressed by tailor, has
tendency or habit to fall into the
original folds, corresponding to the
form of the wearer and to his way of
carrying HIMSELF
The explanation of the tendency to
act in settled ways is as follows Each
time person does a certain thing,
little path is made through the brain.
That path is henceforth the line of least
resistance; and, when the act is repeat
ed, the nervous discharge follows the
path already made. The natural result
of this is, namely, that man becomes "a
bundle of habits his habits become his
second nature.
The time when habits are most easily
formed is during early life. The mind
is then plastic, and the memory easily
retains the impressions made upon it.
But the Elasticity becomes less and less
marked, and the habits more and more
firmly fixed as the years go by; and it is
remarkable how quickly the profession
al mannerisms' are to be seen in the
young DOCTOR minister and teacher. In
view of this tendency to 'fxity,' the
teachers first aim should be to instll
good habits; to make the nervous sys-
tenn of the child the ally of the good,
instead of the lieutenant of evil.
A famous teacher gives two maxims
for forming good habits. He says, in
the first place, launch yourself with as
strong an initiative as possible in the
direction of the goal sought. In the
case of the drunkard, let him publicly
take the pledge. In the case of the
person interested in religion, let him
publicly confess his faith In the sec
ond place, never suffer- an exception to
occur until the new habit is securely
rooted in your life
1t is well tor us that we have the
ability to form habits. If things did not
become easier each time they We're re-
peated, life would be a burden. Each
act would be as difficult as the first eff
1oft. Inc haDlt-formlng power, how
ever, not only lessons the strain upon
mind and body, but it also greatly
strengthens them. The more good
things that one can give over to the
charge of habit, the freer the mind is
left for the winning of new conquests.
Good habits, firmly fixed, constitute
the souls best defence. 1t is well for
one to be so thoroughly committed to
right living and right thinking that he
can say, when suddenly tempted, it is
not my habit to do evil. A fine way to
strengthen habit, memory and charac-
ter is to think over each day the
thoughts, words and deeds of that day. "
At the next Wednesday evening ses-
sion, Prof. Mcfarland is going to speak
on Especial Methods of Teaching in the
Bible School" The members of the
class are requested to read chapters IA
and Is in the text book.