Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-08-12
Tie Many t,ils Of Quick Temper.
BY Ella Wheeler wilcox.

PstuSl isi Ia tue list Oh human ffailitiee
is quick temper
a every score Of men and women
taken at rsndsm, from the lowest 70
thA highest classes, 10 are proved 10
be easily Initiated, engaged or made
resentfui in feelings by the daily tri-
nes which are so much more difiicult
to bear with eemposure than great
troubles.
You who read these words are say
Ing TO yourself, perhaps, they do not
apply to you; that yen are never put
out Of temper even by serious matters.
Yet, set watch upon your mind for
one day aud discover The truth, and
then you will be IN position to pro-
fit by this, little discussion of all al.
mo- universal fault.
An erroneous i'm pressisn has largely
prevailed in the world that a quick
temper indicated "spirit' and was
more or less mark Of high qualities.
] have heard parents speak of The
tendency of child to fly into = pas
sion with certain visible pride, which
the child was not slew to perceive.
Our educational institutions 40 not
seem to regard the fault as one 10 treat
seriously, aud our religious teachers
deal gently with 1t.
Culture bids us control our exhibit
tion of temper, but docs not tell us
how necessary 1t Is to overcome the
feeling within.
But in the philosophy of the ancient
philosophers we find valuable counsels
which are based upon scientific facts
regarding the emotion Of ger. Here
is quotation from one of the teachers
from the land which we call heather
India.
"If man dees evil to us rs we In
stantly W INT to reach evil, and this
impulse uses up the fine material out
of which the mindstaH Is made, and
vitiates its power. Every reaction in
the form of anger, hatred or Ill will,
every evil thought or deed, Is go much
loss to the power Of the mind. Each
time we control suoh thought, or
feeling, 1t Is direct gain to the mind-
power. Not only do we gain control
of ourselves, but tits just SO much good
energy Will be converted into the high
er powers
Still, again, the same teaching tells
us: ave must have friendship for
all, mercy to those Ia misfortune, hap
pIness for the happy and pity for the
wicked
Then we are instructed how to con-
troll the breath and the body in order
10 gain concentration and to obtain
complete mastery Of the mind.
All this 10 valuable and important
knowledge to human being anxious
to in crease the happiness and good
ness of the human family by becoming
good and happy himself.
1t does not matter to what creed we
subscribe, or what belief Is ours-this
Knowledge of divine fact is worthy
of our effort to obtain it
In the present hurried, heated and
exaitabls method Of life, it 10 most
severe effort to keep aimable, kind and
full Of good feeling to all human be-
ings, as we push and crowd through
the world in pursuit of what we think
is success.
If any simple, healthful method IL
offered US, no matter from what source
or century, let us be thankful.
There are some things we know bet
ter today than any enc knew thout-
and or fifty years ago.
Other things were known better
thousand and five Thousand years
ago than we know them.
Concentration was enc OF these
things The tendency of modern times
ID TO scatter our mind forees-and TO
render us irritable, resentful and ILL
tenn pered. Here is little f,rmula
which will help as all in eur search
fer control, composure and concentra-
tion
Sit IL quiet room in comfortable
chair, erect with the hands resting
lightly on the knees.
Close the eyes, inhaie q deep brsath
through the nostrils until counting
seven, hold the breath while counting
the ssme, and slowly exhale the same
length Of time. Think, as you inhale,
that you are taking to from Gods uni
verse good hsalih, good will, success,
happiness and usefulness and making
them your own. Do this for five min
utes only, morning and night, and see
If your nerves do not become more UNI
der your control and the task OF keep
ing amiable less difficult.
OF course you will mot become per-
feet in day, week or year. You Will
have your ups and downs, your SET
backs and your encouragement. But