The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-09-26
IMPORTANCE OF BEING HAPPY.

The power of thought is very often strik-
ingly illustrated when great sorrow or a
keen disappointment changes in short
time the appearance of man SO that his
most intimate friends scarcely recognize
him. The cruel thought bleaches the hair
and seems to laugh Economically from the
wrinkles it has made in the face.
Worry, fear, discomfort are so many
malignant forces within US, poisoning the
blood and brain, destroying harmony and
running efficiency. A few minutes of hot
temper-no matter how provoked-may
work such havoc in the delicate cell life of
the human organism that it will take weeks
to repair the injury; indeed, it may never
be repaired.
1t is OF the utmost Importance, then, that
everybody try to cultivate and train the
will so as to bring it under the influence of
the higher part Of his mental and moral
being. While the will is most effectively
used in developing and training the intel
lect and building the character, it must be
trained by itself habitually to come under
influence Of that which we call character.
1t is folly, Of course, to assert that one
can be happy all the time, no matter with
what degree Of assiduity he trains his will
to that end. Circumstances and environ
ment have their influences, which cannot
always be nodded to the desires of the in
dividual
There are times for tears as we'll as
laughter. Even the much given advice
always to look on the bright side of things
is very far from being at all times good
advice. Most bad things have their COM
paratively bright side, but they are not on
that account good things, nor should they
be tolerated for moment longer than the
opportunity to abolish them can be taken
advantage OF.
Admitting all this, however, the main
fact remains that the doors of the mind
should be shut as tight as possible against
destructive agencies. Discordant thoughts
and a morbid mood, once harbored, breed
more of their kind. The moment we en-
terrain either there will begin multiplica-
ton, and the result will be unhappiness
and an impairment of efficiency.
What a tremendous amount of wear and
tear, of wrenching of the heart and Of
friction could be avoided if the doors of
the mind were shut to tearing down de-
structive thoughts and only the ideas that
uplift and encourage, that cheer and re-
freshen were admitted! Fits of the ''blues, -
depressing, gloomy, melancholy thoughts
have Slapped the life and vitality and en-
ergy of more men than years of the hardest
work, cheerfully performed, could possibly
have done.
The possibilities of happiness, of pros
perity and of long life would be immensely
increased if we could keep in the mind
strong, vigorous, resourceful and produce
tive thoughts. 1t is impossible to entertain
discordent thoughts while the mind is in
tent upon harmony; of ugliness while
beauty is reflected in the mental mirror, or
of sorrow while joy and the spirit of glad
ness predominant.
Concentrated and continued attention is
essential if the full natural capabilities OF
man are to be brought out. And this
attention depends upon the ability to bring
the will under control. If the will relaxes
its hold upon the activities of the mind, the
attention is liable to be carried away by any
one of the thousands of ideas that the laws
OF association are constantly bringing into
the mind.
The best way to train the will is to use il
intelligently and with purpose. The
training of any faculty of the mind is al
the same time training of the will. The
attention being so closely allied to the will
it follows that careful training of atten-
ton will result in strengthening of the
will.
Every one has made mistakes: everyone
has shortcomings. But, no matter how
bitter they have been, vigorous effor,
ought to be made to blot them out, to for
get and to resolve never again to harbol
them. BY persstency, determination and
watchfulness it is possible to clear the mind
of most of these enemies of success.
The joy of life is for the many if they
will but learn to take it. Nature, art, cul.
ture, philosophy, friendship, humanity
such things cannot be monopolzed, and il
is these that give true happiness.
Eight years ago when the office of State