The Washington herald., 1915-09-23
Taking Things Quietly.
BY JOHN ID, BARRY.

BY JOHN ID. BARRY
To be always ahead of time is one of the best
possible habits. 1t avoids irritation in oneself and
in others. 1t tends to create a poise that is verv
valuable, carrying with it many things that we
fail to do properly through our hurricd approach.
IT we took plenty of time over them, if we looked
at them with quiet mind, we should find most
Of the difficulties smoothing themselves out. In
stead of being perplexed and troubled, we should
know the joy of mastery.
Tolstoy, in one of his letters, speaks with par
tlcular affection of his aunt Tatyana "Sbe
taught me-" he says. "the beauty of a calm and
unhurrIed life. The words suggest soothing
and inspiring presence. Here and there one see,
people of this kind Wherever they 20 they re-
proach the nervous haste of the world They illus
trate the meaning of wise living. They make us
see how important it is to keep the sources of our
being untFou0'ed and lself-eon'rolled.
The moment we get into furry the whole
nature is agtated. Instead of being one creature
we become many creatures, imperfectly related
discordant scattered in our thinking and acting
under difficulties. Little things become effort and
pain. Where there should be harmony there is
dlscord. No wonder there is disaster in the lives
OF those who, from day to day and from year
TO year, live in this kind of turmoil The result
ing sickness, physical and mental is natures pro-
test and warning For this reason we ought to G..
the absurdity OF our regarding much of our sick
ness as an evil. 1t really is blessing. But w.
cannot take advantage of it unless we realize IFS
meaning. II we merely try to cure the SYMPTOMS
we do ourselves harm. Instead of pro6tinp we 70.
siSt our lessons
Some people think they are not reallv accom-
pllshing anything unless they make flourish
Inc more excitement they cause the more faith
they have IN their own power Sometimes they
Doast OF the number of things they have done
uurihs the day They seldom stop to inquire
whether those things, before being done, were
well considered whether other things which
they nave tailed to do, may not have been more
important. There times when it is best NOT
TO do anything at all, to keep perfectly still to
relax. to rest, and to think Many of our lives
are like growths ill-nourished ground like
trees rising out of rocky soil. 1t would be so
much inner If we would only enrich the sources
with contemplation. resulting in a deeper under
standing and sympathy. Those intervals of idle
ness that the hurried people so persistentlv avoid
might be used with profit
There is little country place within an bour,s
Ivy: @ VI Id se CITY Where several men of my ac-
quaintance live. Most of them find traveI;ne
back and forth each day hardship Some of them
complain. But one has has told me that he con-
siderS those two hours among the best hours Of
ms DAY. , they give him time to think in the
morning, he says when I am going UP to town
l make my plans In the evening, on nv wav
home, look over the days work But for those
Two hours on the train should do great many
things differently, and, | believe, not so we'll"
One of the arts of life is to be able to sit still
and to enjoy. To the excitable and furricd pco
pie it is almost unknown The reason is that
their mental habits keep the springs of being
troubled Even in those moments when they are
forced to be still they feel i'll at case Turmoil
has become part OF their nature. They sometimes
reach the state where it seems impossible for them
ever to know peace. The best they can achieve
is kind of self-forgetfulncss in confusion The
more confused they are the greater their. illusion
OF freedom. The effect is like drinking or taking
a drug.
too, we may be sure that something is wrong We
are out of harmony. On realizing Our condition
the best we can do is to stop our activities for
time and to learn to adapt ourselves to quietcr
living Till we reach the power to enjoy stiffness
we cannot live wisely and happily 1t is. indeed
pay. us to keep it safeguarded. One way is by
testing ourselves with an interval of repose If
we hnd it difficult when at last we do enjov the in
terval we should devote it to at least few min
utes thinking of what doing, whether it
is good and whether doing it in the right
way. Soon shall find our thoughts and our
actions making life pleasant So much that SEEM
ed important will betray its unimportance So
much that we might have neglected will present
itself and invite us to action. Now the soul is re-
ceiving nouriShmcnt. 1t will send new yipor
through all being.