The Washington herald., 1917-06-14
The Mind a Menfal Machine
ny FRANCIS GRIERsON,

Editors note-Fancis Grierson holds an e9-
csptional place in the intellectual world. His
literary and political works are now In all The
leading libraries in Europe and America. He
writes about the present world crisis with far
seeing vision, bringing INTO service his acQuaint
ance with European statesmen, his experiences
at the courts Of Russia, Germany and Austria
and his wide knowledge Of literature and art Of
the leading capitals Of the world)
Men fail when they are on the
wrong job. And the failures are ev-
erywhere-in town and in the coun-
try, on farms, in factories, in busi-
ness, in art, in science, in the pulpit.
in politics.
An eminent scientist has declared
that three out of every five young
men are trying to do things which
they do not understand and can
never master.
Most people Of our day need some
thing to rouse them out of what, to
many observers, seems like waking
trance.
mable advantage of emerging from a
condition of mental lethargy and hap
hazard methods in every walk of life,
from princes to peasants and from
politicians to billposters.
Millions have been awakened to a
new order OF existence, not only in
the world Of commerce. but in every
and fastfdious princess. to her butler.
her valet, her maid and even her
cook. For the butler discovered
that he could boss a company of SOL
diers at the front better than a set
Of walters at a party, the valet
awoke to the fact that he was not a
varlet as well, the maid found it
quite easy to assume a position far
above her usual situation, and the
chef found to his great surprise that
he could handle soldiers kits as well
as kitchen pots and kettles.
Even the men interned in the diff
ferent camps are waking up and as
suming a normal attitude toward life,
art, business and science.
At one camp great discoveries were
made. Men who never aspired to be
anything but ordinary walters dis
architecture and wood carving. Three
young men VINO had held menial posi-
tions and never dreamed OF rising in
the world now expect to become teach
ers of languages when they are set
free.
At another camp surprising musical
talent was discovered.
But the most unexpected transforma-
tions have occurred among the wealthy
families Of Europe. Titled women who
never in their lives did a stroke of
any kind of work now think nothing
Of sweeping, cleaning up and cook
ing, and, in many instances get the
work done in much less time than 1t
took the servants.
Opportunity is marvellous eye
opener to people who are ready to
seize 1t. The thing is to be ready
and willing. Necessity is not only the
mother of invention but Is frequently
the creator OF a great career.
A young man who is satisfied with
an ordinary job is likely to remain
where he Is indefinitely.
Tho most dangerous condition to fall
into is that of being satisfied with a
mere living. The very thought of be-
coming a fixture in a humdrum posi-
ton has a hypnotic effect on thou
sands who appear to the ordinary OBJ
server as intelligent, wide-awake peo-
pie. Instead Of holding and handling
the job, the Job holds and handles
cumstances. and moving upward by
sure and steady degrees, they settle
down to a mode of life that turns
them into human automatons, clocks
with two hands always pointing the
wrong way. With them the time is
always out Of joint.
Fifty millions OF the people in
America are living by the week with
nothing saved to tide them over
for all these people in time of ma
tional trouble would tax the ingenuity
of the wisest and most experienced,
The human brain resembles a DELI
cate machine-with many people II
goes the way it is set, with a sort of
blind force. With others It runs ac-
cording to will and reason. Without