The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-12-07
Mind vs.. MATTER
IN POPULAR SENSE

that its fixe weeks "fu" blockade has
closed, remarks that, in departing,
the internal flu has left us some
thing to debate about for the rest of
eternity" and it wonders eff we would
have had the flu IL we hadn't got into
a panic of fear? Was there really
fu, or did we invent something and
then fear it?"
Panic, fear, are generally coming
TO be recognized as mental conditions
that have determining effects upon
the bodily organism. and both are
regarded as invitations to disease.
Even the materialist now tells us that
panic disarms the protective forces of
the body and works directly against
its welfare.
There is no question about fear or
panic temporarily paralyzing the
processes of digestion, straining the
heart. and affecting the circulation of
the blood; there is no question that
the mental attitude of the individual
may weaken the whole physical sys-
TEN and make IL more susceptible to
disease.
Thus far the Times in his quest
appears to be in agreement with what
humanity has already learned by bit
ter experience.
But whether we approach the ques-
tions of life from the standpoint of
a materialist or an idealist, both
schools of thinkers seem to be com
ing to an agreement upon the decisive
effect OF the mental attitude of the
individual upon his health. his bust
ness affairs. his social life. and upon
his general welfare.
The old school OF thought minim-
ized the importance of the mental at
titude of the man in the equation of
living; a man. that is to say, by sit
ting down and thinking, could not
move a house, or earn days wages.
or buy bread and meat, or rid him
self of an ailment
The brain was admittedly useful in
planning, In business. In invention
or other service; but 1t required the
operation of the body TO give any
useful effect to the suggestions OF the
mind
Our recent experience in the well
fare work of the army gives empha-
sis TO the importance that is now
generally attached to the mental atti-
tude OF the individual. Our men Of
the army are invited to dismiss care
and worry. and to acquire and retain
a happy. care-free attitude of mind.
all going to make up an intangible
fighting quality called morale.
Morale ("sand," to use homely but
expressive phrase of the WesD is a
quality that wins in battle, in sports,
in business, and in all the contests
that beset men and women in the
course of life.
Getting away from the effect of the
mental attitude upon the physical
acts of the individual, we find so
practical and hard-headed a mission
airy as the Saturday Evening Post
telling us that the business conditions
OF the future. as to either prosperity
or hard times. may be fixed by the
mental attitude of the nation.
In the view of the Post. either good
or bad times are within our own con-
troll. "If we keep our courage" says
the Post "our punch. our common
sense. try hard to harmonic our diff
ferences and pull together. we shall
have good times. Otherwise we shall
have bad times"
Here is a determinative effect upon
business credited to the mentality
something even more difficult to be-
lieve. on the part of the old mate
rialist school, than its effect upon
bodily disease; yet the Posts view is
shared by the intelligent thought of
the nation.
The Los Angeles Times, in pushing
it's inquiry, sets forth that during the
influenza stampede, And quarantine
restrictions. practically the whole
population of the city filled its streets
IN the victory celebration. elbowed
one another about. and violated every
theory of protective regulation by
isolation of disease.
Yet. says the Times, "if gathering
in crowds was guaranteed to give us
the 'fiu,' we should all have been
down with ii. To this the doctors
make answer that the Joy Of victory
surging in the human breast upon