The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-21
WHAT rs YOUR MIND FOR?
I DO YOU EVER THINK?

Z The Rev. A. B. Curry, pastor of the Second Presbyterian
church, inserted an advertisement in this paper Saturday in which
he asked this question: "How would you like to live in a city
without churches" .l ...., .-a. ...
The question does not require an answer. The answer is
obvious. The question contained two elementary requisites of a
wen-written advertisement In the first place, it commanded at
tention, and in the second place, it caused everyone who saw it
to read the entire article.
But this question went farther, 1t compelled men to think.
1t caused those who read it to contemplate a city without
churches a city without those splendid institutions where the
people get their spiritual inspiration a city without moral in
fuence, and without organized cooperation to combat the forces
OF evil. Na .'
*~*
The man who can focus the minds OF other men upon a
given subject and make them think is a powerful influence in any
community, lie may be an influence for good or bad.
Thinking is not an easy process. In fact, it is so difficult
that not one in a hundred has the ability to think consecutively
and %analytcany on a subject for thirty minutes.
Thinking is a matter Of training. 1t is an accomplishment
One child may have the same possibility as another to become
a pianist or vocalist or violinist But one does not become a great
artist without years OF training hard practice and devotion to
the subject he is trying to master.
One does not say, alter hearing a piano, harp or violin re-
cital, 1T, was splendid. Tomorrow shall do the same thing"
1t is just as impossible for one who has heard a great speaker
Or read a great book to make an equally great speech or write
an equally good book the next day because they happened to
be inspired by what they heard or read,
Some men console themselves in their shortcomings and their
apparent inability TO reach the mark attained by other men with
the excuse that those who approach the greatest heights have the
gift of genius.
Inc pest evidence That there is no such thing as genus is
that no man entitled to be classed as one has ever admitted the
accusation. The solution Of the mystery that puzzles 50 many
people is nothing more difficult than work-hard work,
Edison is called a genius, but more frequently a wizard, be.
cause the word implies a still more mysterious faculty. The
genius of Edison is his ability to do so much work with SO little
sleep. Had he made it a rule of his life not to work more than
: hours a day, and after the days work was done devote himself
TO recreation that would take his mind entirely away from his
business, he would not have accomplished any more than a thou
sand other men engaged in the same industry. N
Paderewski loved Just one thing more than his music, and
that was his country-unhappy Poland. The world acknowledged
him a musical genius and declared he possessed talents peculiarly
his own. There will never be another Paderewski' the world
lamentcd when he made the sacrifice Of his profession for the
doubtful gratitude Of his people. 1t all depends upon whether
there shall be another artist with the same amount OF ambition,
willing to devote as much time to his work.
When neglect my practice one day notice it." Paderewski
once sad; when neglect 1.-TWO days my friends notice it, and
When 4 neglect 1t three days my audience notices it."
An aspiring newspaper man once said to a famous author
that he would like to write stories for the magazines or a book
but did not have the talent. The answer was: you don't need
talent. You need a pencil, some paper a ou;et room aud = N,fe
to lock the door and keep the key until Won write something {"
Another author once said that the poorest work he did was
under the spell OF what some people call inspiration" and the
best work was that which was most difficult and had 10 be done
over Tine and again
When any man in a community makes YOU think. he has done
you a real service, When DR., Curry asked the readers OF The
News Scimltar II they would like to live in a city without churches
nc did not mean for them to answer No" which would be the
logical answer. He meant for them to think what such a com
munty would be like, lie meant il they would not like such A
condition they should ask themselves what they are doino IA
maintain and support the churches they have in the community
in which they live.
He gave them something to think about. something worth
while something vital and OF consequence to everyone. Ii YOU
have nothing OF greater consequence, suppose YOU try Dr. Curry
question on your thinker.
YOU do enough thinking eventually YOU will have a trained
mind, and Your conclusions will be logical and correct This
y te greatest age IN the history OF the world ior the man who
thinks,
Think it over,