The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-23
|IT HAS AN APPEAL
Practical Psychology Appears
for First Time in Topeka.
Duane Van Horns Lecture
Brought a Real Response.

It Is even more than practical
| Psychologist is common sense. I;
is not as high sounding as it appears
it is the basis of everyday living.
1t is life and health and happiness
with vigor and vitality and person
atty thrown in.
Duane Van Horns lecture at the
Central Congregational church last
night was Topeka's first insight into
the theories of the practical psy-
chology epidemic that is sweeping the
country from the east. Van Horns
organization, the Harriet Luella Nc
Column syndicate of New York, is re-
sponsible for the new outlook on life
Van Horn is a son-in-law of Mrs Nc
ColIum and has gained a wide reputa-
ton turnout the east for his lectures
and his connection with the institu-
ton. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs.
c. b. Van Horn, 1915 Mulvane street,
Topeka
Despite the fact that Duane Van
Horn is a Topeka product, was known
here mostly as a youngster, is a grad
uate of Washburn college. his youth
was no hindralce to his lecture last
night. His talk, his pleasing manner
isms, his ability to put across his
strong points, his confidence in his
subject-with it all he possesses a
most unusual combination of vitality
and youth and-deep thinking.
The lecture was to have been held
in a room adjoining the church audi
torium. The room was filled fifteen
minutes before the talk was scheduled
to begin. More persons arrived and
it was evident that Van Horn would
be confronted with an uncomfortably
crowded hall. The church auditorium
was cold but the audience voted to
adjourn to the chilly atmosphere. The
didn't let this bother him.
In fact, he took advantage OF the
situation and by getting responses from
his audience he convinced his hearers
that they were not cold, that they
they needed more air, more defense
against the ordinary discomforts OF
life.
This clever prelude to his lecture
brought the audience to him and Tor
nearly an hour-there was intense In
terest in every point expounded by the
young lecturer.
Our Personalities.
Our environment is a reflection of
our personalities, Van Horn said.
We naturally tend to surround our
selves with an atmosphere which re-
fleets our own personalities. and to
have those about us who are some
what like ourselves, he said.
He announced himself as a great
advocate of thee sentiment, I'm 1lne
and dandy. Why shouldn't I beg
and persuaded the audiencet o repeat
it with him two or three times, before
he explained his reasons. Body and
mind, he said, are one, and each has a
definite action on the otner. II you
are really convinced that you are. fine
and dandy, it will have a favorable ef-
feet on your health.
He condemned worry, which he de-
fined as simply adverse concentration.
1t creates tensions in the body ana
does no good anyway, as one is always
able to do more in cheerful frame of
mind. AS a rule, the things about
which one worries are not OF nearly so
much Importance as we think, he said,
and we need to change our viewpoint
about many matters which worry us.
'You must be happy in order to be
a success said Van Horn. with
happiness you can not help being sue
cessful. After all the only pay which
any one gets for anything is the de-
of his personality. All in
the world that we can hand down to
our children after we are dead is the
enthusiasm and the influence OF our
personality
Man is a mechanical creature, who
moves by customs and traditions, he
pointed out. He has mental make
UP which dictates most of his actions,
the Sub-consciouS, the
super conscious and the subjective
mind. OF these the most important is
the subjective mind, for in it is kept
all the impressions and memories of
our lives. Every one has a potentially
erything in his life, and keeps it for
future reference.
Every thought, feeling or emotion
is reflected in the body in some way,
q movement, a tension, or something
OF the kind. 1t is no wonder then
that ones cast of countenance takes
on the semblance of the things which
most occupy ones mind. He empha-
sized the need of balance in ones |
thinking habits and physical life.
Anger and fear are the causes of |
most diseases indirectly, he declared, |
since they create the tension in the /
body which make it easy for disease to !
lake hold.
BOOZE NEAR CoURr HOUSE.