San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-06

he is now in fort is to be observed
that he has taken precautions against
kind of handicap encountered by most
foreigners who have brought to this
country alleged discoveries for the inn
provement of mans health. BY disclaim-
| ing any power as healer, as that term
is popularity defined, he has undertaken
to disarm the suspicious, the prejudiced
and the jealous And inasmuch as psy-
chology is his field, his disclaimer indi-
Gates that he knows at least the first
essentials of success in his undertaking.
Many foreign fakirs have sought TO
practice upon the credulity of Americans
ailing in mind and body. In nearly every
case such impostors have been marked
as such by members of the orthodox medi-
cal profession. Since this profession IS
extremely conservative, it is only natural
that it should occasionally make an un-
| Just denunciation. The case of DR.. l.or-
enz, the famous orthopedic surgeon from
Austria, is still fresh in memory. But
for every such mistake-and it is TO be
noted that this one was made by individ-
uals and not by the American medical
profession as unit-the orthodox phySi-
clans and surgeons have to their credit
many correct appraisals of rank impostors.
But NJ. Coue-he will not accept the
title of "doctor"-is taking no chances.
He declares that he has never "cured"
anybody in his life. Whether he would
apply the word Cure" to the effect which
people practicing his formula may pro-
duce within themselves, he does not say.
But certain it is that this teacher of
auto-suggestion leaves nothing to be de-
sired in the form of professional mod
esty-and thus he proves himself to be
practical student of human nature.
He goes so far as to say that there is
really nothing new in his doctrine. He
does not profess to be a discoverer. With
"niracle" workers and mystics he has moth
ing in common. He is merely psychol-
ogist But, as a psychologist, he has a
distinction. Whereas other opponents OF
psychoanalysis have spoken and written
: in high-sounding, abstract phrases, leaving
their auditors to bring down to earth
their glittering generalities, M. Coue
translates psychological principles into
simple, concrete, everyday terms.
1t was inevitable that his formula should
afford material for fun-makers. BY COM
parison with the words of the erudite
or Of those who pose as profound philoso-
pliers, it sounds incongruous. Many peo-
r pie have the notion that what they dc
: not understand is necessarily profound
When NJ. Coue bids persons of weak wills
t to repeat over and over to themselves
S the simple statement, "Day by day ii
e every way I am getting better and bet
$ ter" as a means OF inducing within them
: selves the psychic impulse which every
= orthodox doctor recognizes as thera
S peutic aid, many people laugh.
= Certainly the matter is not without al
e element of humor. But who should BIZ
4 the butt of the joke-the little French
f man, or those who "feel foolish" wher
they come down off their high-horse o
t assumed dignity?
= There are many people who habltually
r practice auto-suggestion, consciously o
S unconsciously; thereby they keep them
S selves in state of mental health, whicl
;. is certainly factor in physical health
?. In effect, they take themselves in hanC
s and talk to themselves as though the,
h were children learning their a, b, c's
They are their own mentors.
II There are other people who submit
e INCREASINGLY TO every tide Of circum
e stance that tends to sweep away reason
e They are slaves of their own feelings
v The farther they drift the faster the
1t go. Such people are usually withou
;e self-reliance; they are haphazard an
n harum-scarum; they cannot be depends
l. upon to go through"
% NJ. Coues self-appointed mission,
le seems is to train the weak-willed to be
N come, in as high degree as possibl
al in each case, masters of themselves, an
at to encourage the strong-minded to excl
l. else their superior psychic powers in tina
positive way which conscious effort alon
81 can insure.
=