158 Till. NKKVm S SYSTEM AND ITS CONSERVATION 



exhibits it impressively. We feel at once that we may ac- 

 knowledge kinship with a creature in which we recognize 

 the beginnings of virtue and nobility. Translated into 

 physiologic terms the self-control on the part of the dog 

 stands for the existence in its brain of countercurrents 

 which stay the execution of the simpler reflexes. 



As men and women we find ourselves called upon not 

 only to restrain many of the elementary react ion>, but also 

 to employ inhibition with reference to trains of thought. 

 The power of concentration and the power of detach- 

 ment are nearly related. It might seem that they were 

 diametrically opposed, but a little consideration shows 

 that what we call "concentration" depends on the banish- 

 ment of irrelevant ideas, and one who can do this will, as 

 a rule, have the ability to banish the central as well as the 

 competing thoughts at the proper time. Those who have 

 carried the most crushing responsibilities for long periods 

 and rendered the greatest services to mankind, have fre- 

 quently been those in whom the power of detachment 

 from their cares was most remarkable. 



Lincoln furnishes an illustrious example. Those who 

 were near him were pux/led and sometimes offended by 

 the abandon with which he put aside perplexing problems 

 to enjoy humorous books or amusing plays. It was not so 

 plain to them as it appears to us now that this relaxation 

 was the physical and mental salvation of the heavy-laden 

 president. Because lie could dismiss the pressing questions 

 when it was no longer profitable to dwell upon them, he 

 could return with renewed strength and clarified judgment 

 to his task a little later. Stedman saw the motive and 

 wrote sympathetically of 



"... our \\liii. longer to rndurr. 



Called mirth to rase hi< rra-rlr" drill-. 



Yrt krpt his nolilrr purpose -nrr." 



The >ame fine attainment of mastery over the currents 

 of the mental life has often given cfliciency to those who, 

 unlike Lincoln, have had no large endowment of physical 



