EMOTION 169 



tress is replaced in the physician by the endeavor to relieve 

 is set forth in the exquisite story of "Rab and his Friends" 

 "pity, as an emotion, ending in itself or, at best, in tears 

 and a long-drawn breath, lessens, while pity as a motive 

 is quickened, and gains power and purpose." 



It was with similar ideas that James taught that the 

 pleasure of the drama or the symphony concert ought to 

 find its application in the better performance of one's work 

 or the readier expression of kindness toward one's asso- 

 ciates. The same may be said of the exaltation felt in the 

 presence of beautiful natural scenes. This seems like 

 ethical preaching, but it is none the less sound hygiene. 

 In fact, the present age far more than any that has gone 

 before understands the closeness of the parallel. The 

 teaching with regard to emotion is, after all, just that of 

 pedagogics, that it is not profitable to receive without 

 giving back. Reaction is the law of the nervous system 

 from first to last. 



We have attempted to make the point that all emotion 

 is exercise, and that, accordingly, emotion in moderate and 

 reasonable variety is a source of general development; in 

 short, of training. It will be well to show how women, far 

 more frequently than men, are likely to suffer from the 

 want of such stimulation. They often work by them- 

 selves and lack the spur of companionship during a large 

 part of the day. Their friendships are seldom as warm 

 and comforting as those between men. Many do not find 

 time for the daily paper, and, with all its faults, the press 

 causes its readers to visualize and in imagination to enter 

 into the course of stirring events. The husband, who 

 profits by the diversion of his newspaper, the little journey 

 to and from his place of business, a more or less social- 

 occupation, and a lively lunch party at noon, should not 

 forget how colorless by contrast has been the day of the 

 wife at home. More deliberate effort is necessary in her 

 case than in his to bring in the needed elements of enthu- 

 siasm and interest. It is peculiarly unfortunate that so 

 many women are denied the full benefit of the Sabbath 



