, 318 NERVES AND THEIR CONTROL 



but realize how soon they will become mere bundles of habits, 

 they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plas- 

 tic state. We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, and 

 never to be undone. Every smallest stroke of virtue or of vice 

 leaves its never-so-little scar. The drunken Rip Van Winkle, 

 in Jefferson's play, excuses himself for every fresh dereliction 

 by saying, ' I won't count this time.' Well ! he may not count 

 it; but it is being counted none the less. Down among his 

 nerve cells and fibers the molecules are counting it, registering 

 and storing it up to be used against him when the next temptation 

 comes. Nothing we ever do is, in strict scientific literalness, 

 iviped out. Of course this has its good side as well as its bad 

 one. As we become permanent drunkards by so many separate 

 drinks, so we become saints in the moral, and authorities in the 

 practical and scientific spheres, by so many separate acts and 

 hours of work. Let no youth have any anxiety about the upshot 

 of his education whatever the line of it may be. If he keeps 

 faithfully busy each hoar of the working day, he may safely leave 

 the final result to itself. He can with perfect certainty count on 

 waking up some fine morning, to find himself one of the compe- 

 tent ones of his generation, in whatever pursuit he may have 

 singled out." JAMES, Psychology. Are habits formed sud- 

 denly ? Are we always conscious that habits are being formed ? 



2. Man is a bundle of appetites. What relation should his 

 appetites bear to his better judgment ? 



Conclusions. 1. Show that it is foolhardy to permit of any 

 lack of perfect self-control. 



2. Explain the statement, "There seems no possibility of 

 improving our race except as the young are led to see the man- 

 liness and dignity of self-control." 



Questions 



1. Explain the statement, "One by one the little records 

 within the brain cells (neurons) build up our lives and our 

 characters) and determine our habits of action and of thought." 



2. Why do employers favor boys who do not use tobacco? 



