PERFECT HEALTH 129 



plodding parents and teachers cannot understand him or the 

 glories of life. Unfortunately he is usually right. 



He must gird his loins and go whither he will; must taste 

 of every experience, is willing to meet both joy and pain with 

 '' frolic welcome." He has not yet been saddened by expe- 

 rience or disillusioned by disappointment, nor trained to en- 

 durance. 



Nature is loosing her leading strings and setting him free 

 to forge his own character. In old times the adolescent ran 

 away to sea, now we send him to college. Here, beyond the 

 benevolent watch of neighbors, he begins to experiment in 

 life, to make his blunders, to find himself, his strong and weak 

 points, and to grow into a man. 



Authority has only a superficial hold upon him, tradition 

 still less. The influences of early home training rooted deep 

 in his subconscious life are exceedingly powerful for good, 

 sometimes for evil. Yet he cannot or will not stand alone. 

 Individual judgment and conscience develop very slowly. To 

 understand him and his actions under certain conditions you 

 must study the psychology of the mob. 



He is a mixture of contradictions, an enigma to himself and 

 us. He might well say: '' My name is legion for we are 

 many." In the ferment of youth all that is trifling and worth- 

 less comes to the surface, the strong and sweet are hidden be- 

 neath the froth. 



He has no trace of a conception of the meaning and value 

 of time, lives in the present moment, cannot play a waiting 

 game. If the sun shines to-day, it will always be cloudless; 

 if the maid of his adoration has frowned, he is in despair; she 

 will never smile again. He betrays all his momentary conceits 

 and foolishness; his deep humiliation over his blunders, fail- 

 ures and sins he keeps to himself. 



Nature puts a shell around chicken-embryos to prevent med- 

 dling intrusion with her vital processes. She puts a similar 

 shell around the adolescent. His confidence is reserved for 

 friends of his own age. On the whole it is best so, our med- 

 dHng fingers might mar the process. He must fight his own 



