712 Dynamic Theory. 



and tend to disintegrate them, are unpleasant. The degree to which we 

 are affected depends upon the firmness with which the organs are estab- 

 lished, and this depends upon the amount of energy, time, use and 

 habit which have been expended in their erection and consolidation. 

 Those of recent origin may be disturbed and contradicted without so 

 much pain as those of older growth and greater intensity. In fact, 

 those of the most recent growth are often entirely subverted by new 

 sensations. Thus, in styles of dress and architecture there is a constant 

 evolution keeping pace with the growing development of standards of 

 taste in symmetry and grace. 



But those ideas which have stuck to us longest, and have become 

 woven into our lives through constant use and habit, and have become 

 adjusted to and associated with other ideas, cannot be antagonized by 

 adverse sensations without pain. This generalization is not confined to 

 abstract or general ideas which are shared by many persons, but is true 

 also of those personal and special organs which each one has, peculiar 

 to himself, and growing out of his individual experience. Thus, we 

 say in general, a man loves his brother more than.anyone else loves him. 

 But this we find depends upon his habit of association with him. If 

 the brothers were brought up together in harmony, and have shared 

 their sensations with each other from childhood, as is most generally 

 the case, they love each other, and because we find it so habitually, we 

 regard it as the rule. If, however, they are separated in infancy, and 

 brought up under different influences of religion, habits and modes of 

 thought, there is but little in common between them, and therefore little 

 affection. Our interest in others depends upon the intimacy and har- 

 mony of our relationship with them, and pur pain at the termination of 

 such relationship is in proportion to such interest. We may suffer al- 

 most intolerable grief at the loss of a near relative by death, but if it 

 is another man's relative in a distant state, it hardly excites in us a mo- 

 ment's consideration. We suffer the pain of grief for everything we 

 lose in proportion to the intimacy with which we have been attached to 

 it, whether it be friend, property, influence or position. Such intimacy 

 is the expression of cerebral organs differentiated and built up by re- 

 peated sensations of harmonious relations. It is founded upon the su- 

 perposed and consolidated memories of these relations, each separately 

 in some way promotive of our satisfaction, and, in the aggregate, of our 

 happiness. Any sensation, which, coming into contact with such organ, 

 tending to add to it, strengthen it, and build it up harmoniously with 

 itself, adds to our happiness ; while any sensation, which, coming into 

 comparison with such established organ, tends to antagonize it and undo 

 instead of furthering it, brings discord and, consequently, unhappiness. 

 The effect of rubbing two rough bodies upon each other, is to eliminate 



