THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 



proverbially futile a performance than to wait on the 

 future. Whatever your mistake of yesterday, you can 

 never undo it. Let it teach you a lesson for to-day; 

 beyond that you can serve no useful purpose by dwell- 

 ing on it regretfully. Resolve that you will not make 

 the same mistake twice ; and begin Now to go ahead 

 in the path that your present judgment indicates as the 

 best one. 



Conceding, then, that to-day and not to-morrow is our 

 work-time, what hours of to-day shall be set aside for our 

 task ? Shall we work early and late, or only a few hours ? 

 And in the latter case, shall our work-hours be those 

 of the early morning or those of the night ? 



In putting that question, I am assuming, quite ob- 

 viously, that your task is one that permits you to elect 

 the time of its attempted accomplishment, the task, 

 let us say, of the artist, the writer, the musician, the 

 striver after artistic success in almost any line; for of 

 course the routine tasks of the ordinary trade or pro- 

 fession must be undertaken in the hours prescribed by 

 convention. Assuming that choice is open to you, 

 what hours may you best select ? 



The question is one, perhaps, that does not admit 

 of categorical answer, so great is the diversity of custom 

 among successful workers. A good many literary 

 workers are erratic in this regard, turning night into day, 

 and working only after most other people are in bed. 

 At this time, they say, they are undisturbed by obtru- 

 sive sounds. Some writers are peculiarly susceptible 

 to disturbing influences, and think themselves unable to 



