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different places； of longer and shorter duration； still
scrupulous in avoiding； as far as possible； the expense of a
penny。 He promptly seized every opportunity which could advance
his design； without regarding the meanness of occupation or
appearance。 By this method he had gained； after a considerable
time； money enough to purchase in order to sell again a few
cattle； of which he had taken pains to understand the value。 He
speedily but cautiously turned his first gains into second
advantages； retained without a single deviation his extreme
parsimony； and thus advanced by degrees into larger transactions
and incipient wealth。 I did not hear； or have forgotten； the
continued course of his life； but the final result was； that he
more than recovered his lost possessions； and died an inveterate
miser； worth L60；000。〃＇94＇
＇94＇ Op。 cit。； Letter III。； abridged。
Let me turn now to the kind of case； the religious case； namely；
that immediately concerns us。 Here is one of the simplest
possible type； an account of the conversion to the systematic
religion of healthy…mindedness of a man who must already have
been naturally of the healthy…minded type。 It shows how； when
the fruit is ripe； a touch will make it fall。
Mr。 Horace Fletcher； in his little book called Menticulture；
relates that a friend with whom he was talking of the
self…control attained by the Japanese through their practice of
the Buddhist discipline said：
〃'You must first get rid of anger and worry。' 'But；' said I；
'is that possible？' 'Yes；' replied he； 'it is possible to the
Japanese； and ought to be possible to us。'
〃On my way back I could think of nothing else but the words get
rid； get rid'； and the idea must have continued to possess me
during my sleeping hours； for the first consciousness in the
morning brought back the same thought； with the revelation of a
discovery； which framed itself into the reasoning； 'If it is
possible to get rid of anger and worry； why is it necessary to
have them at all？' I felt the strength of the argument； and at
once accepted the reasoning。 The baby had discovered that it
could walk。 It would scorn to creep any longer。
〃From the instant I realized that these cancer spots of worry and
anger were removable； they left me。 With the discovery of their
weakness they were exorcised。 From that time life has had an
entirely different aspect。
〃Although from that moment the possibility and desirability of
freedom from the depressing passions has been a reality to me； it
took me some months to feel absolute security in my new position；
but； as the usual occasions for worry and anger have presented
themselves over and over again； and I have been unable to feel
them in the slightest degree； I no longer dread or guard against
them； and I am amazed at my increased energy and vigor of mind；
at my strength to meet situations of all kinds and at my
disposition to love and appreciate everything。
〃I have had occasion to travel more than ten thousand miles by
rail since that morning。 The same Pullman porter； conductor；
hotel…waiter； peddler； book…agent； cabman； and others who were
formerly a source of annoyance and irritation have been met； but
I am not conscious of a single incivility。 All at once the whole
world has turned good to me。 I have become； as it were；
sensitive only to the rays of good。
〃I could recount many experiences which prove a brand…new
condition of mind； but one will be sufficient。 Without the
slightest feeling of annoyance or impatience； I have seen a train
that I had planned to take with a good deal of interested and
pleasurable anticipation move out of the station without me；
because my baggage did not arrive。 The porter from the hotel
came running and panting into the station just as the train
pulled out of sight。 When he saw me； he looked as if he feared a
scolding。 and began to tell of being blocked in a crowded street
and unable to get out。 When he had finished； I said to him： 'It
doesn't matter at all； you couldn't help it； so we will try again
to…morrow。 Here is your fee； I am sorry you had all this trouble
in earning it。' The look of surprise that came over his face was
so filled with pleasure that I was repaid on the spot for the
delay in my departure。 Next day he would not accept a cent for
the service； and he and I are friends for life。
〃During the first weeks of my experience I was on guard only
against worry and anger； but； in the mean time； having noticed
the absence of the other depressing and dwarfing passions； I
began to trace a relationship； until I was convinced that they
are all growths from the two roots I have specified。 I have felt
the freedom now for so long a time that I am sure of my relation
toward it； and I could no more harbor any of the thieving and
depressing influences that once I nursed as a heritage of
humanity than a fop would voluntarily wallow in a filthy gutter。
〃There is no doubt in my mind that pure Christianity and pure
Buddhism； and the Mental Sciences and all Religions fundamentally
teach what has been a discovery to me； but none of them have
presented it in the light of a simple and easy process of
elimination。 At one time I wondered if the elimination would not
yield to indifference and sloth。 In my experience； the contrary
is the result。 I feel such an increased desire to do something
useful that it seems as if I were a boy again and the energy for
play had returned。 I could fight as readily as （and better than）
ever； if there were occasion for it。 It does not make one a
coward。 It can't； since fear is one of the things eliminated。 I
notice the absence of timidity in the presence of any audience。
When a boy； I was standing under a tree which was struck by
lightning； and received a shock from the effects of which I never
knew exemption until I had dissolved partnership with worry。
Since then； lightning and thunder have been encountered under
conditions which would formerly have caused great depression and
discomfort； without ＇my＇ experiencing a trace of either。
Surprise is also greatly modified； and one is less liable to
become startled by unexpected sights or noises。
〃As far as I am individually concerned； I am not bothering myself
at present as to what the results of this emancipated condition
may be。 I have no doubt that the perfect health aimed at by
Christian Science may be one of the possibilities； for I note a
mar