Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1876 — Presence of Mind. [ARTICLE]

Presence of Mind.

We so continually, in the journals of the day, see evil consequences from want Of presence of mind. In circumstances where kite proper conduct has long been generally agreed upon, that we might oe tempted to believe it a quality beyond mortal reach, if we were not aware how many things, which appear notorious to all, are in reality unknown to many. Hardly a week passes without telling us of a female having caught tire and lost her life in consequence of rushing out into the open air, instead of rolling herself in a carpet, or at least prostrating herself on the floor. Panics still occasionally take place in theaters and churches, and scores of lives are lost by a crowding to the door; not one instance do I remember of an alarm in such places of resort being attended by the proper conduct—sitting still. Individuals are also still much given to throwing themselves out of runaway carriages, an act which may be pronounced the very opposite of the proper conduct. But the fact is, that while some of these errors are a consistence of mere confusion of mind, many are also the result of ignorance. The right conduct in situations of difficulty is far from being generally impressed, as it ought to be, on the minds of the young. Or, if it has been taught as a lesson, there has at least been no effort to train the mind to look to it as the only course of action in which there is the least safety; so that when the critical moment arrives, we are still too prone to act upon some mere inßtinct for self preservation. A young lady, a few years ago, caught fire, while going to bed in a countiy house where she was a visitor. She had been told that the carpet and the floor were the proper expedients; but a more immediate impulse directed her to a lake in front of the house. She rushed along the passages and stairs, and was found exhausted, and almost hopeldfsly scorched, a few yards from the outer door. It Is necessary to make the lesson a vital principle in the mind. Presence of mind is exemplified in its simplest form, where all that Is necessary its to take a deliberate view of the circumstances,, and then do that which seems most advantageous. It may be shown, for example, in a choice between the door and window in a case of fire, or in the selection of something to be saved, as that which is most important. Presence of mind is occasionally shown ia quick conception of some device or expedient, such as we usually suppose to be an emanation of superior intellect: This has been repeated exemplifiedin rencounters with the insane. A lady was one evening sitting in her drawing-room alone, when the only other inmate of the house, a brother, who for a time had been betraying a tendency to unsoundness of mind, entered with a carving knife in his hand, and shotting the door, came up to her and said, “Margaret, an odd idea has occurred to me. I wish to paint the head of John the Baptist, and I think yours might make an excellent study for it. So, if you please, I will cut off your head.” The lady looked at her brother’s eye, and seeing in it no token of a jest, concluded that he meant to cto as he said. There was an open window and a baloony by her side, with a street in front; but a moment satisfied her that safety did not lie in that way. So, putting on a smiling countenance, she said, with the greatest apparent cordiality, “That is a strange idea, George; but wouldn’t it be a pity to spoil this pretty new lace tippet I have got? I’ll just step to my room to put it off, and be with you again in half a minute.” Without waiting to give him time to consider, she stepped lightly across the floor, and passed out. In another moment she was safe in her own room, whence she easily gave an alarm, and the' madman was secured.

The story of tlic gentleman commanded by some insane persons to jump from the top of a tovrer in their asylum, and who escaped by telling them lie wouid rather jump from the bottom to the top, and ran down stairs as if to execute his intention, is well known; but the following anecdote of a similar situation Will be new to most readers: A gentleman accompanying a party to inspect an asylum, chanced to lie left behind in the kitchen among a number of the inmates who acted as cooks and scullions to the establishment. There was a huge caldron of boiling water on the fire, into which the madmen declared they must put him, in order to boil him for broth. They would fain have assisted him into the large pot; and as they were laying hold of him, he reflected that in a personal struggle he would have no chance with them—all he could do was to endeavor to gain time. So he said: “Very well, gentlemen, I am sure I should make good broth, if you do not spoil it by boiling my clothes with it.” “ Take off your clothes,” they cried out; and he began to take off his things very slowly, calling out loudly the whole time. “Now, gentlemen, my coat is off—l will soon be stripped. There goes my waistcoat —I shall soon be ready;” and so on, till nothing remained but his shirt. For-" tunately, tfie keeper, attracted by his loud speaking, hurried in just in time to save him.

Some anecdotes of escapes from assassins and robbers, by the prompt exercise of presence of mind, are much to the same purpose. A young man, traveling in one of the public coaches, was much interested by the accounts of robberies which his fellow passengers were detailing. An old gentleman mentioned that he always took the precaution of secreting his money in his boot, merely keeping silver for his incidental expenses in his pocket. Th'e old gentleman appeared to captivated with the politeness and intelligence of the young man, to whom he addressed much of his conversation, who on his part was equally pleased with the kindness and urbanity of his elder companion. Thus some hours had passed agreeably, when, just at nightfall, as they were passing a wild and lonely iroor, the coach was stopped by robbers, who rifled the pockets of those nearest to them, giving the old gentleman a hearty execration for having his purse so badly furnished. .They came last to theyoung man, who was seated in the far corner, and demanded his purse. “ I never, carry any money,” said he. “ We’ll not take your word for that,” said his assailants. “ Indeed I don’t,” said the young man, “my uncle always pays for us both, and there he is,” continued he, pointing to the old gentleman, "and he has got our money in his boot." The old gentleman was dragged from the coach, his boot pulled off, and three ten pound notes were found. He was then suffered to resume his seat, and the coach drove on. Hot was his anger, and bitter were his upbraidings, against his betrayer, whom he did not hesitate to accuse of both treachery and pusillanimity. The young man listened in silence, as if ashamed and conscience-stricken. They passed over by the wayside. The travelers alighted, and, on going in, the young man requested the old gentleman woukl allow him to say a few words in private. They retired

into a room by themselves. “ I have not only to ask your pardon, my dear 81r, ,, saia the young map, “ but to thank you for the fortunate expedient wijh which your confldeneefumished me, and to hand to you the sum of thirty pound*in lieu of that which I appeared so unceremoniously to point out to the robbers. lam sure you will forgive me, when I tell you that the note case in my pocket contained notes for $5,000 the loss of which would have been utter ruin to me.” It need scarcely be added the adopted uncle shook hands cordially with his young acquaintance, and took him into more marked favor than ever. —Brooklyn Sunday Sun.