During the past few years the most serious part of the author's study
and reflection has been devoted to the subjects discussed in this
book. These, briefly stated, are as follows: Firstly, that all mental
or cerebral faculties can by direct scientific treatment be influenced
to what would have once been regarded as miraculous action, and which
is even yet very little known or considered. Secondly, in development
of this theory, and as confirmed by much practical and personal
experience, that the Will can by very easy processes of training, or
by aid of Auto-Suggestion, be strengthened to any extent, and states
of mind soon induced, which can be made by practice habitual. Thus,
as a man can by means of opium produce sleep, so can he by a very
simple experiment a few times repeated--an experiment which I
clearly describe and which has been tested and verified beyond
all denial--cause himself to remain during the following day in a
perfectly calm or cheerful state of mind; and this condition may, by
means of repetition and practice, be raised or varied to other states
or conditions of a far more active or intelligent description.

Thus, for illustration, I may say that within my own experience, I
have by this process succeeded since my seventieth year in working
all day far more assiduously, and without any sense of weariness or
distaste for labour, than I ever did at any previous period of my
life. And the reader need only try the extremely easy experiment, as I
have described it, to satisfy himself that he can do the same, that he
can continue it with growing strength _ad infinitum_, and that this
power will unquestionably at some future time be employed with
marvellous results in Education. For, beyond all question--since any
human being can easily prove or disprove it by a few experiments--
there is no method known by which inattention, heedlessness, or
negligence in the young can be so promptly and thoroughly cured as by