WE PURPOSE NOW to look ahead and collect in systematic form the causes that militate against the natural acquisition of personal magnetism. They are causes that, once overcome, leave the individual really far advanced in the development of this power. Not all of them can be conquered at once, but from day to day one by one they may be given attention, until all are driven out of life. But no person may possess all these faults. If some are lacking, so much the better. You will have no trouble in recognizing those that handicap you; nor will you set yourself against trying to drive them away, on the theory that you are exempt when the facts are otherwise. You will be fair with yourself.

All non-magnetic persons lose each day as much natural magnetism as they generate in the act of living.

If they lose more than they generate they die of nervous prostration, if this difference is maintained.

The losses occur through what are called leakages.

A leakage in the study of personal magnetism is a waste of natural electrical energy through some fault.

The leakages may be of physical, nervous or mental character.

A physical leakage occurs when muscular energy is thrown away without purpose and without control.

A nervous leakage occurs when some vital energy is thrown away by the erratic action of the nervous system.

A mental leakage occurs when the thoughts persist in exciting the brain erratically, and so exhaust, its energy.

GRAND PRINCIPLE

The least magnetic of the so-called non-magnetic people lose each day more vital electricity than is necessary to produce the highest degree of personal magnetism.

The reverse of this proposition is necessarily true, that the conserving of the energy thus wasted would result in the development of personal magnetism of the highest degree. In other words, if all losses from leakage were to be stopped, nothing more would be required. The training and study might cease right at this point. All this is true; but, on the other hand, it must be remembered that personal magnetism, no matter in what degree it exists, is a power only; and that its chief value is in its uses.

In this Department of Instantaneous Personal Magnetism, we have promised to begin the development of this power at once; even on the first day after this whole book has been carefully read through once or twice.

This promise will be kept to the letter. Such development will begin on the first day after the reading is completed; and on the second day there will be more progress; still more on the third day; and so on from day to day until the work of development has advanced to a satisfactory stage.

On the first day a triple combination will do the work in the manner to be stated in a subsequent lesson of this Department. On the second day the same triple combination will do the work, with only one part of the same advanced in order to make due progress. And so on to the end of this Department.

The changing or movable part of the triple combination is the battle with some different form of leakage. This makes it necessary for us at the present time to set forth the groups of Leakages; the first of which is the Physical Group, whereby muscular energy is thrown away without purpose and without control. These are as follows:

1. The Fidgets.—These have been referred to in a preceding lesson. Everybody knows what they are. You have seen them in all classes of people, and know the harm they have done in your estimation. Here may be seen your family physician; suppose he is restless, fidgety, and ill at ease. Your confidence in him is weakened; nor do you have to know anything of the rules of magnetism to form your estimate of him. Any man, woman or child can pass judgment in some way or other on the restless physician. The result is that he loses his clientele. Then failure comes. On the other hand, let him be a stranger, and yet well at ease, free from this fault, and you will quickly be drawn to him. Self-mastery inspires confidence in others, and success is much more probable.

If this restless man should be a surgeon, his usefulness would come to an end at once. How about the dentist? We recall the case of one who was very much under the sway of this fault; in the town where he set up practice, he could not make friends in his profession, although he had excellent influence socially and his wife tried to make herself as popular as she could. A wide circle of friends did not create the practice needed. The fault was that he was restless and did not inspire confidence. He brought the matter to our attention. He took up the study of the enemies of magnetism; overcame his great fault; moved to a town where he was not known; and very quickly established a large practice, because he won the confidence of the public.

Thus we see that what is apparently a simple thing, and only a drop in the study of magnetism, is really almost a turning point in a human life.

Now look in the legal profession, and note the calm, cool, powerful control shown by one, and the fidgety manners of another. The brain and judgment are not at their best when the body is leaking vitality. Or look at the splendid bearing of the self-held minister, as compared with the smallness of the uneasy, squirming preacher. Many a Sunday have we listened to some man who paces about in violent walking, or another who stamps too much, or pounds the desk too often, or who is addicted to meaningless gestures that are mere motion; and we have noted that loudness of voice does not hold the interest of the congregation, nor does physical activity of the involuntary kind pass current for earnestness. Such clergymen are numerous everywhere, but we fail to find one who is genuinely successful.

True power is deep. The stronger the feelings, the lees should be their outward evidence.

But it is on other grounds that restlessness weakens a man or woman. The constant loss of vitality, flowing out with each involuntary motion soon saps the force that should underlie the effortof the mind or body. Then there is still another law at work. Restless people make all beholders uneasy. The jury, the congregation, the school, the friends in a social gathering, the business circles, the patient or client, all are made more or less irritable by being compelled to watch the restless man or woman. The brain is soon fogged by such irritability, and a fixed desire to get free from thecause takes hold of everyone. Instead of controlling others, they are driven away, and after years will hardly serve to regain theconfidence that is thus lost, unless better methods are adopted. Magnetic people are not restless. Restless people cannot become magnetic. Magnetism is a charm, not an annoyance. Until you learn to hold the body still, as far as involuntary motions are concerned, you cannot become magnetic. You may try any and every method you please, but the power attained will ooze out from the nerves just as a leaking battery will let theenergy escape when subjected to influences that draw away the fluid that is stored.

Some persons get the idea that all that is necessary to acquire magnetism is to practice some affirmative exercises. On the same principle, if you buy the best locomotive boiler, and puncture it with a hundred small holes, you would deem the makers of the boiler at fault because it did not maintain its power.

Affirmative acquisitions in this world must be supported by attention to negative influences, or the latter will neutralize all that the former may seek to accomplish.

Habits, good or bad, are quickly formed, and the brain will execute them. At first it is necessary to study and think of the many small involuntary motions you make; but in a few days you will find the mind performing this duty for you. We recommend that each student of these lessons ask some friend to act as a critic. You cannot see yourself as you are seen, and a critic should mention only your faults. Praise to an ambitious person makes it difficult to tell the truth when the truth is most needed. Honest advice is welcomed by the sincere student.

The value of this lesson in the training of young men and young ladies can be seen at once. Children arc never magnetic , for nature encourages their restless activity as a means of growth. But when they pass the age of fourteen or fifteen, the strength of youth should manifest itself in a form of demeanor that assumes to be culture and gentle deportment, although in fact it is the quietude of magnetism.

Education in schools along these lines is useless until the ages mentioned.

But at that time, and all through the years that follow, it is of the highest importance to train the nerves to steadiness, and the muscles to their voluntary uses only. Mere quietude is hurtful. It should be the covering of an accumulated power within; and, for this reason, the affirmative course of instruction in magnetism should accompany these lessons that are only negative.

This volume must of necessity, include both sides of the training. The weeds must be removed from the garden, for nothing will make progress when counter influences are choking out all good impulses.

The removal of weeds is not enough. The destruction of enemies is not enough, either in war, or in life. There must be a progressive and aggressive growth of affirmative power.

Nothing is so undesirable as the man or woman who is still or quiet or self-contained because of deadness in the nature, or lack of energy or power. The world is full of such people. Churches, organizations and all departments of social and governmental life are already over-charged with dead folks who still live. They are useless and in the way.

Magnetism gives life.

But first it is necessary to make room for that life, and therefore we must continue these lessons with the enemies of magnetism.

It has been said by a very able critic that the best way of overcoming the faults that stand as barriers to self-control is the mental process of "thinking them away." Training is made to take the place of culture, and is then called culture; but this quality is native only when it becomes a part of the individual, and ceases to be a veneer. Thinking away one's faults produces real culture.