EVERY STEP IN OUR PROGRESS becomes more and more interesting and important, if such can be the case where every part of the work is of the highest value. In this new Department we have used the term REPOSE in place of the former title of dead-still practice; but either will suffice. It is necessary to offer the explanation that by repose in this art we refer to life that is not wastig itself; not to the absence of life. The more life that is present in the mind and body, and the greater the calmness in the process of thought and the power of the body, the more value there will be in such repose. Here we must contend with anddefeat the greatest and most common foe of magnetism, the loss of vitality.

General restlessness is the most frequent cause of leakage ofvitality.

A person is generally restless who is uneasy, fidgety, squirming, or in any way addicted to irritating activity. This cause of leakage is not the same as that known as nervousness, or depressed nerves, or prostration of the vitality.

If there were no enemies of magnetism in the human body, therewould be no case of nervous prostration, no case of neurasthenia, no case of depressed vitality, and no case of mental exhaustion. All these ills are direct results of allowing weeds, which we call enemies, to enter and to remain in the habits of life Thus, without intending to deal with matters of nerve health, we find the study of magnetism the most important cure of such maladies.

When once you have concluded that such a man or such a woman whom you meet or see from time to time, is magnetic you will soon discover a train of facts, not one of which would have attracted your attention unless brought before your mind for the purposes of analysis. These facts are always the same no matter who the man or woman may be, if the charm of personal magnetism be present. As they always agree, there must be some natural law at work producing them, and at the same time producing the power known as personal magnetism

We recall several friendly interviews with Hon. Henry W. Grady, the orator and influential power of the South many years ago. Not only in his public work, but in private as well he gave unmistakable evidence of the possession of personal magnetism. There was a charm in his voice, a charm in his step, a charm in his presence, a charm in his methods of execution. The more he undertook, the better he did it. The more he engaged in broader activities of life, the greater seemed to be his hold upon his fellow beings. In youth and young manhood giving no evidence of unusual ability, he unfolded his usefulness just in proportion as he unfolded his magnetism. He drew men to him. They liked to receive orders and suggestions from him They enjoyed the work of carrying out the grander thoughts which grew upon his mind as he extended his efforts in behalf of his land.

There is no doubt that in his case the fame he acquired and the following secured, were due wholly to the magnetism that grew as he added years to his career.

Now, while some would regard him as a nervous man, he was not a restless, fidgety, squirming or uneasy individual. His nervousness, if it could be called by that term, was the presence of power.

But the very first thing that attracted attention when one came into the room where Mr. Grady was standing or sitting was his total lack of restlessness. If there were twenty men present with him, and all were standing, he would attract attention by reason of his superior physical quietude; provided, of course, the mind were making the analysis. If there were a dozen, or dozens, of men and women present, and all were sitting he would be the first to win approval from the critic who was seeking proof of the first cause of magnetism.

Yet not one person in ten thousand would be able to analyze this difference or explain it. This freedom from restlessness is not the stiffness of a person of awkward carriage who braces himself into a fixed position and resolves to maintain it or die in the attempt. Relaxation is thebasis of ease, polish and grace; but it must be the relaxation of power, not of laziness. It must be the flexibility of great nervoustension, and not the deadness of the grave. These ideas will be worked out as the later Steps are taken in this study. An engine may lack fuel and have the repose of emptiness; or it may contain tremendous power and be calm in its repose, or smooth in its action.

We were so much fascinated in our youth and earlier manhood with the consideration of the traits of magnetic people, that we pushed our way into the private lives of some of the leading men and women of America and England; always seeking to ascertain if it was true that there were uniform habits that accompanied. the power known as personal magnetism. How we succeeded is a matter for the public, but how we secured the evidence may or may not interest the students of this book. We have all along laid down the general proposition that any sincere and earnest man or woman who seeks information for proper ends, can very easily gain admission into the private lives of great men and women.

When the author was sixteen years of age, two of his works had been published. They attracted some attention, and this alone was helpful in making acquaintances. Not long after that he established and published successfully a periodical which also proved helpful. Still later he allied himself with some newspapers and their editors, and served in the capacity both of contributor and reporter. These offices gave him the right to create new acquaintances. He was personally known to a number of the most prominent men and women of America, at a time when the country was rich in the fame of such personages.

Later on he was identified with lecture work, employing such speakers as Phillips, Gough, Beecher, Talmadge and others, all of whom were most gifted with the power of personal magnetism He knew in other ways such men as Brooks, Newman, Sumner Conkling, Grady, Edwin Booth, Wilson Barrett, Lawrence Barrett, and scores of others, all of whom were successful because they were magnetic.

Not one of these great men possessed the power of hypnotizing. All were successful in the highest degree. Not one was in the least impressionable under the efforts of a hypnotist. The uniformity of these facts shows conclusively that personal magnetism is in no way associated with hypnotism.

But it is also true that not one of these men, nor any men or women who have ever been magnetic, was addicted to the fault of general restlessness; at least not as long as life was successful in each individual case. We recall that, during the last years of the career of Lawrence Barrett, when a certain malady depressed him, he became quite nervous, and restlessness was seen at work undermining his power. But such an exception proves the rule.

Apply this fact to any phase of professional or practical life that you please, and note the result.

It must be remembered that a magnetic person must attract, and therefore must be attractive. The fidgety and restless person is not only not attractive, but is repellant. In addition to this disadvantage, there follows the loss of vitality from the body which is carrying away with it the magnetic power that is necessary for success after the repellant influences have disappeared.

This is the first victory.

A fine illustration of the efficacy of this power of repose under great pressure of energy held in bondage, comes from the testimony of a man of world-wide reputation who undertook the study of this system for the sole purpose of overcoming his almost uncontrollable temper when angered. He says: "I learned from your book that perfect repose counts most value when the whole body, mind and nerves are aroused to a fearful power. That described me when I was aroused to frenzy by some person whom I hated. I kept myself in perfect repose; but I looked, thought and felt daggers. I was ready to explode, but Was as calm as a summer zephyr. I learned the secret of life."