the patient to recall all the mental experiences of
his past,--even his very early childhood,--and in this way to make clear
the origin of the misconceptions and the unfortunate impressions which
have presumably exerted their influence through the years. The new
system includes, also, the interpretation of dreams, their effect upon
the conscious life and their influence upon the mentality. Very
wonderful results are reported from the pursuit of this method. Many a
badly warped and twisted life has been straightened out and renewed when
the searchlight has revealed the hidden influences that have been at
work and which have made trouble. The repression of conscious or
unconscious feelings can no doubt change the whole mental life. We
should have the greatest respect for the men who are doing this work. It
requires, I am told, an almost unbelievable amount of patience and time
to accomplish the analysis. No doubt the adult judgment of childish
follies is a direct means of disposing of their harmful influence in
life, the surest way of losing the conscious or unconscious regrets that
sadden many lives. There are probably many cases of disturbed and
troubled mind that can be cured in this way only. The method does not
appeal to me because I am so strongly inclined to take people as they
are, to urge a forgetfulness that does not really forget, but which goes
on bravely to the development of life. This development cannot proceed
without the understanding that life may be made so beautiful that sins
and failures are lost in progress. Some of us may need the subtle
analysis of our lives to make clear the points where we went astray in
our thoughts and ideas, but many of us, fortunately, are able to take
ourselves for better or for worse, sins and all. Most of us ought to do
that, for the most part, if we are to progress and live. Sometimes the
revelations of evils we know not of result in complications rather than
simplification, as in the case of a boy who wrote to me and said that
since he had learned of his early sins he had made sure that he could
never be well. Instead of going into further analysis with him, I
assured him that, while it was undoubtedly his duty to regret all the
evil of his life, it was a still greater duty to go on and live the rest
of it well, and that he could do so if he would open his eyes to the
possibilities of unselfish service.

I am very much inclined to preach against self-analysis and the alm