o such an extent that they have
found it impossible to conduct the discussion in the way they had
planned to do it.

The man who is in earnest about acquiring poise must, then, be on his
guard against betraying himself under the magnetism of some one else's
gaze.

At the same time he must cultivate his own powers of the eye, so that
he, too, can possess that ability against which, in others, he must be
careful to protect himself, and can utilize it for his own ends.

The first principle is to avoid looking directly into the pupils of
one's interlocutor.

This is the only way in which a beginner can avoid being affected by the
magnetism of the gaze.

By this word magnetism we have in mind nothing verging in the least upon
the supernatural.

We have reference only to the well-known physical discomfort experienced
by those who have not yet become masters of poise when meeting a steady
stare.

Its effect is so strong that, in the majority of cases, the timid are
quite unable to endure it. They stammer, lose their presence of mind,
and finally reveal everything they are asked to tell, if only to escape
from the tyranny of the gaze which seems to go right through them and to
dictate the words that they must utter.

One must be careful, then, not to allow oneself to become swayed by the
gaze of another. But since it would seem ridiculous to keep one's eyes
constantly lowered, and is impolite to allow them to wander from the
face of the person with whom one is speaking, one can escape the
magnetic effect of his pupils by looking steadily at the bridge of his
nose directly between his eyes.

When first practising this one must be careful not to look too fixedly,
for the eye has not yet acquired the necessary muscular power, and one
will quickly find oneself fascinated instead of dominating.

But this method is an absolute safeguard, if one does not stare too
fixedly.

It must not be forgotten that this spot is known as the "magnetic
point."

In the case of those who have made no study of the power of the eye, and
particularly of those who are lacking in poise, this method of looking
steadily at the bridge of the other's nose, while not having any marked
effect upon him, will save them from becoming the tools of his will.

Certain easy exercises will be found most useful in arriving at the
possession of the first notions of this art, so indispensable in the
ordinary applications of poise.

One good way is to l