will probably feel the impulse
and succeed. This is the more likely because patterns impress
themselves very vividly on the memory or imagination, and when studied
are easily recalled after a little practice.

The manner in which most artists form an idea, or project their minds
to a plan or invention, be it a statue or picture; and the way they
think it over and anticipate it--very often actually seeing the
picture in a finished state in imagination--all amounts to foresight
and hypnotic preparation in a crude, imperfect form. If any artist who
is gifted with resolution and perseverance will simply make trial of
the method here recommended, he will assuredly find that it is a great
aid to Invention.

It is probable that half the general average cleverness of men is due
to their having learned, as boys, games, or the art of making
something, or mending and repairing. In any case, if they had learned
to use their hands and their inventiveness or adaptability, they would
have been the better for it. That the innumerable multitude of people
who can do nothing of the kind, and who take no real interest in
anything except spending money and gossiping, are to be really pitied,
is true. Some of them once had minds--and these are the most pitiful
or pitiable of all. It is to be regretted that novels are, with rare
exceptions, written to amuse this class, and limit themselves strictly
to "life," never describing with real skill, so as to interest
anything which would make life worth living for--except love--which is
good to a certain extent, but not absolutely all in all, save to the
eroto-maniac. And as most novelists now pretend to instruct and convey
ideas, beyond mere story-telling, or even being "interesting," which
means the love or detective business, I would suggest to some of these
writers that the marvelous latent powers of the human mind, and also
some art which does not consist of the names and guide-book praises of
a few great painters and the Renaissance _rechauffee_ would be a
refreshing novelty.

The ancient Romans were thoroughly persuaded that _Exercitatione et
usu_ (by exercising the physical faculties in every way; by which they
meant arts as well as gymnastics; and by making such practice
habitual) they could develop intellect, in illustration of which
Lycurgus once took two puppies of the same litter, and had the one
brought up to hunt, while the other was nursed at home in all luxury;
and when grown, a