HABIT

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 13

HABIT

" Use doth breed a habit in a man," accoi cling to Shakespeare; and "habit is ten times nature," ace ending to Wellington; and "habit soon becomes a ir^cei-sity," according to Augustine. How scon? Professor William James, the psychologist, answers, "In bix weeks." These tu^gestive words are an encouiagement as "well as a warning. While the power of an evil habit is to be dreaded, and ifi dadly exemplified even in the

smallest circle of human beings, yet it is a wonderful encouragement to know that even in six weeks a habit for good may be formed that will tinge the whole of one's life. Sustained effort for six weeks will have a great reward. " Tapering off " is a common, but mistaken, way of trying to br.eak habit. Many who drink dread serious consequences if ih.ey give up at once the drdnk habit. Yet of the 1,000 who went to prison last year in New JSouth Wales, most of whom were heavy drinkers, none were allowed to " taper off/ and that none suffered in their health is proved by the fact that the death' rate in the gaols of New South Wales last year was only eight per thousand, while that of the population was about 12 per thou~ sand ; and of the eight who died in gaol two died, within, 24 hours , of their admission. This health record samong the unhealthy ones ,6f the State wa*» maintained on a total expenditure of, £3 9s 9d on alcohol for the year. Habit must and can be broken at .once, and only at once.