There are millions who have scarcely begun to recognise, at least to the extent of acting upon the facts, that, while their Happiness itself depends largely upon their digestion, their elimination of waste matter, their circulation, etc., these influences themselves depend largely on (1) the choice of foods and drinks, the way of eating and drinking, the breathing and other exercises, and so forth--and on (2) the maintenance of Happiness itself, or at least the avoidance of worry and resentment, etc., and the expression of Happiness, until Happiness actually is attracted and comes into a prepared nest. KEEP HAPPY KEEP HAPPY Why Keep Happy? A Contrast First work out the contrast. Before reading further, think what happens when one keeps the opposite of happy, whatever be the actual stage between the extreme homicidal or suicidal violence or suicidal melancholia on the one hand, and, on the other hand, ordinary fear, worry, resentment, depression, grumpiness, and so on. * * * * * Those who wish to study the effects of these states of mind more fully, can consult Elmer Gates’ “The Mind and the Brain,” or William S. Sadler’s “Physiology of Faith and Fear,” both quoted in my book.[A] Professor Elmer Gates, of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, says:-- “_My experiments show that irascible, malevolent, and depressing emotions generate in the system injurious compounds, some of which are extremely poisonous; also that agreeable, happy emotions generate chemical compounds of nutritious value, which stimulate the cells to manufacture energy...._ “_If an evil emotion is dominant, then during that period the respiration contains volatile poisons, which are expelled through the breath and are characteristic of these emotions._ “_Wearisome, unpleasant memories weaken health, and do not generate thought energy. Cure is accomplished in expelling these by another crop of wholly pleasant memories, which put the necessary structures of the mind in systematic order and teach the patient how to use the mental faculties._” Therefore, keep happy. On page 40 of “Economy of Energy” will be found a summary of some results of states of mind:-- “_They affect_:-- “_The heart, and the circulation--both its rate, and its distribution of blood; (unfavourable states of mind tend to anaemia or dysxmia, or to congestion, etc.)._ “_The actual chemical condition of the blood and the lymph._ “_The lungs, and the rhythm and the fulness of the breathing, and the amount of oxygen inhaled, and of carbonic acid gas, etc., exhaled._ “_The digestive and ‘assimilative’ organs and functions._ “_The curative energies of the body; which include:--_ “_The excretory organs--the bowels, kidneys, skin, etc. (Thus fear may act as a diuretic.)_ “_The muscular system in general (as when it is paralysed by fear--for instance, when one feels ‘all of a tremble’)._