temperatures; and every other type of end-organ of the body is acting as a
"sender" to telegraph a message in to the brain. Add to these the powerful
currents which are constantly being sent to the cortex from the visceral organs—
those of respiration, of circulation, of digestion and assimilation. And then
finally add the central processes which accompany the flight of images through
our minds—our meditations, memories, and imaginations, our cogitations and
volitions.
Thus we see what a complex our feelings must be, and how impossible to have
any moment in which some feeling is not present as a part of our mental stream.
It is this complex, now made up chiefly on the basis of the sensory currents
coming in from the end-organs or the visceral organs, and now on the basis of
those in the cortex connected with our thought life, which constitutes the entire
feeling tone, or mood.
Mood Colors All Our Thinking.—Mood depends on the character of the
aggregate of nerve currents entering the cortex, and changes as the character of
the current varies. If the currents run on much the same from hour to hour, then
our mood is correspondingly constant; if the currents are variable, our mood also
will be variable. Not only is mood dependent on our sensations and thoughts for
its quality, but it in turn colors our entire mental life. It serves as a background or
setting whose hue is reflected over all our thinking. Let the mood be somber and
dark, and all the world looks gloomy; on the other hand, let the mood be bright
and cheerful, and the world puts on a smile.
It is told of one of the early circuit riders among the New England ministry, that
he made the following entries in his diary, thus well illustrating the point: "Wed.
Eve. Arrived at the home of Bro. Brown late this evening, hungry and tired after
a long day in the saddle. Had a bountiful supper of cold pork and beans, warm
bread, bacon and eggs, coffee, and rich pastry. I go to rest feeling that my
witness is clear; the future is bright; I feel called to a great and glorious work in
this place. Bro. Brown's family are godly people." The next entry was as
follows: "Thur. Morn. Awakened late this morning after a troubled night. I am
very much depressed in soul; the way looks dark; far from feeling called to work
among this people, I am beginning to doubt the safety of my own soul. I am
afraid the desires of Bro. Brown and his family are set too much on carnal
things." A dyspeptic is usually a pessimist, and an optimist always keeps a bright
mood.
Mood Influences Our Judgments and Decisions.—The prattle of children may