Page:Diary of a Nobody.djvu/253

 This conversation suggested to me that others are probably deterred from taking up Pelmanism by a variety of " buts," each of which could be disposed of in a minute or two if only it were possible to meet the doubters face to face. For instance, at various times friends of mine have said : " But I 'm not enough of a student to tackle Pelmanism. I could never sit and pore over books and lessons, even if I could find the time." Here we have a dual objection : (i) Pelmanism is thought to be hard to study, and (2) no time can be found for it. Let us deal with the second part of this objection first. The Pelman Course requires from thirty to sixty minutes daily for a period of about three or four months. Many of the exercises can be practised at odd moments when walking through the streets, while waiting in a friend's office or home, during train or bus rides, and so on. Other parts of the study can be done at home or at the office without seriously encroaching on one's time for other matters. The main fact to be borne in mind is that all of us can find or make time to do those things which really interest us. And Pelmanism is one of those things. Which brings me to the first part of the objection we are rebutting. Pelraanism is as unlike ordinary formal studies as anything can well be. The very first lesson reveals the fascination of Pelmanism, and this fascination becomes intensified with each succeeding " little grey book." Of course, you cannot get the most out of Pelmanism unless you are prepared to follow the training closely. But any Pelmanist will tell you that there is no difficulty in doing this. Pelmanism itself provides whatever incentive may be needed by those who by nature are disinclined to apply themselves to study. Thus we can dismiss the plea of personal inaptitude for study. BRAIN POWER. A frequent contention of the anti-Pelmanists (for there are people who, without knowing what Pelmanism is, are opposed to it) is that it is impossible to make brains grow where none exist. By which they apparently an that Pelmanism will not make wise men of dullards. Let me say that, so far as I know, the Pelman Institute has never claimed to be able to perform miracles, though tens of thousands of its members would unhesitatingly declare it has done so in their cases. An ordinary school educa- tion is the only foundation necessary to enable any man or woman to become a successful Pelmanist. In fact, it might be said with a great deal of truth that Pelmanism can be of far more benefit to those of comparatively few scholastic attainments than to those who have been endowed with a more liberal education. To be deterred from taking up Pelmanism because it is thought that only " brainy " people can make profitable use of it is to allow oneself to be influenced by an Inaccurate or incomplete idea of what Pelmanism is and does. EMINENT MEN ON PELMANISM. On another occasion I was told that Pelmanism was chiefly a matter of very clever advertising, and that the merits of the system existed almost entirely in the Imagination of the man