Chapter 5:
It would take another six months before Richard consciously uses his abilities. A new girl joined his schoolroom. Her name was Jackie Graham, and she was the most beautiful thing that Richard had ever seen. Spurred on by his hormones, he gathered up the courage to speak with her.
The conversation was awkward and led to an embarrassing situation for both of them. It seems that Richard had to learn to use his capabilities and apply them with intent for them to be effective. He went home and contemplated his failure to communicate with Miss Graham which led him to think about his interaction with Mr. Darby. He recalled entering a kind of altered state of consciousness when he became passionate about his friends’ futures.
His young mind surmised that this would possibly be the key to why he had been able to talk to Mr. Darby and persuade him to educate his playmates. He concluded that he had to be passionate about the subject of his desires in order to persuade others of his viewpoint.
He further reasons that he had to practice overcoming any nervousness that may impede his success. In other words, he had to be passionate and confident to succeed.
In the case of Miss Graham, he was certainly passionate but lacked confidence. As you may remember, it is very hard at the tender young age of 12 to garner the confidence to approach a member of the opposite sex. Intuitively Richard knew that he had to overcome his shyness to interact with Jackie Graham successfully, eventually holding her hand and possibly kissing her.
This was the Spring of 1890, and a movement of adult education had just started in upper state New York. Chautauqua assemblies, named after the movement’s location, were beginning to spread throughout America. In the late 1800s is was based on lectures by prominent speakers. Large circus tents were erected in farmers’ fields.
Hundreds of people were able to attend and hear oratories by the best communicators of the day. The subjects of these shows depended upon the popular topics of the time.
Richard saw a poster for a nearby Chautauqua and had easily talked his parents into letting him attend. The subject was Self Confidence, and Richard was not about to let the opportunity pass.
It should be noted that Richard rarely used his gift on his parents. It can be counted on one hand the times that he did. This was one of those times.
The Chautauqua was everything Richard had hoped for. Speaker after speaker related techniques, inspirational stories, and thought-provoking ideas on how to build self-confidence.
The whole atmosphere was magical. The massive tent was erected on a small lake’s shore, a beautiful breeze was blowing from the west, the sunset had been gorgeous, and the speakers were inspiring.
Richard was filled with self-confidence. Which promptly failed the next time he encountered the beautiful Miss Graham. Once again, he was the mumbling little boy when her gorgeous green eyes met his. As all of you fine readers know, this is perfectly natural, but it was perfectly devastating to a boy of 12.
Shortly thereafter, the Graham family moved to Ohio. Richard briefly thought of moving there as well, but his common sense prevailed.
Richard never did encounter Jackie Graham. It was just as well, for she had a genetic propensity towards alcoholism and drank herself to death at the age of 32, after having gained 150 pounds. It is possible that Richard could have saved her from such a fate, but once again, we will never know.
There is no evidence that even his abilities could overcome the disease of alcoholism.
The conversation was awkward and led to an embarrassing situation for both of them. It seems that Richard had to learn to use his capabilities and apply them with intent for them to be effective. He went home and contemplated his failure to communicate with Miss Graham which led him to think about his interaction with Mr. Darby. He recalled entering a kind of altered state of consciousness when he became passionate about his friends’ futures.
His young mind surmised that this would possibly be the key to why he had been able to talk to Mr. Darby and persuade him to educate his playmates. He concluded that he had to be passionate about the subject of his desires in order to persuade others of his viewpoint.
He further reasons that he had to practice overcoming any nervousness that may impede his success. In other words, he had to be passionate and confident to succeed.
In the case of Miss Graham, he was certainly passionate but lacked confidence. As you may remember, it is very hard at the tender young age of 12 to garner the confidence to approach a member of the opposite sex. Intuitively Richard knew that he had to overcome his shyness to interact with Jackie Graham successfully, eventually holding her hand and possibly kissing her.
This was the Spring of 1890, and a movement of adult education had just started in upper state New York. Chautauqua assemblies, named after the movement’s location, were beginning to spread throughout America. In the late 1800s is was based on lectures by prominent speakers. Large circus tents were erected in farmers’ fields.
Hundreds of people were able to attend and hear oratories by the best communicators of the day. The subjects of these shows depended upon the popular topics of the time.
Richard saw a poster for a nearby Chautauqua and had easily talked his parents into letting him attend. The subject was Self Confidence, and Richard was not about to let the opportunity pass.
It should be noted that Richard rarely used his gift on his parents. It can be counted on one hand the times that he did. This was one of those times.
The Chautauqua was everything Richard had hoped for. Speaker after speaker related techniques, inspirational stories, and thought-provoking ideas on how to build self-confidence.
The whole atmosphere was magical. The massive tent was erected on a small lake’s shore, a beautiful breeze was blowing from the west, the sunset had been gorgeous, and the speakers were inspiring.
Richard was filled with self-confidence. Which promptly failed the next time he encountered the beautiful Miss Graham. Once again, he was the mumbling little boy when her gorgeous green eyes met his. As all of you fine readers know, this is perfectly natural, but it was perfectly devastating to a boy of 12.
Shortly thereafter, the Graham family moved to Ohio. Richard briefly thought of moving there as well, but his common sense prevailed.
Richard never did encounter Jackie Graham. It was just as well, for she had a genetic propensity towards alcoholism and drank herself to death at the age of 32, after having gained 150 pounds. It is possible that Richard could have saved her from such a fate, but once again, we will never know.
There is no evidence that even his abilities could overcome the disease of alcoholism.