The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1839-11-22
FORMATION OF CHARACTER.

II is ever 10 be KEEP, in mind, that a
Iood name is in all cases the fruit of
personal exertion. Ii is not inherited
ON parents; II is not created by exter-
nal advantages; It IL no necessary ap-
pendaae Of biflh, or wealth; or talents,
or station; bCl the result OF ones own
endeavOrs-the fruit and reward Of good
principles, manifested in course a1l
VWtuous end honorable action. Thisis
The more important TO be remarked, beS
cause It shows that the attainment of a
uame, whatever be- your external cir
Fcurstances, is entirely withih- your
power No young man, however hum
BILE his birth, or obscure his condition,
is excluded from the Invaluable boon.
Ho has only TO fix his eye upon the
prize and press towarns il, 10 course
ofvIrtuous and useful conduct and it is
his. And it is interesting TO notice how
. many Of our citizens have risen TO hon.
or and usefulness by dint oftheir own
perseverlng exertions. They are to be
found in great numbers, in leach of Inc
learned professions, and IN every de-
partment o! business; and they stand
forth, bright and aDimating examples of
what can be accomplished by resolution
and effort. Indeed, my friends, in the
formation of character, personal exer,
ton is the first, the second, and the third
virtue. Nothing great or excellent can
be acquired wl'hcutlt, A good name will
not come without beng sought. All
the virtues of which it is composed are
the results of untring application and
industry.
/ Thousands Of young men have been
ruined by relying for good maine on
their honorable parentage, or inherited
wealth, or the patronage Of friends.
Flauered by these distinctions, they
have felt as lf,hey might live without
efon-merely for their own qualification
and indulgence, No mistake is more IA
tai. ]! always issues IN producing an
inefficient and useless character On
this account it is that. character and
wealth rarcly Y continue in the same fam
lily more than two or three generations.
In the formation of good character,
it is OF great Importance that the early
part OF life be improved and guarded
with the utmost carefulneSs. The most
critical period Of HE is tnat which eaps-
es rom fourteen TO twtnty-one years
OF age. More is done during this PEI
Rod 10 mould and .setlIe The character
OF The iuInre man than all The other years
IN life. lfa young man passes it with
pure morals aud far reputation, a COED
name is almost sure to crown his ma =
tnier years, aud descend with him TO
The close of his days. On the other
hand, II young man 10 the spring sea-
son of life neglect his mind and heart;
II he INDUCES hlmset IN viclcus courses
and forms hab : of III tficIency and
>lolhfu'ness, he experiences loss which
no efforts cau reirlVe and brings a stain
upon his character which 10 tears can
wash away.
Youthful lhough,IessneSs, | know is
wont to regard the IndlsGreu0ns and vi
clou> "dulgences OF lhIs period, as OF
very little Importance. Bu, believe me,
my trleOds, they have great Influences
u Turning your future character, and
deciding the csumaIion IN which YOU
are TO Ne held IN community. Tty
are germs nt bad habiI, confirmed ate
ruin 10 tie character and the SOU. The
errors aud wees Of young man, even
when they do not ripen into habits, ms
presses blot on the name winch is
rarely eItaced. They are rememb, red
IN subsequent life; The public eye Is Of
ten turued back TO them; the 81 gma is
seen; i, clipgs fast 10 the character, and
liz unhappy effects are felt 10 tie emo
of his days.
A faI regulation, it should he rcmen
bered, is "a plant DELICATE 10 its nature.
and by no means rapid in Its growth"
A character which has cost many years
10 establish, is often destroyed IN sim
gle hour, or even minute. Guard, then,
with peculiar vigilance this forming.
fixing season of your existence.
AID TO YOUNG BEGINNERS. - There
was one feature in Matthew Carey's charactere
as described by the author ofa memoir publish
ed in the November number of Hunts Mer-
chants Magazine, worthy of all imitation; one
which cannot be too much commended to otler
gentlemen of flelsure and ample fortune 1t was
adlsposion to extend the hand of kindness TO
young men whom he observed of promising
talents, justly ambitious, and systematically i'll
dustrious. lie would go ,ut of his way to meet