Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-16
THE YOUNG MANS COUNSELLOR.

10 DC observed III Scneru CohuuOb' NohioinA
TO every innocent custom as our social nature
requires, but refuse compliance with whatever
is inconsistent with propriety, decency, and the
moral duties and dare to be singular In honor
and virtue.
to utter all your thoughts, yet it forbids you to
speak in opposition to them. To open the mind
to unreseryed communication, is imbecllity; to
cover it with vail, to discover its internal work
ings from its external manifestations, is dissim-
ulation and falsehood. The concordance of the
thoughts, words, and deeds, is the essence of
truth, and the ornament of character.
A man who has an opportunity to ruin rival,
with whom he is at enmity, without public dis
honor, and yet generously forbears, nay, con-
verts the opportunity into disinterested bene-
fit, evinces noble instance of virtuous magma
nimity He conquers his own enmity, the most
glorious of all conquests, and overcomes the en-
nifty of rival by the most heroic and praise
worthy mode of retaliation.
AS to an evil report of a neighbor, the opin-
ion of the frivolous is lightly regarded the cal
jimmy of the known slanderer is discredited by
all who venerate truth, and the character OF the
known liar is sufficient antidote to falsehood.
A respectable man, in his good name, offers
guarantee for his veracity; and, impressed with
the benevolent affections and the love OF justice,
he is scrupulous to believe an evil report, and
still more so to repeat 1t.
AS q rill from fountain increases as it flows,
rises into stream, swells into river, so SYM
bolically are the origin and course of good
name. At first, its beginning is small: 1t takes
its rise from home, its natural source, extends
to the neighborhood, stretches through the CON-
munity, and finally takes a range proportioned
to the qualities by which it is supported-its
talents, virtue, and usefulness, the surest basis
Of an honorable reputation.
The relatives and kindred of a young man, by
natural process, communicate his amlabe and
opening character to wider circle than that OF
home. His associates and friends extend the
circle, and thus it widens till its circumference
embraces portion more or less of society, and
his character places him in the class of respect
able men. With good principles and conduct,
neither envy nor malice can intercept the result
of this progressive series; without good princi-
pies and conduct no art or assimilation can re-
alize the noblest aim of social being-a we'll
founded reputation.
A person commits an error, and he has sufii-
cient address to conceal it, or sufficient ingenui-
ty to palliate it, but he does neither instead of
awaiting himself of concealment and palliation,
with the candor of great mind, he confesses his
error, and makes all the apology or atonement
which the occasion requires. No one has title
to true honor but he who can say with moral ell
ovation, when truth demands the acknowledge
ment have done wrong.
The events of life are not fortunate or calam-
itous so much in themselves, as they are in their
effect on our feelings, An event which is met
by one with equanimity or indifference, will fret
an other with vexation, or Overwhelm him with
sorrow. Misfortunes encountered with CON-
posed and firm resolution, almost cease to be
evils it is, therefore, less our wisdom to en-
deavor to control external events, than to regu-
late the habitual temper Of our minds to endur-
ance and resignation.
The emotions of the mind are displayed in the
movements of the body, the expression of the
features and the tones OF the voice. 1t is more
difficult to disguise the tones of the voice, than
any other external manifestation OF internal feel
ing. The changing accents OF the voice of those
with whom we have long lived in intimate inter-
course, in the communication of sentiment, are
less equivocal and more impressive than even
language itself.
The vocal sounds of speech, expressive of
thought and feeling, are too much neglected by
us in our individual and personal education.-
Could we analyze the opinion which we form of
people on q first acquaintance, we should GER
tainly find that it is greatly influenced by the
tones of the voice. Study, then, agreeable
sounds of speech, but seek not rules to guide
you from etiquette--from artificial politeness ;
descend into the heart, there cherish the kndand
moral sympathies, and speech will be moduat-
ed by the sincere and endearing tone of benev-
olence.
With your commisseration for distress, join
firmness of mind. Interest yourself in general
happiness, feel for all that is human, but suffer
not your peace to be disturbed by what is be-
yond the sphere of your influence, and beyond
your power to remedy.
A medical man has all the humane feelings,
but they are merged into the art of healing
When he sees patient suffering, he feels no
perturbation; he feels only the desire, by means
of his art, to relieve the sufferer; thus should
all our humane and social sympathes be regu-
lated, Invested of their morbid sensibity, and re-
duced to active and practical principles.
Some, when they move from the common
routine of life, and especially on any emergency,
are embarrassed, perpexed, and know not how
to resolve with decision, and act with prompt
tude. Presence of mind is a valuable quality,
and essential to active life; it is the effect OF
habit and the formation of habit is facilitated by
rule.
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