The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-03-12
FIRST Impressions.

First Impressions.
I'm "My~ child, y once said an eminent
divine, who was evidently a good
Judge of human nature, "always en-
dea7or to let your first impressions
upon a stranger be favorable, for by
these viii he always judge you
We can all feel the force of this III
our own experience. If, upon form
ing the acquaintance of stranger, he
so conducts himself as to impress us
fayorably, no matter how many flaws
we may see in his character after
wards, we are much inclined to
smooth them over with the first i'm
pressions. First impressions are
lasting. This is true, not only mem
tally, but also physically. The ar
fist, with a brush that he has just
dipped in his colors, makes deep
and lasting stroke upon the clear,
white page, as dark and lasting as
the first faint of sin upon spotless
soul. Imagine little child with
new and perfect toy, it is his idol,
his whole happiness is wrapped up
init. LET it receive but one percept-
ible blemish, and its beauty is forev-
er lost to his eye, and however many
blemishes it may receive after that,
the first glares out above all the 9th
ers, and hides them in the deeper
pain inflicted. Sometimes even an
amateur, in making selections in his
particular line, if favorabIy impressed
at first sight, though he may have
discovered some defects upon further
examination, tries to convince him
self that his first impressions were
not correct, ana thus continues in err
ror.
Why is it, that in our American
history, looking back to the war of
he revolution, even at the mention
Of this war, the name Of Bunker
Hill instinctively rises in one mind,
standing foremost in the list Of great
events Z More important and great
er conflicts than this occurred within
the space of those eight momentous
years. There were some that bore
more success to the Americans, and
were more disastrous to the British.
The only answer that can be given,
IS, that itwas the first regular battle
between the Provincial and Regular
troops in that great struggle for the
overthrow of the oppressor's power.
In speaking Of our late Rebellion,
the same can be said concerning the
bombardment of Fort Sumpter.-
There were, during that struggle for
the equal rights ofraces, more disas-
trous defeats, and probably Drawer
exploits than the hoSaing of the Fort
for the space of time thatit was held.
and resisting the attack Of the Con,
tederate forts and batteries. But
since 1t was the FIRST great conflict of
that war, while some of the larger
and more important may in the sue
seesslon Of events be forgotten, SO long
as the memory of the Great Rebellion
lasts, will the memory of Major An
derson and his little band of seventy
men, imprisoned within the grim
walls of Fort Sumpter, live, written
upon the pages of history In ,vo,de
Of gold. =
It now remains to assign reason
for first impressions being so lasting
aud leaving such peculiarly vivid
pictures upon the mind. Itprobably
consists IN the fact that the mind up
on receiving the impression, BEING
unoccupied as it is by any previous
thought of the same character re-
celves the full force of the impression.
any subsequent one would labor nm
der the double disadvantage ofremoy-
ing the first, and having a biase3
mind to influence. This makes il
however, none the less improper for
Us to allow ourselves to be biased bv
f1rst impressions, f0rby Sc doing. Ne
may fall into errors that will eventu-
ally result in no less harm to our-
selves than to others, and often do
objects. pS's'0iis any
b, Yet though we should guard
agalnst an undue influence being exo
eFted upon OURSELVES BY these In
Pleasions, it behooves us, as .feach.
-S els' 70 avail ourselves of this trsit i
human and prominently in ,cb5 -
nature IN moulding the future cha cha.
acteF' not only of the individ TlaI
put by the combined efforts of r''a,s'
nation. Let us, then make tb l. cur Uul
mes 50 true, the first precepts - us 80
pie, and the first habits Of tbon ~.
ana a. action so earnest for the 49,
tnat they shall be ramparts aea1ns, /;
wee, and sure anchors when fonr
snail aSSail, let 1,S ,o,,,1 :,