The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-13
UNRECOGNIZED INFLUENCES.

f1uence of mind upon mind. Mental &C
ton is hidden, and the mind itself is
never fully conscious Of its workings.
Thus all measurement can be but partial
and incomplete. The influence of heart
upon heart is more marked, when we con-
slider motives, impulses and the deeper
agencies prompting and controlling
action. Influence is subtle. 1t steals in
unawares. When the mind and heart are
open in particular direction, Or warm
hearted sympathy has unlocked the var
ious entrances to the soul, the influence
possible to be exerted is incalculably
great, and the responsibility Of so doing
is correspondlngly magnifed. Influence
is an 521,foaojng, as implied in the deriva-
ton the word; and where one mind IS
larger and broader, its currents of thought
and feeling deeper and more1ntense than
another, the in-fowing is necessarily with
greater force, where systematic inter
course is unimpeded.
The teachers work consists largely in
infuencing-far more than is recognized
either by himself or those employing
him, and least of all perceived by the
little company he daily instructs. His is
position Of authority to them. They
regard him in this light A thing na26t
be right, because the teacher says so.
Consequently there is weight in his
words and deeds, power Of which he
little conceives. Probably those infu
ences are most permanently cherished,
which are unrecognized at the time
which flow from the free intsrmingling
of minds and hearts, as it occurs in the
regular routine of school life. AS we re-
call our early youth, what is it that stands
out in boldest relief, as a shaping power
Of our lives? Is it the hard study alone,
or the daily Rotations, or the marks re-
ceived? Is it not rather the swaying in
fuence, silent and unrecoguized it may
have been, emanating from teacher
spirit, or schoolmates' society,-an indie
Enable something which exercised au
thority, quietly gliding in upon oul
hearts, quickening or deaGening con
science? Do we not lay up such things
as these in our gallery of heart treas
urcs?
There arises before my miud even as
write, the image OF one, row gone to hi
reward, whose pleasant mein and hearty
greeting, whose cheerful smile and kind
ly admonition, cling to me with unrelaxe(
hold, and the remembrance of whom tt
this day, starts afresh all the true anC
noble impulses of my being. Who Cal
estimate the silent transforming power o
such an exaxple, over susceptible natures
Who can calculate the positive good &C
complished through the agency of tina
gentle, loving spirit ? He was a man, anc
his was the soul OF true gentleman
Eternity alone can reveal the extent o
his influence in encouraging, by his ex
ample, feeble inclinings of rectitude O
life, and purity of ought,-quickenin,
dormant soul powers to noble aspiration
and forming imagination an ideal O
manly excellence. Many youth of Keno
sha county will cheerfully respond to thi
little tribute to the memory of one, VIII
was known but to be respected an,
loved
1t is difficult to realize that these seem
lngly little things are so mighty and last
ing. Only as we consult our own earl
experiences, more closely understood b
the light Of maturer insight, can we cal
any adequate conception of their signif
canoe. These are unrecognized at tn
time, but after years unveil the myster,
and we perceive the little rllls and rusl
ing currents that have wrought upon til
soul, and deepened the channels of O,
being-helping to make us what We ar
whether better or worse.
1t is this very Inconsistencies Of inf,
ence, or effort to exert it, that leaves t.
mind open to the most complete posse
sion,-restraining any natural inclinatio
to brace against perceived effort. Ho
great, then, the necessity OF caution, le
any outgoing from our example, ent,
some unsuspecting heart, and riot anon
all that is good and noble, and poison til
S0oi' Elk.