Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-10-13
The Power OF GentIeness.

Every one is ready to admit the charm Of gen.
tleness. After a fierce encounter with the blus
ter Of the world, its clashing opposition, noisy
PASSIONS and turbulent energy it is unspealiably
refreshing to turn to the man or woman OF tran
quill mind and unruffed temper, whose soft
voice and gentle manner allays the ferment and
restores the equilibrium that had been destroyed
The soothing influence of gentleness is CRATE
fully acknowledged, the attractivenes fully ap-
preciated and the winning and lovely nature ap
parent to all.
Very few, however, of those who most willing
ly yield tribute to the charms Of gentleness ever
think Of it as power. 1t is 80 soft, 30 mild, 30
utterly opposed to anything like violence or
conpulsion, that the ideas OF strength, persist
ence or force seem utterly at variance with it,
1t is not uncommon to attribute weakness and
inripidity to one who is habtualiy gentle in
demeanor, and to accord frmness and energy
only to active persistence and vehemenco OF
manner. This il great mistake. or course,
here are plenty of strong characters with rough
aud stormy bearing, and weak ones with soft
and mild department I; but there is no necessary
connection between the two. True gentleness
is ever dgn6ed aud is not only consistent with
strength OF character, but usually results from
it. Surely, it takes force Of mind aud will to
bear the trobles of life with calmness,
to subdue impatience and muir
muring, to conquer tumultuous emotions, to
overcome evil passions to be self-contained-in
. word to cherish gentlo spirit. Some Of the
strongest natures, with the most excitsble tenn
peraments having the tiercest temptations to
conquer and the sorest Affections to endure come
by that very strength, to be the mosu patient and
gentle. II any one succeeds i'll curbiDg his in
ward disposition, he finds it comparatively au
easy matter to curb the outward expression, aud
tho gentleness that results from governed and
we'll poised character is altogether different from
the mlldnesB OF weak aud iresolute nature
There is, however, no better proof Of a really
weak character than tu,nu tuous or violent de-
neauor. 1t betrays lack Of self-control, self
respect and dignity, and fear that others may
discover it. The greatest man will ever be the
sentlest, TO he needs not to employ forcbe and
arrogant measures to Impress the world with his
merits
The chiof power of gentleness, however, lies
IN Its illueuco over others. 1t i'd not only pas
sive effect. but an active agency. There IL
scarcely stronger one in the whole human cat
egory. There ID no idea more common, and yet
| more mistaken. than that authority must u6
maintained by sternness and severity. Confirm
ally DOVE fnd the parent, the teacher, the einplos
er, or the officer avoiding all gentleness in ther
behavior to those under them under the deu
| zion that thus only can they preserve their III
premacy and ensure obedience On the contra
ry. the submission thus gained is only that Of
the letter, nor the spirit. 1t is unwilling forced
| and temporary; whereas the gentle and respect
| ful manner that honors the individual whlie
| commanding him, will ensure a glad acuuies
| cence and grateful fidelity. If there are .ny
who are especially entitled to gentle treatment,
| it is those We are pleased to call iniel
| ors either III age, educa ton, station or
circumstances. They are peculiarly susceptible
| to unkinduess and Indifference they are in u
| measure dependent upon lis foi their happiness.
and they naturally look to us for an example to
| follow in their treatment of others. No thought
| ful and generous mah or woman will suffer
| rough careless and unkind words to pass their
| lips in such intercourse. Gentle and consider
| ate conduct Will induce far more valuable ser
| vice tlIan any harsh authority can compel, for
| the ne.can influence the ma nsprngs OF all &C
| tlons by awakening love ahd gratitude, while the
other can only obtain sulen and reluctant per-
! formance Of compulsory tasks.
The CHIEF superiority OF gentleness, as a pow
in the world lies in the fact that it affects the
heart, and through it the actions, ,instead.of aim
| ing 1irectly at the actions themselves. Gentle.
ness flavors strongly of sympathy and prepares
| the one thus treated to receive in good part
whatever is offered. Indeed the manner il
often more important even than the mat
| ter favor may make an enemy and a
conflict may make 10 friend, ac-
cordng to the manner in which they are each
| conducted. Whoever would WELD an influence
over another will best succeed by constantly
| gentle and sympathetic manner, for thus only
| can he win over his cordial and friendly regard
| Gentleness is also an important power in i'll
| creasing human happiness. II any doubt this,
| let him compare the household where it reigls.
| with that to which it is a stranger. In the one
| will be patience, forbearance, gratitude and
| love ; in the other fretfulness, disputes ieal-
| ousies and heart-burnings. Children should be
| Brought up in an atmosphere of gentlenees and
| affection. Their home life il their greatest ed,
ucator and its influence will attend them
through all subsequent years. 1t they meet
with uniform and dignitied gentleness of de-
| pertinent at home, they will insensibly carry il
| abroad, aud thus through tile rising genera ton
| may tho power as well AZ the charm of gentle
nee. be most fully and widely developed.