River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-05-25
Character. Reputation.

AS dpplltu w POloOAo luS NOAA,
character, means the sum of qualities
which distinguish one person from
another. As applied to body of men,
or Of men and women when associ.
ated together as an organized body, il
has the same meaning. In this re-
spect the word is synonymous with
the word reputation.
Every man, and every body of men,
whatever may be their character in
an attributive sense, has reputation
to gain-a character to maintain. The
best evidence of this is found in a
mans whole life, or in long period
in the history of a society or party.
We need scarcely aver that reputa-
ton, or character, is the very essence
of the mantle woman, or Of any or
ganization of men and women. What
then should it be- What should we
strive to make it' There is but one
answer to these questions, good, of
course. Rob us of that quality, or
convert it into the opposite-bad-
and there is nothing valuable left of
us. Yea-we become a charred and
blackened hulk-unsightly, worthless
and despised. We become a burden
to ourselves, and we hate ourselves.
Whence comes this precious mantlel
Who wove this tender fabricl Can it
be purchased in the market placel
No. Was it ever bequeathed to a hui
man beingi No. Is there a magic
wand by the touch of which we are
changed in the twinkling of an eye!
No. A good reputation is a plant of
slow growth, while bad one NAV be
fully established by single imprudent
act.
The source of character is the heart;
its outward mantle is reputation.
Benevolence, charity, patience and
long suffering go far toward making
up good character, while passion,
violence, wrath and intolerance are
sure and swift, not alone in its de-
struction, but in making up a truly
bad character.
The sO.called benevolent institution
whose members sit in cold debate. and
chatter over meager offering to wor-
thy object, may gain, for the nonce,
a reputation for beneyolence. But
that mantle will soon be pierced by
the shafts of its own bitterness, and
the real character of such an institu.
ton will be seen only to be abhorred.
To have genuine reputation for
benevolent acts, we must have a gen.
uine beneyolence. Whited sepulchers
soon betray their real character, and
no amount of whitewashing can dis
guise it. Impure thoughts may not
always show themselves in actions;
but, sooner or later the real character
crops out, and then farewell to that
reputation once so fair.
Virtue, benevolence, charity, and
all the graces that go to make up a
good reputation, must be kept in con-
slant use to be of any service to us.
Our armor is kept bright only by SER
vice, and he who fails to respond to
the call of benevolence, and never ex-
ercises this heaven-born quality, will
never know tie pleasure it is designed
TO impart. And thus it is of all the
so-called graces. They must be worn
they must be cultivated, if they are
to become ornaments in the eyes of
discerning world outside. In a word,
let not the fountain become corrupted,
nor dried up, and then no stain will
ever be made upon reputation which
time and virtuous deeds are required
to build up.
1t may be true that an apparently
rough exterior may cover a noble
heart 1t may be equally true that the
most polished exterior may some
times conceal the vilest one. But
time at last sets all things even, and
real character is no exception 10 the
rule.
Strive then, legitimately, of course,
to gain reputation--a good one, too
and strive equally hard to deserve
it.