The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-08-31

that undertook to destroy it ?" Lord APP
plause,
REPRODUCTIVE FORCE.
There is nothing more wonderful in life
| than Its productive force. Everything which
has in it the element of growth has also the
power of creation. Every organism, from
the humblest blade of grass to the most IL
lustrious man, is not only living its own
life, but impressing it upon myriads of other
similar existences, and this not by any in
tentional action of its own, but by an inevi-
table law of its very being. In the simpler
forms of life this transmission of self APP
pears to be chiefly in the direction of pro-
pagation. The plant lives its individual
life, and drops its seed, which springs up
into similar organisms. AS we rise higher
III the scale, however, we notice that this re-
productive force is widened in its action
The bird not only lays its eggs, but cherishes
its young, and doubtless maintains some de-
gree of social influence upon its feathered
mates. But it is reserved for man to ex-
ercise this power in its fullest and broadest
L.
his children but in all with whom he comes
III contact. He impresScs not only his
physique upon few, but his character up
on the many. There are births of conduct
going on continually, and each one of us is a
present. As the sun sheds unconsciously
its light and heat, and makes all things
within the range of its influence in some
degree like itself, so we shed our disposi-
tions and qualities upon one another, and
transform them in some degree to our own
image.
This influence is something quite apart
from any voluntary and intentional action.
We often deliberately set at work to pro-
duce some change in our friends or in
society at large. Perhaps we work hard,
to improve a man, to educate child, to
promote a reform or to break up vice.
We may bring all our powers to bear upon
the matter in hand, we may set other in
tiuences IN operation, we may descant ele-
quently upon the advantages of one course
and the evils of another nay, we may even
call to our aid all the restraint; of the law
and the res ards of public favor, and with
it all, we shall not accomplish so much as
will single, good and pure life by its mys-
tlcal attraction. The one is artificial,
spasmodic, noisy; the other natural, con-
stant, quiet the one is like medicine given
to counteract some evil, the other is like a
pure and bracing atmosphere entering into
the lungs and giving new vigor and tone to
the entire system.
Take the child from its earliest years
how is its character built up, its disposition
engineered Partly no doubt by the par
ents active and earnest labors and precepts,
but much more largely by their lives. The
opportunities they have for deliberately in
structing him are mere nothing compared
with those that he has for observing their
conduct, drinking in their opinions, and
finding out their real desires, feelings, and
aims. He is told, for instance, of the
sacredness of truth, and the sinfulness of
deceit, but if he sees those around him prac-
ticing small articles, if he hears unfair
transactions recounted as good jokes, if he
is himself duped and misled by insincerity,
how much will the moral lectures affect
him? They will but add another instance
of duplicity and strengthen within him the
spirit of dishonesty which he is constantly
absorbing.
The same thing is going on everywhere
and with every one. We are all continually
and inevitably influenced by the lives of
those around US. 1t is not that we copy
them, but that we unconsciously absorb
them. We are, as it were, pouring our
natures into each other all the time, with
out thought or intention. The stronger
nature the more potent its magnetism. The
closer we approach the sphere of another,
the more we partake of his character.
Patience, courage, hope and enthusiasm,
are naught, but infused. They are trans
mitted by an electric current that no power
of ours could create, and certainly none
could destroy.
We can never fully estimate this repro
ductive force. Not only every action, hut
every thought, feeling, desire and aim is
full of potency upon others. They are con-
stantly being shared, and are ever writing
their impress on the characters Of those
with whom we mingle. We are always
either lifting some one up or drawing him
down to our own level All atmosphere of
some sort is always emanating from us, and
permeating others. Is it pure or corrupt?
Are We infusing the spirit of justice, truth