Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-06-22
The Way an Intelligent Citizen Talks
to his Son.
LAPoRrE, Sunday June 4, 40

LAPoRTE, Sunday June 4, '76.
Ny Dear Son:
replied to your last letter few days
ago, acknowledging therein the receipt
of yours of
| thought | would like to talk to You
Il good deal to-day, and that | would do
it by writing, so far as could do it by
that means. \ person may say Il good
deal by letter, yet it seems slow way
of conversation when we desire to talk,
not merely of common business affairs,
but of things which pertain to social
relations the kindred ties and desires
for each others success, happiness and
prosperity. Man IS SO essentially
creature of formation by the forces both
internal and external act upon him
that, as our eyes open to realize this
fact, no wonder that we look with awe
and thoughtful solicitude as to what
will be the result of our existence,
whether it will result in final satisfac-
ton To us in our own peace and happi-
ness, and that at least of our nearest
and dearest friends: or in mere tran
sieEt enjoyment, or indulgence i'll the
poorer or coarSer part of our nature,
our passions, our prejudiceS, our hates,
are mere frivolous and superficial indul-
gences that vanish with the hour.
How shall we get the real good of
life-that which will last the longest,
and keep the best, and be worth the
most for the longest period? We in
cline to talk of those things which give
us most pleasure, and which, We hope,
will be productive of tangible results;
but the passions are SO apt TO gam the
ascendancy over reason, that the great
majority of mankind float down the
stream of time Just as the current OF
passion within ard without draws;
without any direction by the judgement
hat might guide the heavy forces of
nature to great and good results.
The loss that | feel from our separa-
ton is that we are deprived of the in
terchange of thought-of the. conyersa-
tions and suggestions from which we
might derive mutual benefit IN the
management of the forces of life, and
the material within our reach. 1t is
the utilizing of the forces of life and
nature at our command, by the mind
and will, and such helps as we may en-
ploy, that constitutes the successful
work of life, and it seems to Inc that
the first grand step toward success is To
become fully awakened TO a conscious
ness of this fact.
When, as we look around, it seems as
if the great mass of humanity were
moulded and formed in character by
evil influences, and tc base or useless
purposes; and these influences press up
on us from every side like fluid press
ing into "A leaky vessel OF basket of
grain. They press into our minds at
every interval from work, and there
leave their impress. They come i'll
what we see-in what we hear There
is not a thought that fits across the
human brain but there carves its epi-
tn H." At every spare moment, while
we walk the street, sit in the Office, at
meals, and in the quiet chamber, ac-
tive thoughts or words heard are MAX
ing impressions which set" or harden,
forming character more or less perms.-
nent for good or i'll. 1t is not SO much
in our regular or manual work that our
powers are developed and our charac-
tiers formed as in these incidental i'm
press;ons. Labor is in the main devot-
ed To supplying thephysical wants. The
nobler qualities of mind and heart are
acted upon more in our incidental rela-
tions, associations, readings and sur
roundings than 10y our labors of a bust
ness character. This should at once
direct us to the Importance or rather
necessity of a careful supervision of our
time and thoughts during the hours of
relief from labor for the mind will
be engaged at something; thought will
be active, and impressions will be made
Shall we suffer them to be made by gods
of destruction or the phantoms of folly:
or shall we open our minds and hearts
To influences that will meyer die: traits
of character that will constitute AN un-
perishable structural terlple wherein
may dwell securely and serenely wealth,
beauty, joy and enjoyment, not of tran
sient tinsel but of permanent worth?
Thus are men formed. Mark well the
distinctions. G..