The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-07-18
For the HERALD.
Character.


thing. hat "a man is In his individual
merits and virtues, and . what men
judge him 10 lie by his public manifesto
IIoiis, constitutes MS character.
Men are not always what they seem;
hence society may accord, more or less, 10
n man. character h his actual merits
warrant.
As II rule, persons are passed in a conmu-
nifty al their true, social, intellectual and
moral worth; yct there are manifest ex-
ceptlons 10 tae rule.
Men not ~unirequently act with apparent
Virtue OF magnanimity when nerher Vi
these sentiments form an element OF their
real character. So with the con-
verse oil this proposition.
There ale those who have an exterior
bearing in the world which would seem 10
conceal their virtues; are 80 constituted as
TO be better than they appear. But all
genuine character has its uasis in sterling
yirtu,. Whatever elements enter into It's
composition, it is essentially detective
without this. Nothing can compensate
tor the want OF moral principle In u man
or woman. Virtue is the very jewel oi
characteristic which p~eriects ami crowns
it.
Habits OF love, piety and truth; habits
OF ~iaisehood, passion. or goodness, mould
and fashion il, till, at length, II wears the
likeness OF an angel; or the image OF u de
mon !
He is but . poor workman who hopes 10
build the temple Of character on any other
foundation than that Of moral excellence.
In the conflicts Vi life there are many
duties and temptations TO weak and irreso-
lutte minds TO yield principle to supposed
interest, virtue to gain; but the man oi
character sees in the maintenance OF The
right all that is sacred 10 personal and in
ward quiet, and hence, by q determined
will, pursues the even tenor OF his way.
Whatever else such q spirit can mol say,
in respect 10 the things Of this life, he can
always say with the Bard OF Avon.
Il feel within me
A peace above all earthly diynities,
A stil and quiet conscience
Such persons are the true types and or
naments of human character. Ii we have
any capability for the admiration
oil the beautiful. or any love Tor
the lofty and pure in character. We must
instinctively love such, for they have
the divine stamp of morality and moral
loveliness.
Character is largely determined by ones
associations in life. There is NO little
force in the trite utterance that "a mans
character is known by the company he
keeps"
In speaking of the influence OF associa-
ton upon men, an excellent writer oh
serves with as much truth as ~quaintness,
'.he who comes from the kitchen smells Of
its smoke; he who adheres 10 q sect has
something ofcant; the college air pursues
herds with literary pedants."
This is undoubtedly T Persons gen.
orally reflect the spirit, and express in
their chat acters the wisdom or folly, the
virtues or vices Of their associates. As
all associations II this nature are purely
voluntary. every person indicates his taste
for intellectual culture. social refinement.
or the contrary by the Characters of those
he selects as his companions. Worse than
no society al all. infinitely worse. is that
Of the vulgar and vicious. Patent to any
rejecting mind is the assertion that sTfs
meet that noble minds keep ever with their
likes"
The importance of 4 good character can
not he overestimatcd It's bearing On in
dividual happiness, not to speak OF It's in
duence on the we'll being OF others. is ut
terly unappreciable.
The book Of all hooks declares thai "a
good name is better Than riches" and all
but confirms the truth OF the
declaration.
Riches are but temporary as lie the good
they imparf. Fame won. save in the
cause Of virtue has no substantial basis.
wields its sceptre but Tor q day.
But q good name is y joy, . crown. an IN
heriiance for ever; it can never die, be-
cause virtue is imperishable.
Would we. reader. have . character
US the highest possible enjoy
ment In life. and such as shall live as an
element Of beauty and power after we are
desds Let N. then. build % virtue and
goodness. and our future will he made Tor
both worids-fr this life. and thai which
is to come.
W WrxIJ AKIN