Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-22
eureka Dailp Sentinel.
vo.MATION OF CHARACTER.

rORMATION OF CHARACTER.
For the most part character is formed
unconsciously. It is the result Of circum-
stances, Of associations, Of family, and Of
social influences. Where parents take a
lively interest in the welfare Of their chill
dren, IL is in their power to shape their
destinies. Their own examples exerts the
strongest influence. Children look up to
the conduct Of their seniors, which it is
their nature to suppose to be right. Pa
rents' counsels are . law to their actions;
pments' virtues. inarmities and passions
are instinctively initiated; helpless them
selves, children turn to their parents for q
proper rule Of conduct. Profigacy, dis
regard Of Divine and human law, pro-
family and indecency Of life exert such a
demoralizing influence that they never fail
to corrupt the rising generation. There is
an ascetic severity which repels and dis
gusts, because it partakes Of hypocrisy and
IL impracticsble. 1t is noted that children
trained under such influences become in
sincere, ~peridious and immoral. being
driven into the opposite extreme by the
aversion to the despotic restraints to which
they have been subjected. F~rankness,
generosity and forbearance, on the con
trary. inspire respect, confidence and love.
II il said by some cynical writer that
mi are never open to conviction, ex-
cept where their selfish interests may be
admired, but he admits that children are
always accessible. They like to. be treated
~ reasonable beings. They more readily
obey when the reason Of the command il
explained to them. Obedience, also, is
more readily yielded when it b not ex-
acted arbitrarily, and only for proper pur-
poses. Hardness, cruelty and dogmatic
absolutism lead to s~tubbornness, aliena-
ton Of affection and perverseness. Ex-
plain to . child that what is asked Of him
IL for his own benefit, and he will readily
understand the policy CT obeying. A re.
~ciprocity Of good feeling being once estab-
lished between parents and children by
such means, it is rarely sitter disturbed.
Adult character is sometimes distorted
from its natural and educated drift by
social relations. No man can long asso-
ciate with men Of depraved habits and
morals without being tainted with their
evil example. Insensibly he renonees
his established habits. becomes loose in
principle and oblivious Of his duties to his
family and Of his own self-respect. The
whole current Of his life is turned awry.
He may not at first observe the oorroding
effect, but it steadily saps his character,
until finally he is but q shadow Of his
former self. self-indulgence also under
mines the purity Of life. Vicious habits
grow stronger and stronger, until finally
they overmaster the entire nature. Tip
pling, for example, runs into habitual
drinking and intoxication. Whoever has
. regard to his own dignity, to his re-
sponsibility to those dependent on him,
and who is jealous Of the respect Of the
VOQ1Au uAIby Al uAC uC nVCcS WlA &c GA
tremely careful as to his associates and the
cultivation Of habits which lead to moral
degradation. There are persons who have
such \ nice sense Of honor and propriety
that they uniformly cultivate high prin-
.ciples Of character. They study to be what
IL most admirable in human excellence.
Others there are who, feeling that they are
rapidly driving to the brink of ruin, with
. rare firmness Of nature, suddenly halt,
reverse their whole course Of life, and be-
come practical exemplars Of private and
public virtue. We all have our mental and
physical defects, but it is nevertheless true
that our destiny in this world depends
upon u power Of self-control. Whoever
ID master Of himself is master Of his own
~fOrtunes.