The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-16

so readily, and rs rule SO unerrineIy trsas-
mitted, that there seems to be little room cbrr
doubling that the good and bad points Of
the moral nature are equally capable Of easy
transmission. TAc face 10 an une1zing index
OF the heart, and generation after generation,
OF the same family carry the same face in
all that goes to mahe up the family resem-
biance. 1t is true very bad face msy index
an apparently very GDcd heart, and the life
OF the owner may nNt be long enouxh for
the heart to show what the face says It con-
tains- But this Is the result Of especially
fortunate circumstances. and it is m excep-
tion to the rule. The miser ssrries the sign
OF his propensity in his face; sodoes the
selfish, trescherous or dishoney5 man.
Every enc has noticed the very mazked
resemblance of some coDutena1ces t. those
OF different animals. The fox, the dog, the
vol, the bear and the hog find sheir photo
graphs In the human face and whenever the
face bears the resemblance to an animal the
nature Will bear Just 81 striki1ga q zesem-
blance to the nature of the animd repyesen-
ted. Eve1 the hand is m indication Of
character. Every finger, every line and
every melton tells of the sent of the mind
and of the natural promptinss of the heart.
Ii these things, therefore, are true TO
what extens IS man responsible for his moral
character and his actions? ISchard ILL was
not responsible for his physical desormisy,
but how far was he responsible for h;sfaoral
deformItyg The man who wears tho couu-
ecAahCc Va uidStlu Is enuIely D16mS36S3 IOI
his disagreement, and il so, upon what
principle can we hold him responsible for
the nature which seems either 10 have been
produced by these physical characteristics, cl
or Is the cause of those characteristics? That
the moral nature is susceptible OF culture
can not be doubted, but character, being to
very large degree developed before the
individual arrives at an age, when he is
likely to take any interest in himsslf in
this respect, this subject of hereditary neral
deficiency, Is at least of sufficient Importance
to claim the earnest attention of parents,
guardians and Governments that have the
care OF the ris ing generation. The referma-
ton OF men who have started wrozgon tfle
road of life is at best a very uncertain thing.
Indeed, looking at its results upon the
masses who need reformation, it is an utter
failure. For every one who is rescued from
the thraldom Of vice, hundreds, and perhaps
1t would not be over stating 1t to say thou
sands, are enguIfed in the vortex. The
child's nature should be carefully studied by
the parent or teacher; its ancestry should, as
far as possible, be examined, and the moral
deficiencies which the child Is perhaps in
| danger oflnheriting. learned and warned
| against. We are largely the creatures of
circumstan ees, and the fact can not be too
| strongly impressed upon the minds of those
who have the rearing of children. Moral
| principle needs to be strengthened; and
| sometimes wholly created, and with. the
most robust of moral character, men often
| quiyer In the presence of temptation like-a
leaf in the wind, and not unfreauently go
down before the storm. But if such results
| are possible in the case of those who have no
moral taint to begin with, or whose moral
characters have been carefully constructed
by judlcious training, what can be expected
of those whose parents may have inflicted
| them with moral weakness, and who have
/ been permitted to grow up like q weed by
the roadside? There is q fearful RESPONSE
bIlity upon parents and teachers, If there Is
any truth in this doctrine of heridity, and
1t is too deep subject to dismiss lightly,
| and the truth or falsity of it is too impossi-
BILE to satisfactorily demonstrate, to allow
us to neglect our duty to the rising genera
tion, and ofuture generations which may
he affected by such neglect.