The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-05-16
FORMATION OF CHARACTER.
BY GAsKELL

I - LOW PStEASN ~ '+S-N-
fourteen hundred millions Of inhsbit
ants. In all that vast number
human beings no two can be said
! be precisely alike. There ia a varii
ton in form, in feature. in COMPLEX
ion, or 10 temperament; and equal
| is that variation manifested IN To
experience they each undergo. Som
are governed by circumstances NOR
than others, and others again, in
manner, create circumstances, o
bend them to their purposes. Tn
more determinedIy and zeRlously
person follows out a certain plan, th'
more likely is he'to succeed therein
Thousands and thousands destroy
their chances of happiness and sue
cess, by frjtterlDg away their time II
vain conceits and uncertain objects
Uncertain the goal and likewise 1T
direction, aud the effort being desnl
tory either maniiests itself in spas
medic action, or & total cessation
thereitom. The slow and grsdua
acquisition of knowledge is not COM
mensurate with the desires of such
persons and their energies are by nc
means developed SO rapidly, nor dc
thsir actions keep pace with then
hopes. The feeling is to spring at
once TO place, power, or intelligence.
without the intervening period oil
toilsome and lAborious study snd re-
search.
l. is seldom that those OF real
genius do the work OF life. Il is gene
rally the slow, methodioal ones, who
do that. Thoy have trained their
energies in tee school OF adversely.
They seldom allowed hope TO raise
them above she level OF their laboTs,
only as intelligence increased and
their powers mature. Present duLiea
are persever;ugly performed and
though progress may DO slow it is
nevertheless constsnt and unceasing.
The race OF life is not always to the
swift, FOR that which is easily acquired
lie but littls valued.
Many of those who in after life be-
come distinguished, either as business
men, writers, or statesmen, in their
record at school, or college, have been
but average in ability. Some are
slow in maturing. Unlike the pre-
cOcious brilliancy OF others, which
would almost lead US to think it was
intuitive and spontaneous, their efforts
ara lsbored and all advance they
make is only Won by toll and begged
resolution. But truths once learned
cling to them-tActs are
stored up IN the memory and remain
always after ready to the hand. The
severe application they have had to
practice has stamped the truths
learned In indeIlible characters upon
the mind that all the changes Of after
life cannot eradicate.
The energies and thoughts Of men
talent, pefeistently directed
towards one point, o, object, cannot
fail 10 accomplish great results. The
dropping Of e little water.
We are told, will Wesr away the hard
est adamart; and, in ike manner,
we may sag, lhg Continuous workings
Of the mind ia certain channel, can
wear Il deep and lasting. bringing
forth great results and overcoming
the great difficulties. This We fad
exempiifisd in the lives OF many Eho
have become eminent in their par
ticUler line in life. They have bad
but themselves to depend upon and
whatever was learned had to be
thoroughly understood, before it could
be q mtaos of future advancement.
5ystsm and method accelerate pro-
gress, ss order properly CotnpTehen
led moves directly to It's object and
is founded upon the combined and
amalgamzsed experience and wisdom
Of ages before. Such is the founda-
ion upon which ali Institutions Of
earning sle reared, though at times
ne du.iTe for noiorie!y and change
nay GAUGE instructors and teachers to
introduce novel aud unprecedented
alterations into their m0dSs OF teach
Dg. Many elaborate theories are
Iound impTzcticable in their workings,
and no is mott successful, Nho recog-
aizes this fact ard rejects no method
3u account Of ils antiquity, nor aG-
eepls any on account OF its novelty
Ind plau=ibiii!y. ali changes should
be examined vilh care, bat II proven
beneficial should be prosecuted with
lue diligence aud ardor. Il ia not,
Il all times, those Of mos: command
ing minds Eho ara most successful IN
pretending learning TO their pupils.
4 peculiar Temperament ard SYM
Datbslio comprehension o! the wants
aud requirements OF those entrusted
10 their charge, is required TO make
any one, successful ID teaching
o.hers. Different modes have to be
followed 10 leading on different per
sons, as what, At times, might be
good for ooe might be the reverse
With another and. perhaps be really
iniu,ious. he who ID incapable Of
exercising e. unceasiug vigilence and
a patience that 10 continuous. can
never be very successful. He must
be able to simplify and explain away
difficulties as they aTise-must have
a sympathetic regard for the feelings,
tie deuires end The hopes OF those
committed to bis care; muet be able
to place himself, in Imagination at
least, in their position, and instead Of
Judging from bis o1n standpoint
musE descend to theirs, to do them
coed; tor. what to him seems but :
gentle elevation, may to them appear
% the towering preCipice beyond
Ehich there IS no advance. His view
can extend ackTard over The devious
pathway ne has pursued and Though
there is a. endless extension before
him ikewice, their prospect Is all
forward, for ;ney have no pss5 path
gsy TO yieT. They are but entering
ur0a the Journey Of knowledge he
has progressed, and Vhilet capable Of
com pretending advanced truths, be
should never forget the siHpler ones,
that IN times past, we're equally %
difficult to learn.
Kindnoss is always more beneficial
and lasting IL It's effects upon tht
human character than force. It Il
displayed il Enez Of light upon the
dark background Of passion. anC
iliunas the entire pathway @! human
life. There ia 20 much Of darkness
so much OF struggle aud turmoil 10 b
met with, even by the most fortunate
that the brighter contrast presented
by the seli-jenial End abnegstion Q
| ~. noble sont. that driving for tn