The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-09-25
Wordsworth.

The child is father OF the man.
Wordsworth
As arrows are in the hand q 8 mighty
man, so a.e CHI, rem Of the youth. Hap
Ply i the nan that hath his culver Ill
T8almS
The human mind is one of the
most impressible of substances, if 81
it can be called, that there is in ex-
istence. We find just such knowledge
and intelligence engrayen upon its
tablets as the varied circumstances
Of life, and the wide experiences TO
be won in the extended arcana Of ma
ture. which is on every hand spread
for our researches and cUlling, mark
upon it. Circumstance and events
over which we have no control, III
cidents OF which we dTeampt not
till presented by Providence, mis-
fortunes and universities ever spring
ing from improvidence and ignor-
ance, have each a part to play in the
formation Of character and the struC-
ture of mind. We are at times sur
priSed at the trifing nature Of things
that change the entire current Of a
lifetime, forming prejudices, Or pre-
possessions, in our thoughts, and CIV
ing a coloring to our minds, that is
seldom, if ever, eradicated, and then,
only by the stronger and purer light
Of proof and a full conviction. AT
no period of our lives do we believe
our minds lose the impressible ma
ture of their being, though they may
possess that impreSsibility in a
greater degree of power and perfec-
ton when we are young, than when
aged. The heart at all ages and IN
all positions, is susceptible Of the
emotions of love and friendship, and
of hatred and dislike. When the
form, physically, has ceased to grow
and expand, has acquired that sy-
etry that will ever afterwards dis
tinguish it, unless accident or mis-
fortune mars its perfection, the
mind is still prepared to receive and
store away knOWledge-tO open up
and explore new channels and fields
of information; to appropriate the
worthiest and most useful portions
of that wisdom gained, using it in
aiding still future progress and
triumphs in truth and correct prin-
ciple. But in the early morn Of life.
is this impressibility first manifested
when we take our first lesson in ac-
tivity and intelligence, while Jour
minds are feeble and ourTperceptiye
faculties are, in manner, uniformed,
or unframed ItdependS greatly upon
the manner in which this faculty, to
acquire and retain knowledge, is
first aroused and directed, and the
extent to which it is developed,
whether it will prove beneficial or
detrimental to the FIXTURE virtue and
usefulness of the child in life, The
general absence of guile and nduplic-
ity in the child, renders it liable to
be imposed upon by the superior
of persons older and more
in the ways of life,
and in the laws which govern So
cietv, than itself. There may be in
herited characteristics, that under
certain conditions WOuldpead tO,evii,
for we cannot deny that in certain
lineages there is what we may term
bad blood that crops out in uneX-
pected quarters and times; q predis-
position to evil that needs f0nly f0s-
tering influences Of similar tendency
to lead to Wickedness and sin. But
the animating influence must be
there to warm into Yirulent activity
the passions, and the absence of ex-
perience in self control unwittingly
causes them to err; for they have
at WOrng can never
be done without punishment follow
ing. If unwhipt of human justice,
guilt never evades the penalty Of
dereliction, in some form or other.
This principle of punishment follow
ing transgressiOn, is as infallible as
that day follows the night, year af-
ter wear. and century after century.
Tie mannerin which 1t comes may
vary, yet the moral and physical
laws outraged, demand cOmpensa-
ton to again restore an equilibrium
and that Justice may be satisfied.
t1uulan DSlu8S die ilJSlll1 &hiACcAIl ~
Thus the depravity of one person,
or his weakness and inGecision of
his carlessnesS of action
and disregard for the feelings oil
others. is made. unthinkingly at |
times. the means Of retarding the
progress Of another. In this we can
see manifestly the necessity, not only |
Of teaching virtue ourselves by pre-
eept. but by doing so by the upright |
ness and kindness of our example.
So. likewise, should we look for sim
lar traits of good, in those to whom
We entrust their training, when not
under our immediate control Be
nc learned and enthusiastically well
Iualifed for teaching. are not the
,nly talents required, but integrity,
kindness Of heart Joined TO a good
OF human nature. should
likewise be sought. 1t is of more
TO know when not to
punish. than when to do so. Calm
less and reason should dictate
very act.
No one knows positively the Ell
,ect. or the final result obtained by
operation OF any cause which we
et in motion, unintentionally,Or ex-
1erimentally, to test its efficacy and