Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-12-22
School Reputation.
Pacific Rnral Press [

Pacific Rural Press.
The habits we form during that period Of
existence when we attend school, or when
we ought to be at school, are likely to remain
with us and form part of our character dur
the rest of our life. This is a well substanti.
ated fact, by knowledge Of which the nature
Of our future can easily be determined by
our actions and habits during the present
If,s in school, we are unruly, foolish obsti-
nate, idle or :querulous, each OF these bad
qualities will stamp themselves upon our
future. 1t can be seen, therefore, how i'm
portant it is that our reputation in school
should be good. And yet, intelligent as our
American school boys are generally admit
ted to be, few of them appreciate what an
important affect upon their future their school
reputation has, Says a writer of a past gen.
Grafton: Independent Of mere worldly sue
cess, the character formed in the school-rOom
must always affect the future life"
No one ever expects the school-boy to be
the pink of perfection. The natur.l pro-
pensities will assert themselves at unguard-
ed moments, with the best, and most intelli-
gent, and the most ambitious In short,
there is no boy, and no man, either, for that
himself and give Vent to his overf1owing VIZ
vacity. But there is wide distinction be-
tween the occasional, and, perhaps .unthink-
ing bad behavior Of boy, ,fand that kind of
conduct which naturally Indicates q maleqo-
lent disposition to do wrong on his part
There isa difference between the boy who
not only watches for every opportunity but
makes opportunities to misbehaye in. school
and the boy who in oughtlessness, oc-t
casionallyr falls into initiating the bad exx--s
ample OF bad school-mates. y"yb914 b9hsLr,
The idler,, who wastes his. own time, and
the trifier, who wastes his time and that of,
his classmates also by his foolish conduct !:
who tries to show his wit, and shows his
want of it, by bnfforney or rnonsensical trick
cry, may find mOmentary admirers among
his more indiscreet and thoughtless COM
panions, and even at times, make the more
iudicious of them laugh at his silly perfor-
mances. But while he probably accepts this
seeming popularity as compensation for
the eventual loss of respect Of his teachers
and the more sensible of his school cOmpan-
ions, he is certainly destined, at no distant
day. to realize the transient glory of the
clown, on his miniature stage, and that en-
during reputation which always attends in
dustry, obedience, truthtulness, and unyary-
ing, straight forward, honorable conduct, SO
conducive to success in ones career on this
broader stage, which is all the world. + 4
1t frequently happens that school compan-
ions and others, who spend so many youth
fnl hours together, are brought into contact
with each other in after life, in their man
hood. They travel each their respective |
road the few fortunate ones easily arrive at |
success and eminence, but the greater num-
Der travel the path of labor, which God hath I
ordained the majority of mankind shall
pursue A natural charitable feeling will I
prompt the prosperous man to help his less
fortunate school-mate of yesterday. Here
then, it is that the question of character /
assumes its proper Importance. A feeling of /
may yet be awakened by the
'ecollections of the practical jokes of the
'chool-room trickster; but if a position of
rust and responsibility is to be bestowed a
much different reputation will be needed.
The industrious, modest, truthful boy who
never set the school roaring by his vagaries,
md who was also never known to do dis
action, will here naturally take
precedence.
Therefore, boys of the two courses de-
cribed above, choose while time and oppor-
unity are with you, that which has been
hown 70 be the better.