The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-11-07
To Look Upon, and to Become.

To Look Upon, and to Become.
Any one who gazes intently and
appreciatively upon some beautiful
landscape, or some rare work of art,
gradually comes to partake of some
of its characteristics, and to absorb
something of its nature. There is a
spirit within him that responds to
the beauty, or sublimity, or delicacy
upon which he looks that claims
kinship with them, and that is
awakened and developed by his
continued and earnest gaze. If this
is true, concerning what appeals to
us through the eye of the body,it is
even more true in what we view with
the eye of the mind. Whatever We
give our attention to constantly and
thoughtfully, that We shall gradually
come to resemble. Perhaps there are,
in our complex natures, many
undeveloped germs, which are only
brought into living existence by
contact with special external infu-
ences which coincide with them; at
any rate, it is certain that we soon
grow into close affinity with what
ever we pre-eminently think upon.
Take the young child in his
mothers arms, for example as he
gazes upon her face he drinks in its
expression, all unconsciously, into
his very soul. The loving smile, or
the angry frown, the bright and
CHEEKY look of hope, or the fretful or
sullen aspect which he beholds are
gradually lmprinting themselves
upon his features and the disposi-
tions which give birth to these out
ward tokens are assurely taking root
in his character. Soon he comes
under other influences and gains
other impressions. Not only home
with its powerful cord is drawing
him into likeness with himself, but
outside forces are now at work.
Teachers and playmates, studies and
smusements, are moulding him hour
by hour, or rather they are awaken
ing within him the corresponding
parts of his nature, and fostering
them into growth and development.
Presently he launches forth into the
world, full, perhaps, of enthusiasm
as to something ne is to accomplish
or gain full of hopes and plans as
to how he will exert the power
which he feels within him Still,
however, though he imaeines it not,
he is acted upon even more fOrcibly
than he can possibly act upon 9th
ers; for he is but a single factor,
while a thousand are ever pressing
upon him with resistless energy,
and making him what he is.
Although it is a serious question
with every one what he will do, it is
even more weighty and important
one what he will be. What man
Is underlies and determines all that
he does, and more than this, it de-
cides upon the character of that large
and widespread influence which |
continually emanates from his very |
presence. And what he Is greatly
depends upon what he locks at. No
one is able wholly to control the in |
fiuences that shape him; many of
them are beyond his reach to with !
stand, but every one may choose
which of them he will encourage, |
which he will cling to, upon which |
he will lay the emphasis of his life,
upon which he will allow his
thoughts 20 dwell. The influence of
companionship, for instance, is a
most potent one. We can never es-
cape ii But we can select for our
more intimate friends those who |
command our respect and are wor-
thy of our confidence. There are
some persons TO whom we instinct
lively look up, and others upon /
whom we as naturally look down. |
Whichever we place within our con- |
slant view, we grow to resemble, and !
so it comes to pass that "a man is |
known by the company he keeps"
The press is powerful forming
which presses on US from
every side. We can no more shut |
ourselves faom il than from the at /
vet here also we can Sc
lect our intimates. We can decide |
whether the papers, periodicals and /
volumes that enter our homes and /
engage our attention are such as
beckon us upward to heights of in
teiligence, purity and wisdom, or
such as draw US down to the friyo-
lous, the lax or the corrupt. Thought
is constant, though silent agent in I
us what we are. 1t is with |
us in every waking hour. Yet we
have the power to cherish one class
of thoughts and 20 dismiss another,
10 encourage those that lift us up
and restrain those that drag Us
down. We can never stop thinking
any more than we can stop breath
ing-but as we can, in a measure,
control the quality of air which we
breathe, so to great extent We can
determine what we will think about.
1t is quite as needful to turn away |
from evil or unworthy or puerile
thoughts as from books OF compan-
ions of the same sort, and it is posi- /
bic to occupy the mind so fully |
with what is good. noble and up |
lifting, that there shall be no room
nor desire to harbor what is false,
low or injurious.
We all look earnestly toward the
future. and here also we grow into
unison with what we look upon.
Whatever We picture to ourselves as
our dearest aim, and dwell upon
with hope and anticipation, we gen.
erally secure, and in the process we
become attuned to it. Whether il |
be wealth, or fame, or the good opin-
ion of party, or the attainment of
some special excellence, or the pro-
motion of a reform, or the establish |
ment of an enterprise, We shall par
Il IT,