The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-06-22
HOME INFLUENCE.
AN ESSAY REvp BA MISS EMMA


nat lives and character are great
~ effected by surrounding influences
has been fully and constantly illustrat-
ed since the worlds history began.
influences, thus making us, 10 a GER
tam extent, the creatures OF crcum-
stances rather than of will. The
three most important influences rela-
tive to character are society, climate
ana the home. Truly 10 the active
influences of society, we owe our CIV
'llzation. AS in society we meet per-
sons who constantly exert an influence,
either for good or for evil over us,
and according TO our tendencies
drawing US toward the better, or, I'M
Jess we are strong enough and wise
enough 10 resist evil and choose the
right, leading US astray. To the
silent influence of climate we owe,
an part, our dispositions. SHAKESPEARE
does not forget the influence Of
climate. For, take the character of
Ophelia and Juliet, as types of The
woman of the North and the woman
OF the South. Both are in love. In
studying Ophelia, you find woman
whose sincerity, constancy and depth
of soul, you recognize and admire.
She speaks few words and they are
quietly spoken yet beneath the Gn-
demonstrative manner, you detect the
strongest yearning for the love of
him, whom she loves. When she dis
covers that her love is returned,
though chary of her words: you can
detect the earnestness of her delight.
When her trials come, when her rea-
son is dethroned, her nature is true to
ats cline. Her anxiety, her JOY, her
grief are alike subdued by the reserve
that is natural TO the woman of the
North.
Juliet is a. striking contrast. No
calm exterior hides her impulsive
. nature. Her love comes suddenly to
ats full expression. Her utterances
of feeling, her inmost actions, are
the index of her deepest emotions.
Her womanliness is as pure as
Ophelia's. She is simply true to the
impulsive nature Of the woman Of the
South.
But home exerts the greatest power
and influence over us all. 1t is to
the home, that we owe the individual
developing of the dispositions so
strongly effected by climate. Home,
as it is generally considered, is the
abode Of those we hold most dear,
the beloved father and mother, sisters
and brothers. To children "there is
no place like home;" here they were
brought up; here, day by day, the
same kind hands administered to
their wants and desires and here
their future life is outlined. With a
little child, imitation is almost an
instinct the habits and examples of
those about him are adopted and
make his own. We cannot help it,
nor would we wish to; God wisely
planned that we should all be, to
some extent, creatures OF habits and
imitators; for day after day, and
year after year, the same things are
seen and heard, and by these are we
led. If the influences are bad, the
results, to great extent, are evil !;
for we are taught that bad tree can
not bring forth good fruit; but if
good, we also know that a fig does
not produce thistles. In a certain
house, the parents are kind, making
home attractive, the place OF counsel,
knowledge and love; where they
make it such a home, that the boys
do not care to frequent forbidden
places, and where the girls would
rather employ their leisure time at
home. We are obliged to acknowl-
edge that the opposite of this picture
exists, where harmony does not reign,
and anarchy is rife and the parents
forget to set fitting example them
selves. Do you then wonder that the
boys wander away? And that the
girls are not womaniy? BY no
parents need it be said, that they have
not the means TO make home attrac-
tive that they are poor and cannot
afford it; no matter how poor and
humble home may be, it does not
exclude love, still cheerfulness, kind
ness and love, can make any home a
paradise on earth. NJ
You may ask what will be the
career of these boys when they step
out into active life for themselves.
Have we not all seen this question
many times answered in life? In
general, though not without excep-
ton, as the result of the one is man
noble, true and honored. however
humble his position. From the other,
a man warped in development, and
distrusted however high his Position.
The first entered business and pros