The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-06-12

AS Daniel WeDSter mas salu,
"nothing of character is really
permanent but virtue and per
sonal worth" But we must un-
derstand that morality does not
pertain merely to the obvious
character. The constitutional
law controls or rather restricts
the outward actions as apparent
to the eye, but the moral law has
for her scope the silent workings
of the heart. The former guards
the actions of the muscles, while
the latter has dominion over our
delicate internal nature. Then
let him be not only obviously
moral, but let his very thoughts
be so. For his thoughts will
shape themselves into actions
and action of worth and good
live forever; in fact goodness is
the only true greatness. Then
let him remember that these
thoughts are not worthless, for
some of the greatest copquests
ever made have been achieved
after the hero himself was dead.
Another requisite of this true
manhood is a strong will in con-
nection with moral courage. His
streng will, will enable him to
command himself so that he may
overcome the common trials OF
life, while his moral courage be-
ing exercised often and to good
effect will strengthen his moral
character. 1t may here be truly
said that the common and seem
ingly small temptations Of every
day life are the greatest enemies
to mankind. They slip in upon
us at our weakest times and fin
ally bind us captive. But the
boy who can say ''no" without
faltering to those who would
tempt him, is stronger than
lion. Vice always assumes the
most attractive form, and placing
herself on the shore of some fas-
cinating pleasure, sings forth in
sweet and melodious strains, as
the NEUROLOGICAL Sirens, Turing
the unfortunate mariners rearer
and near only to sport in their
destruction on the deceitful and
spear-like rocks. Thus many a
pure and innocent youth has
been led into the ways of evi!
and finally surrounded by her
clutching coils, Is dragged into
the marshes of debauchery. till
at length the once fair child, Gre
ated a little lower than the an
gels, has sunk SO low that he has
to lock upward to the plat, form
of the lowest brute. But why is
this so frequently happening? Ii
is simply because these young
men have neither the strong will
nor moral courage to resist. Like
Ulysses, they must fill their ears,
as it were, with wax, so that they
may dismiss even the remotest
inclination to yield to temptation.
Samuel Smiles has said, nothing
can work me danger but myself. )"
and we find that this is generally
true, for on this broad and vast
ocean of life each man is his own
helmsman and his safety depends
upon the skillfulness of his own
movements. AS the old proverb
goes, "a strong man and a water
fall channel their own paths
Therefore ii this degraded nature
had at the first temptation said
"no," he might possibly exchang-
ed from the extreme OF degrada-
ton to the extreme OF earthl.!
nobleness.
Besides a moral character and
strong will. our hero must needs
have ambition to succeed; for
without it these former qualities
are little more than ornamental.
He must feel an honorable anxi-
ETY. to be continually changing
his platform in life to higher
standard. While it is never ad.
vlsable to leave anything of good
until completed, he should at the
same time watch vigilantly to see
when it is completed, so that he
may shift on to some more ele-
waited rank. 1t has been remark
ed by one that he who remains
on the same level through life is
comparatively of little worth,
and this is remarkably true; for
10 man was ever born great, but
those who have proved SO have
done it by continual and gradual
rise.
Another quality which is very
necessary for perfect manhood IS
respest of self and others. While
exercising his strong will or NOR
al courage in connection with his
ambition to succeed, he must at
the same time shape them so that
they will reflect no disrespect
upon himself and others. If he
should base his ambition upon
things out of his sphere and not
suited TO himself he has made a
sad mistake and degraded rather
than elevated himself. However
when he has followed these rules
he has begun his career upon
principles that will last; and
these qualities cemented together
by judicious and conscientious
thought will form a foundation
tor the grandest earthly lite we
can know, for the foundation
foretells the structure. When
we look upon a broad and deep
foundation we know it to be that
for large building. So when
we look upon this foundation of
solid principles we foreteil a
structure as massive as Chimbo-
razo. Then before us we see one
who is type of nobility; a star
of the first magnitude shining
with all his splendor, and as it
seems model of perfect man
hood: but in the hours of his 81
lent thought there comes to him
as it were an echo reverberating
in the ether of an unknown at
mosphere whispering in accents
clear and definite, "Well done,
we'll done," most noble man, but
one thing yet remains for you to
do, which will give the brightest