The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-22

power in the chain that pulls You this
moment toward God and Christ and heaven.
oh The almighty pull OF The long chain OF
early gracious influences.
But all people between 30 and 40 years II
age yes, between 40 and 80 aye, between
30 and GO years, and all sepftaQsnarians "a
well, need surrounding conjunction III
good influences. In Sing Sing, Auburn,
Moyamcnslng and all the other great prisons,
are men and women who went wrong in
mid-Iifc and old age. We need around lls q
Gordon Of good Influences. We forget to
apply the well-known rule that chain Is no
stronger than It's weakest link. II the chain
be made mp ~ thousand links and nine
hundred and ninety are strong, hut ono
Is weak, the chain viii be In danger OF break
ing at that one weak link. We may be
strong In q thousand excellencies and vet
have one Weakness which endangerS u.s.
That H. the reason that we sometimes see
men distinguished for whole round OF vir-
tues collapse and 90 down. The weak link
In the otherwise stout chain gave way under
the pressure.
The first chain bridge was built In Scot
land. Walter scott tells how The French
initiated il In bridge across the river Seine.
But there was one weak point Ia that chain
bridge. There was n middle bolt that was ~
poor material, but they did not know how
much depended on that middle bolt Of the
eliiin Ou the tifHlnk utlN "A lfOrt--
sion started, led on by the builder 81 the
bridge, and when the mighty weight Of the
procession was fairly on II the bridge broke
and prccipitated the multitudcs. Tho bridge
was all right except In that middle holt so
the bridge OF character may be- made up OF
mighty Inks strong enough % hold noun
tain: but II there De one weak spot that one
point unlocked after may be the destruction
Of everything. And what multimdes have
gone down for all time and all eternity be-
cause In the chain bridge OF their character
there was lacking strong middle bolt. lie
had but one fault and that was ayaricc hence,
forgery. lIe had but ono fault and that was
a burning thirst for intoxicantS; hence, his
fatal debauch. She had but one fault and
that an inortinatc fondness for dress, and
hence her own and her husbands bankrupt
cy. She had but one fault and that quick
temper; hence the disgraccful outburst.
What we all want l. % have put around us
strong chain 81 good influences. Christian
association n q link Good literature is a
link. Church membership l. link. Habit
10 prayer Il link. Scripture research Is a
link. Faith in God T. a link. Put together
all these influences. Make a chain
Most excellent is It for ITS 90 get into com
pany better than ourselves. III we are given
70 telling Vile stories let Ms put ourselves
among those who will not abide such utter
ance. III we ar stingy let ~ put ourselves
among the charitable. III we arr mOrOse let
Us put ourselves among the good naturcd.
II we are given 10 tittlc-tattlc let as put our
selves among those who speak no i'll Of their
ncighbors. III we are Respondent lei us pat
ourselves among those who mako the best of
things. III evil i contagious. | am glad to
say that good u also catching. People 90 mp
into the hill country FOR physical health; 80
Ii Won would be strong In your soul gct your
self up of the lowlands into the attitudes 81
high moral association. For many Of the
cir -
sible. For our parcntagc we are not rcspon-
siblc. For the place ~ our nativity, not re-
sponsible; for our features, our stature, our
color, not responsible; FOR the family rcla-
ton IN which we were born, for our natural
tastes, for our mental character, not response
bic. But we are responsible for the associates
that We choose and tlic moral influences ua-
der which we put orr ourselves. Character
seeks nm equilibrium. A. Il. Is good man.
\. n. i "A bad man. Let them now yountar-
ily choose each others society. 4. Is. viii
lose a part Of his goodness, and \. 4. part
OF his badness. and they Will gradually mp
proach each other IN character, and viii fin
ally stand on the same level. ono ~ the old
painters refused 10 look at poor pictures be-
cause, he said, Il damaged his STYLE. musi-
elan canot afford 10 dwell among discords,
nor can writer afford 10 pcrusc books OF in-
fcrior style, nor an architect walk out among
dtsproportioscd structures. And no man or
woman was ever so good rs 10 be- able to NJ
ford to choose evil associations. Therefore |
said, have 10 a rule OF your life to 90 among
those better than yourselves. Cannot lind
themy Then what pink Of perfection YOU
must be When was your character coul-
pletcdy What misfortune for the sanity
and angelic ~ heaven that they are not en-
Toying the improving influence OF your socie-
~ Al, II YOU cannot find those better than
yourself, II j. because YOU are ignorant ~
yourself. Woe unto you, Scribcs and Phar-
isccs, hypocritcs!
But, A. ! remarked IN the opening, IA sa-
cred and Ia all styles OF literature q chain
means not only adOrnmcnt and ROYALTY 81
nature but sometimes captivity. And | sup
pose there are those In that sense deliberately
aud pcr~isiently making chain. Now here
i young man OF good physical health good
manners and good education. How shall he
put togrthcr enough links to make u chain
for the down hill rOadf l will Give him some
directions. First let him smoke. II lac cannot
stand cigars, let him try cigarettes. ! think
cigarettes will help him on this read little
more rapidly because the doctors say there Is
moro poison In them, and so he will be helped
along faster, and have the more confidence
IN proposing This because about nfty OF tho
iirst young men of Brooklyn during the last
year were, according 90 the doctors reports,
Killed by cigarettes. let him drink light
wines first, or ale or lager. and gradually he
VIII De able 10 take something stronger, and
a. all styles Of strong drink are moro and
moro adulterated, his progress will be facii-
tatcd. With the old time drink. a man sell
dom got dclirium tremcns before 30 or 90
years ~ age; now he can get The madness by
the time he i IL. Let him play cards, enough
money put up always 10 add interest % the
game. II the father and mother will play
with him, that viii help By way 81 countcn-
ancing the habit. And II will be much
pleasant thing u think over In the day 81
Judgment, when the parents give account for
The elevated manner In which thcy have rear
81 their children. Every pleasant Sunday
afternoon take n carriage ride and stOp al the