The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-09-28

But al people beeween thirty and forty
years Of age, yea, between forty and fifty
aye, between nifty and sixty years, and I'll
septuagenarians ~ well, need . surround
ing conjunction Of good influences. In
Sing Sing, Auburn, 1oyamensing and oil
the other great prisons are mon and wom-
en- who went wrong In mid.life and old
age. We need around N . Gordon Of good
influences. We forget TO apply the well
known rule that . chain II NO stronger
than its weakest link. II the chain be
made up Of loo links and $50 are strone
but one is weak the chain will be in dan.
ger Of breaking ct that one weak link. We
may be strong In . thousand excellences
and yet have one weakness which endan.
gers as. That IL the reason that we some
times see men distinguished for whole
round Of virtues collapse and go 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 it in . bridge across the Seine.
But there was one weak point in that
chain bridge. There was . middle bolt
that was Of poor material but they did not
know how much depended ON that middle
bolt Of the chain bridge. On the opening
day . procession started, led on by the
builder Of the bridge; and when the
mighty weight Of the procession was
fairly on 1t, the bridge broke and precip-
itated the multitudes. The bridge was
all right except in that middle bolt. 30
the bridge Of character may be made up of
mighty links strong enough to hold a
mountain, but If there be one weak spot
that one point unlocked after may be the
destruction of every thing.
And what multitudes have gone down
for all time and all eternity because In the
chain bridge of their character there was
lacking . strong middle bolt. He had but
one fault and that was avarice; hence,
forgery. He had but one fault and that
was burning thirst for intoxicants; hence,
his fatal debauch. She had but one fault
and that an inordinate fondness for dress,
and hence her own and her husbands
bankruptcy. She had but one fault and
that quick temper; hence the disgrace
full outburst. What we all want Is to have
put around US a strong chain of good in.
huences. Christian association is link.
Good literature is link. Church member
ship is link. Habit Of prayer is link.
Scripture research il link. Faith in God
is link. Put together all these influences.
Make a chain!
Most excellent is 1t for rs to get into
company better than ourselves. II we are
given to telling vile stories let US put our
selves among those who will not abide
such utterance. If we are stingy let US
put ourselves among the charitable. II we
are morose let Us put ourselves among the
good natured. II we are given to title
tattle let us put ourselves among those who
speak no i'll of their neighbors. II we are
let us put ourselves among
those who make the best of things. II
evil IL contagious, I am glad to say that
good is also catching. People 60 up into
the hill country for physical health; SO IL
you would be strong in your soul get
yourself up of the lowlands into the alti-
tudes of high moral association. For
many of the circumstances Of our life we
are not responsible. For the place Of our
not responsible; for our features,
our stature, our color, not responsible; for
the family relation in which we were born,
for our natural tastes, for our mental
character, not responsible. But we are
for the associates that we
choose and the moral influences under
which We put ourselves.
Character seeks an equilibrium. A B is
a good man. Y 2 is q bad man. Let them
now voluntarily choose each others soci-
ETY.. A B will lose part Of his goodness
and Y part of his badness, and they
will gradually approach each other in
character and will finally stand on the
same level. One of the old painters re-
fused to look at poor pictures because he
said it damaged his style. A musician
can not afford to dwell among discords,
nor can q writer afford to peruse books of
inferior style, nor an architect walk out
among disproportioned structures. And
no man or woman was ever 80 good as to
be able to afford to choose evil associa-
tons. Therefore, said, have it q rule
Of your life to 60 among those better
than yourselves. Can not find them?
Then what a pink Of perfection you
must be! When was your character com.
pleted? What misfortune for the sanity
and angelic of Heaven that they are not
enjoying the improving influence Of your
society! All, If you can not find those bet
ter than yourself, it is because you are ig-
norant Of yourself. Woe unto you, Scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites!
But, as I remarked in the opening, in sa-
cred and in all styles of literature q chain
means not only adornment and royalty of
nature but sometimes captivity. And
suppose there are those in that sense de.
liberately and persistently making .
chain.
Now here is q young man Of good
physical health, good manners and good
education. How shall he put together
enough links to make Q chain for the down
hill road: will give him some directions.
cigars let him try cigarettes. think
cigarettes will help him ON this road .
little more rapidly because the doctors
say there is more poison in them, and 80
be will be helped along faster, and I have
he moro confidence in proposing this be-
cause about fifty Of the first young mon Of
during the last year were, accord
ing to the doctors report, killed by cigar
.ttes. Let him drink light wines first, or ale
Dr. lager, and gradually he will be able to
AXE something stronger, and as all styles
If strong drink are moro and moro sdul.
berated his progress will be facilitated
With the old time drinks . man seldom
got delirium tremens before thirty and
Iorty years Of age; now he can get the
madness by the time he 10 eighteen. Lot
him play cards, enough money put up
always 10 add interest to the game. II