The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-09-18
SOCIAL MICROBES.
Influences That Break Down Character
and Lead to Ruin.

Influences That Break Down Character
and Lead to Ruin.
Very good advice is often given to be-
ware Of bad associates, to keep ones
self aloof from the dangers of moral
contagion. That is a good rule to fol-
low, but something more is needed, and
that is to keep ones moral character in
such good condition as to be proof
against Infection. Modern scien fists
have pursued the study of disease mi.
crobes with such diligence that they
claim to be able to recognize the germs
of certain diseases. They find them
in the atmosph ere almost everywhere,
and they prove that these microbes are
real germs of disease by their expert
ments with the lower animals. But
along with these discoveries goes the
other, that a thoroughly healthy
man may breathe or swallow mill
ions of these germs of disease
without being infected. He can not
indeed, altogether escape them. The
sanitarian may reduce the risk of con-
tagion by providing smallpox hospitals
and homes for consumptives and by
teaching lessons of care in the home
circle in treating and associating with
patients known to be afflicted with con-
tagious diseases, but after all pre-
cautions have been taken the healthy
man will still be exposed to more or
less contagion in his place of business,
in public halls, in street cars and other
conveyances, and even as he walks
along the streets of great city. He
can not put on shield against these
invisible disease germs, but he can fit
himself, in measure at least, proof
against diseases of the contagious order,
furnishing in his own person no indus
in which they may develop.
To guard his physical well-being
he needs protection from contagion as
far as that can go, and he needs
also the ability to withstand contagion
when he can no longer avoid it. For
his moral welfare he needs the same
double guards. He should avoid evil
communications and bad associates as
he would the plague, but should also fit
himself to resist their influence. There
are social microbes no less potent AMI
mischiovous than those with which
Pasteur deals. Its impossible to avoid
them. Some of those who are infected
with the contagion get put away in
pest-houses or prisons; many more walk
the streets, jostle one in the cars or in
places OF public meeting. or even visit
us at our homes. They scatter about as
they go the invisible germs of moral
disease that, when they find congenial
nd huf oh iy ho
presence of high degree Of moral
healthfulness While, therefore, it is
we'll to avoid bad associates, just as
it is we'll to avoid smallpox patients,
it is also necessary to keep ones
self strong enough to resist moral con-
tagions that can not be avoided. Tho
influences that 60 to make character are
in great part unseen, like the microbes
that carry with them disease and death.
may be known and avoided, but the in
fiuences themselves can not be alto
gether escaped. 1t is, therefore, of
special Importance that the young
should be 80 trained as TO resist such
influences instinctively, which can be
done if they are taught to be true,
honest and self-respectful The boy
who respects himself, is proud of his
good name, speaks the truth and deals
honestly with his fellows, is in a meas
ure proof against the unseen influences
that break down character and lead to
wrong-doing and TO ruin. But he should
not unnecessarily expose himself to
contagion. and in that lies the value Of
many proverbs that warn him against
bad associations and evil communities
tions-Baltimore Sun.
"A prisoner in the Jail at Hunting.
don, w. Va, has developed into re-
markable sleeper. He has been there
four months, and on no one day in that
time has he been awake more than four
hours, while he often sleeps three or
four days in succession, it being impos.
sible to ROUSE him. He wakens with .
start, looks about wildly for moment
then appears to be perfectly at ease.
His appetite is good, and he doesn't
seem to lose flesh. -~t
There ere two sides to every ques-
tioa-the wrong side and our side
rrerre Haut0 ExpreSs.