Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-09-25
SOCIAL MICROBES.
Influences That BREAK Down Character
mud Lead To Kuhn.

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 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 lists
have pursued tho study of disease mi-
crobes with such diligence that they
claim to DO able to recognize the germs
of certain diseases. They find them
in the atmosph ere almost everywhere,
and they prove that these microbes arc
real germs of disease by their oxperi-
ments with tho lower animals. But
along with these discoveries goes tho
other, that thoroughly healthy
man may breathe or swallow mill
ions of these germs of disease
without being infected. lie 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 caro- in the home
circle in treating and associating with
patients known to be afflicted with con-
tagious diseases, but after all pro.
cautions have been taken tho 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 tho streets OF great city. !fe
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 az
far as that can 60, and no needs
also the ability to withstand contagion
when he can no longer avoid it. For
| his moral welfare he needs the sanso
double guards. lie 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 and
mischievous than those with which
Pasteur deals. It's 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, iostle one in the cars or in
places of public meeting, or even visit
us at cur homes. They scatter about as
! they go the invisible germs of moral
disease that, when they find congenial
soil, flourish and grow, but perish in the
presence of a 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. The
influences that go to make character are
in great part unseen, like the microbes
that carry with them disease and death.
The places where they most flourish
NAV be known and avoided, but the in
fiuences themselves can not be alto
rether escaped. 1t is, therefore, OF
special importance that the young
should be so trained as to resist such
influences instinctively, which can be
done IL they are taught 70 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 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 20
contagion, ami in that lies the value Of
many proverbs that warn him against
bad associations sad evil commanics-
tions. Baltimore sun.