The Monitor., 1891-09-25

within-these virtues will become part
of the child and Of the man which develops,
as naturally as the Sunshine causes the
growth of the plant.
In case where one parent is Of a quick,
passionate nature, the other of a quiet,
amiable disposition, there is a possibility
of there being an admixture of com bative
elements, whereby the matured life of the
child may at one time seem to possess
many of the characteristics of the one, and
at another time those Of the other parent.
ln such case, or in any case, it rests very
largely with the environment or outward
surroundings as to what the development
of the man may be.
For instance, one family may take espe.
cial pride or comfort in educational pur-
suits, warping their very natures to follow
its bent, regardless as TO their social or re-
ligious duties. Consequently they grow
up like a reed developing only such char
acteristics as come in the way of this pecu-
liar leading. And they are too apt, in many
cases. to have no sympathy for those who
have builded on broader social, or chris
tian basis at the expense of delying deeper
into POLITICAL economy, historical research,
Latin derivitives, scientific knowledge or
mathematical problems. One would think
at first glance that to be proficient in these
particulars would not be to lead a narrow
or a selfish life. But with all these educa-
tional advantages there are still very i'm
portant factors necessary that the weeds
may not grow in their plots of environ
ment, thereby sitting the finer develop
ment of their natules. Having bent all
their efforts to be perfect in these several
conditions, they may have forgotten the
fact that to love their neighbor as theirself,
is the very foundation stone upon which
true character is built, and through this
forgetfulness, have very little charity or
patience with the forms of social life which
seem to them SO obnoxious. They forget
their neighbors may have been educated on
a different plan, that they may not have
been taught to shun those pleasures which
they themselves have been taught from in
fancy to shun as something beneath their
tolerance.
We are too prone to cast reflections upon
the methods in which our neighbors were
drought up" not stopping to remember
that their environments, their advantages,
were different from our own. Our neigh
bors, in many particulars, may have had
greater advantages than were ours. They
may have been taught to be always thought
full, kindly spoken and charitable toward
their associates, and that sarcastic remarks
were not only unpleasant to the sensitive
ears Of their fellow men, but that they were
an abomination to the Lord, inasmuch as
their free Indulgence repeatedly blasts the
little plants of love which attempt to grow
in their hearts, but which necessarily be-
come shriveIed and blasted without the ia-
torn environment of sspeace upon earth,
good will toward all men"
True, there are some traits of character,
some forms of amusement which our early
environments have caused US to shun and
abhor as we would the vilest reptile, and
we cannot hut shudder to see friends who
are dear to us, fondle these poisonous
things. Yet to warn them of their danger,
to point out wherein they may lead others
infinitely deeper into the mire which is al
ready soiling their skirts is work, an act
of love, and to bring about its consumma-
tion much tact, much thoughtfulness on
our parts is required, and upon second
thought we must admit that it is unfair,
and not only unfair, but unkind, to twit
them of their bringing up. For wherein
they are deficient in these respects, we may
be more than deficient in some virtue in
which their nature seems to have been sat-
urated, so redundant is the air around about
them with the perfume coming from that
especial virtue.