The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-03-05
o. saltwater, Mimi, Thursday March 8 1891

Observe the relation of the heart to the
body; it is the center of all physical life; it
is the great distributing point. The food is
taken into the stomach, where it is digested.
Then that which is for the nOurishment of
the body is collected into little ducts; these
empty into larger vessels. these into still
larger ones, at last it is all emptied into one
great vein. which pOurs it into the heart
Here, after another slight change, it is
mingled with the blood. and sent out into
all parts of the body. Wherever there is a
weak spot, place needing repairs. this
food enters and restores and builds it up.
In this way the body is kept in health, and
vigor, and growth. Thus the whole body
is dependent upon the heart; it is the life
center of every organ.
Turn now to the soul. We each have
another body. besides this one we see and
handle; body not seen-a spiritual body,
or let us say character. The soul is the life
center of this spiritual body, the character.
just as the heart is the life center of the
physical body. AS the food is poured into
the heart and by it sent out to build up the
body. so the thoughts. inspiring feelings,
motives and purposes. gathered from every
field. are the souls food, which it sends out
| to build up this unseen body, the character.
Auu JuSU do CuC HAUL al Oooy 10 lHouO OuO VI
those things which have come to it through
the heart, so character is made out of those
things, and those only, which come from
the soul. Now we see what the writer Of
the text means. in saying. For as he think
eth in his heart, so is he."
| If the heart receives plenty of nutritious
| food, if it is strong and active. full OF rich
blood. then the body is healthy and strong.
| No one ever yet had diseased body, with
strong and healthy heart, full of pure.
rich blood. But if the heart be weak. the
| food of poor quality. the blood watery
and impure. the whole body is out of health,
there can be no sOundneSs in it. it is against
nature. The moment the heart becomes
diseased. the whole body is sick. And just
so the character; if the soul be healthy.
full of strong. pure thoughts. holy thoughts
and noble purposes, then the character is
strong and healthy. 1t cannot be anything
else. On the other hand if the soul is out
of health; if it is full of weak and sickly,
unclean and bad thoughts, the character
must be base and impure.
There is the thought. my friends; your
soul is your measure. You remember. per-
haps, that story of Pope, the English poet.
He was defOrmed, hunch backed. so small
that he had to sit on high chair at the
table. and so weak that he could scarcely
walk. but one of the most popular poets of
his day. Overhearing lady make 4sOme
unkind remark about his little, ugly body,
| he turned upon her saying,
Madam, could in stature reach the pole,
And grasp creation in a span;
I'd still be measured by my soul.
The mind 8 the magnitude of man."
| But further, [ spoke of the character as
rect. 1t is not altogether invisible. Indeed
we may say that to the practiced eye, this
spiritual body is as distinctly seen as the
physical body is. 1t shines out revealing
| itself through this body of flesh. A lazy.
shuff1ing walk. tells you at once there is
lazy, shuf1ing character within; while an
erect strong. firm step, reveals strong.
| firm character. An eye that looks you
sQuarely in the face, reveals at once a soul
that is not afraid of you. But there are
finer and fuller revelations than this L
have said on other occasions. that nature
allows no hypOcracy; no one can really be a
hypocrte for any length of time. Nature
will ever be true to herself. and forces every
one of her children to be true to her also.
They try to deceive, but only succeed in
binding their own eyes. Nature writes
ones character on every line of his face,
and prOcIaims it to all the world. And
how? There are various ways, but let us
take only one. Let us go back to the body
again. 1t is law of nature. that the mus
cles tend to grow larger and stronger by
use. The blacksmith must use his right
arm great deal. Nature helps him by
making the arm large and strong. The mus
cles called into action. in walking, increase
in size and strength. by the very act of
walking. So every muscle of the body: us
ing it often. calling it into action. adds to
its size and strength. Now it is fact that
thoughts write themselves on the counte
nance; every thought calls into action some
muscle or muscles of the face. You watch
a speaker; suddenly his whole face flashes
with peculiar light. 1t means that new
thought has swept across his soul. and is
reflected on the c0untenance. A new