The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-27

lIoIll EISuST SOuICe III OuI udluIes
aud rises to greater height. 1t is the
strength of him who pants to be con
queror. And this is the peculiar glory
of young men. 1t is peculiar to young
manhood, just as the snu and the moon
and the stars have each a peculiar
glory. AS childhood has its peculiar
glory Of Innocence, and old age, rev
erend dignity; so young manhood has
for its special charm that strength
which is the painting of the earnest
and resolute life to WIN the victory
And painting for victor's crown is q
happy indication that the first step
has been taken toward winning that
crown. For it brings into earnest &C.
tion all the powers of the intellect
will and affections; it calls out all oul
energies. 1t writes its own story upon
the very countenance, and stirs the
soul itself from its lowest depths, urg'
ing US on from conqu to conquest
battling and struggling for all that is
grand and beautiful and noble in life
Fer
Have we not all amid life's petty strife
Some pure ideal of Il noble life that once
seemed possible?
Did We not hear the flutter Of It's wings,
And feel 1t near, and Just within our reach:
1t was-and yet we lost it in this daily ia,
and fret, g..
And now live on in vague regret.
but still our place is kept and it will wait,
Ready for us 10 fill it, soon or late;
No star is ever lost We once have seen,
We always may be what we might have
= been.'' - D..
Aristotle was certainly right in bis
definition of a thing, which, he says,
is not what it iS-its actual, but what
it We're to belts ideal. And so man
has been admirably defined as not
what he is actually, but what he is
capable of becoming in realizing his
highest conceptions. ."
Remem bering that the word charac-
ter is Of Greek origin and signifies
either the letters of any writing or III
.scription, or the impression of die OF
seal on coin or wax, and metaphori-
cally, the qualities of our words and
actions, DR.. Cunningham Geikie's def
milton of the word, as We use it, is most
happy and striking. He defines char
acter as the stamp and image of our
mindssor principles" mot word or
act," he continues, "nor even look,
escapes us but has our signet upon it;
and our lives, as whole, are the coun.
terpart Of our thoughts, as the image is
Of the mould. In the aggregate they
make up our Character, or Simula-
crum-our true Ghost, which walks
the earth, living, visible, and poten-
tial, both during our lives and long
after. Mems spirits are embodied not
in flesh and blood only, but in their
words and doiGgs, as well.'
1t is mans general character that
has its influence on forming and shap.
ing the destiny of others-his princi.
pies Of life, his personal habits, his in
dividual objects, his tastes and amuse.
ments-in word. his whole bearing
and demeanor. Every man has Ger.
tain air or spirit about him which
largely determines the influence of his
whole life. 1t is rot exactly what be
knows, or what he says, or what he
does; but it is that which is back of it
all, and under it all-that which makes
him what be is,-the same particular
person always and everywhere. That
is his character. It is the very essence
of bis lie; it is the sum and substance
of his allotted days; it is the residuun
of his whole earthly career, after
taking away extraneous matter-it is
hat determines the shape and condi.
ton of his life both here, and hereaf
ter.
Character, like our bodies, grows i'm.
perceptibly. The twig of this year is
the bough of next. It takes its color:
ing, like the clouds, from the light
around it. Single acts may show char
acter but they DO not form it, although
some may impart to it a more lasting
impetus than others. But it is of long
and tedious growth and must develop
amidst many counteracting influences
in life. For growth involves conquest
over opposing forces. The mans face
IS behind the youths, but it requires
time, md age, and experience, and
TRIALS, and difficulties, and coDquests
for it's proper development. Says that
famous author, Prof. Drummond
Keep in the midst of life. Do moi
isolate yourself. Be among men ano
among things, and among troubles anC
difficulties and obstacles. You remem.
ber Goethe's words, Talent develop:
itself in solitude; character, in the
stream of life.'" And again: Char
.acter is to wear forever; who will won
der and grudge that it cannot be de-
veloped in day"
If human life could be expressed
artistically, action would make the
foreground of the picture; character
the background. For character give:
tone, expression, value, life to the pic
ture. Character permeates our exist
ence. 1t controls our being. 1t give:
the true standard of value TO our lives
1t grows upon and affects the life O.
every one with whom we come in con
tact. 1t controls armies; correct:
abuses; subdues kings; guides the des
tiny of nations aud governs the world
No matter how high-born, how
wealthy, how intellectual one may be
if be has not character, he is not true
man, but only the outer semblaace o
one-the shadow aud not the sub
stance-the outer husk without the ker
mel. While, on the other hand, a mar
Of hunlblest origin, of the meanest at
tainments, Of the poorest condition il
life, if be but have integrity of charac
ter, commands universal respect, anc
wields power greater and more far
reaching than that Of any king or des
pot. The great question in regard to
man is not, "What are his gifts? or
What does be possess? but, Can he be
trusted? 1--WE may go to an intellect
ual man for instruction, and to {
wealthy man for money; we may ad
mire a man of genius, and praise bis
talents, but the man we follow is The
man of character. 1t is, after all, tht
heart and not the mind, or the purse
that runs the world. Burns's father
could not have given him better advice
than:
He babe me act manly part,
l. though had ne'er farthing.
For without an honest, manly heart,
NO man was worth regarding"
Once, a certain magnificent oratol
paid a vrsit to Epictetus to learn some
thing of the old Stoic's philosophy
He met with cool reception, becaust
Epictetus doubted his visitors SINGER
ity: You will only criticize my
style" said the old Stole, mot really
n,iShipO RI loarn nripciDleS ~ tEWoll