The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-10
POWER OF INFLUENCE.

The Great Want of the World Felt In the
Lack of Good Sisters.
'sThe evil that men do lives after
them, the good is oft inferred with
their bones" wrote Shakespeare, and
it probably is as true to-day as it was
centuries ago. 1t is only another way
of conveying a great truth that per-
sons power for evil is greater than his
capacity for good, and it illustrates an
other point which we are all prone to
overlook.
We fail to grasp the idea that every
word we utter, every action we per-
form, is making an impression on the
character of those around us.
1t is fact that all of US, however
great or however magnificent, WELD
an immense power in the influence we
exert upon other people. Any girl,
no matter how quiet a life she leads,
nor how unimportant person
age she may be, can not fail to
exercise an influence on her
companions. 1t may be confined
to those near her at first, but it after
ward reaches further than she can fol-
Il.
to pond, it makes "a ripple, and that
ripple makes another, and so on until
the circling eddies reach far into the
distance.
Thus it is with your life. Are you
sweet-tempered, forgiving and oblig-
ing? You may be sure that those about
you are influenced by your conduct, al
,hnnf ~
Are you irritable, selfish or indolent?
Then you are teaching others how de-
void of beauty girls life may be.
In human life, each one is helping to
form the character of his neighbor, and
our conduct must, and invariably does,
produce either good or evil fruit.
If we were fully alive to the truth of
this influence, surely we should live
more carefully than we do. A selfish
action, hasty. angry word. rudeness
or meanness of any kind would be less
frequent and more truly repented. 1t
is very hard to realize what a solemn
thing is this influence, which you can
not help exerting.
1t will not do for you to try to ignore
your responsibility by saying:7"Am
my brothers keeper" Those who ex-
ercise an evil influence over others,
and by thousand trifies hinder others
from travelling the right path. are
equally guilty with the offender. And
it also happens that an evil influence
once exerted can rarely be effected by
future well-doing. 1t is not by the
Sunday-school lessons we give, the
pious books we read, and the good
things we do when on our Sunday be-
havior. that we exert the greatest in
fiuence. but by the general tenor of
our whole lie.
We do not Judge OF a boys behavior
by his actions while under his teachers
eve: it is while at play or work among
his comrades that his true nature shines
forth.
Napoleon used to say that the great
want in France was good mothers: he
might have said with more justice that
the great want of the world was good
sisters. I often wonder if elder sisters
ever reflect on the illimitable power in
their hands TO guide their younger
brothers and sisters.
Perhaps Won think 6le little ones are
so Young they will not notice what you
do: but that is great mistake. Chill
dren are very sharp observers, and seem
to have an instructive appreciation of
people's motives. They NAV not re-
member special great l1indneSses you
have done them. but the influence of
YOUR daily example will GO with them
through life 1t rests with yourself
whether that example IS for good or
evil
An old lady relates sample incident
One dav, when child she was dress
ing some dolls when her eldest sister
came into her room and asked her what
she was doing 1t for. She replied.
somewhat rudeiy. that il was a secret.
and she could not tell her. Her sister.
instead of being angry. said
III you like. | VIII help you"
Il had only the grace 10 say q gr-uT
thank vou'" said the old lady: but
was so much impressed by the thought
of nv own rudeness. and my sisters
~antle anxuer. that l have never for