The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-09-01
FOR YOUNG MEN.
WHAT OFTEN TURNS THE
SCALE.
The Forces That Shape Character.
BY PROF. JOHN MINOR.

Biblical Recorder.
An eminent philosopher has conceiv-
ed of the mind of the child, in the
dawn of its existence, as being like the
polished surface of marble slab await
ing the first Impressions. Now, there
are various channels through which
impressions are made upon the child
mind.
The first and most important is that
Of parental training. Nothing 80 large
ly affects the life history OF an indiv-
ldual as parental training. Hence the
importance OF right parental training
should be greatly regarded, since it is
not only the most potent factor in
shaping the individual destiny, but it
also, to very marked degree, reflects
the parental character.
But frequently we find parents
whose abstract lives are most worthy of
imitation, but, as in the case of Eli, OF
Biblical renown, there is a most note
worthy lack OF parental restraint. It
is very often the case that ancestral in
auences, handed down through the
channels Of heredlty, are so very strong
that only the most careful, assiduous
nurture on the part of parents can ever
hope to avert ignoble failure, much
less to direct the life current of the in
dividual child in channels which shall
eventually terminate in happy des-
tiny.
Secondary to the influence of parents
upon the life history OF the individual
is that of school life. From the fact
that the teacher stands at the helm
and guides the ship the influences
which he may exert are very powerful
either for good or evil. The influence
of the teacher, like that of the parents,
touches the character of the chlld in
its formative period, hence, the train
ing which he gives and the influence
which he exerts, act as gigantic force
either to uplift Or to degrade. There
fore, since the influence of the teacher
in moulding character is SO very great,
it should be we'll looked to.
But we must not ignore the very
great influences which are welded in
inter-st udent life Itself. Doubtless most
teachers have noticed the very marked
effect which the actions of certain
students exert over the entire student
body. Frequently children from homes
of refinement and culture come in con-
tact, in the schools, with children from
homes of degradation and dissipation
children who delight to reyel in the
use of obscene language and every
other bad sentiment which the reverse
of good taste and culture can possibly
dictate. Very soon the EVIL effects o1
such association begin to show them
selves IN the lives of the other students
Hence, it devolves upon the teacher a.
an imperative duty to diligently count
eract and circumscrlbe all such harm
fnl influences if he would achieve the
greatest good.
The next great factor whose potent
influences are felt in the important
sphe1e of character-moulding, ls read
ing. Many q man now languishes be
hind prison bars or wears the heav,
manacle all because a mistake wa:
made just at this point. Detective
stories of crime and robbery, dime
novels, ETC., should be assiduously KEEP
from the hands of the young. Read
| ing matter of the character indicated
NAV not influence allwho come II
contact with it, 80 strongly as to caus'
them to commit some overt act, but
is sure to poison and defile their young
minds to such an extent that whateve
is good and ennobling will find NJ
Judgment in their hearts. Then hoV
very, very careful all fathers ant
mothers should be as to the characte
of the reading matter which the
Mace in the hands of their chi
dren.
Now suppose that the children {
some particular family were bein
trained along the lines indicated abov'
following the right and laying asld
| the wrong, and we're obtaining prop
tious results, still there is anothe
factor to whose influences in the form'
ton Of character the writer wishes
call attention.
In this age OF push and progress ar
industrial enterprise, the necessity
t often created for the employment
mercenary assistance. Now, very oite
these employees are introduced direct
into the families of their employer
More than twenty million free sal
1 nles of DeWitt's Witch Hazel Sal
II