The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-06-29
NO.26

NO. &C
clothes. Their voice has stimulated
cordiality that long training may have
made almost natural. But they never
play their part absolutely true, tbs
mask will slip down sometimes; thei,
cleverness cannot teach thu. eyes The
look OF sterling honesty they may de-
celye some people, but they cannot de.
ceive all. There Is a subtle power OF
revelation which makes US say: "Well,
l cannot explain how it is, but know
that man Is not honest"
Man cannot escape for one moment
from this radiation of his chracter. this
constant weakening Or strengthening
OF others. He cannot evade the re-
sponsibllity by saying 1t is an uncon-
sclous influence. He can select the
qualities that he will permit to be IA.
dated. He can cultivate sweetness.
calmness, trust, generosity, truth, Just
ice, loyalty, nobility,-make them vi.
tally active in his character,-and by
these qualities he will constantly affect
the world.
Encouragement often comes to hon.
est souls trying to live the best they
can, In the thought that they are do
ing so little good in the world. Trifes
unnoted by us may be links in the
chain OF some great purpose. In 1897,
William Goodwin wrote The INQUIRER.
collection of revolutionary essays on
morals and politics. This book infiu-
enced Thomas AIalthus to write his
Essay on Population, published In
1893. Malthus' book suggested to
Charles Darwin a point of view upon
which he devoted many years of his
lie, resulting, in 1859, in the publica-
ton OF The Origin of Species,-the
most Influential book of the nineteenth
century, book that has revolution
lied all science. These were but three
LINKS OF influence extending over sixty
years. 1t might be possible to trace
this genealogy OF influence back from
Goodwin, through generation and gen-
Grafton, to the work or act of some
shepherd in early Britain, watching
his flock upon the hills, living his
quiet life, and dying with the thought
that he lad done nothing to help the
world.
Men and women have duties to 9th
ers,-and duties to themselves. In
justice to ourselves we should refuse to
live in an atmosphere that keeps ue
from lying our best. If the fault be
IN Us, we should master it. If it be
the personal influence of others that,
like a noxious vapor, kills our best i'm
pulses, we should remoye from that
lnflence,-if we can possibly move
without forsaking duties. If it be
wrong to inc}e, then we should take
strong doses of moral quinine to coun. |
teract The malaria of influence. 1t is |
not what t1ose around us do that counts
it Is what they are to us. We carry
our hollse plants from one window to !!
another TO give them the proper heat,
light. air and moisture. Should we
not be at least as careful of our
selves?
To make orr influence felt we must |
I've our faith, we must practice what |
We believe. A magnet does not at
'ract iron, as iron. 1t must first con-
vert the Iron into another magnet be-
ore it can attract 1t. 1t is useless for |
parent to try to teach gentle |
1ess 10 her children when she herself is
ross and irritable. The child who is
old to be truthful and who hears a
parent lie cleyeriy to escape some little |
social unpleasantness is not going to |
sling very zealously to the truth. The
parents words say "don't l1e," the in
luence of the parents life says "do
ie." No man can isolate himself to
,yade this influence, as no single cor
ouscle can rebel and escape from the
general course of the blood. No lndi-
7idual is SO Insignificant as to be with
,ut influence. The changes in our
7arylng moods are all recorded In the
lelicate barometers of the lives of 9TH
,rs. We should ever let our influence
liter through human love an sympa-
,hy. We should nat be merely an in
1uence, we should be an inspiration.
By our very presence we should be a
source Of strength to the hungering
human souls around us.