The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-10
PROFESSOR JOSEPH T. DERRY.
First Question.

''What relation docs dress bear 10 the
development of character"
II would be difficult TO suggest more
profitable thought for the contompla-
ton of mothers than that Of character
building" God gives us our minds. our
characters are OF our own making. II
was always u fascination to me to watch
the building Of a brick or stone house.
To sec each brick taken I'm the builders
hand and turned first one side and then
another. and If imperfect tossed aside.
and another taken up and fitted
TO the place awaiting II. or an imper-
feet corner cut OF. and then the whole
cemented with mortar-the building goes
on and when the whole is complete, the
house is thing of beauty.
So II is with the building Of the char
actcr. Indeed. would say. always
the mother should be the builder; sad,
indeed, rs the lot of the child who has
no mother to lay the foundation To the
house or character. for love is the NOR
tar that cements the bricks. ana what
comes nearer the heavenly love than
mother's2
Nowhere could we find more perfect
architectural design for the child-tem-
pie than that given in Peter II, l.
and II would be well if every
mother would accept It for her pattern.
add To your faith virture, to virtue
knowledge, to knowledge Temperance, to
temperance patience, TO patience god
illness and 10 godliness brotherly kindness
and 10 brotherly kindness charity" l
am aware these are called spiritual gifts.
and chain of Christian virtues, but
they are the foundation of character. and
without them the building must crum-
BILE and fan.
Come and gaze with me for a moment
upon the most beautiful picture ever pre-
scented to human eye-a baby at the
mothers breast. See the look of trust
and love as It's wandering eyes look up-
ward and the loving little pat of the
dimpled hand as # touches her face! Can
angels look upon a lOvelier scene? This.
then. is the little immortal whose char
acter the mother Is to build. What a re-
sponsibllityl Let us follow her awhile She
has first the childs perfect faith The
older IL grows. the more IL believes in
mother, and that faith can be shared
with God. Then comes the teaching of
virtue. How a mother longs TO have her
child know only those things that are
pure (and to be truthful. for truthful
ness is the corner stone of character)
AS the years go by she adds knowledge.
She delights to see the little mind un-
fold and take I'm knowledge; how easy
to add to temperance-tempera IN all
things: the years are fleeing and the
building is growing day by day. Patience,
goodness, kindness and love all fit in,
and Ale looks with pleasure upon her
efforts The girl or boy has now slowly
crept from babyhood to childhood, then
to youth, and now young woman and
manhood. and We look back to see how
many things have had effect on the de-
velopment OF character. Ne could not
touch upon them all. Time would fail
us. / was asked to answer this ques-
ton: what relation does dress bear to
the DEVELOPMENT of character?" There
seems TO me we could add word here,
and have two questions-the first given,
and then add the words love of dress 10
the second. We will take the fist ques-
ton:
A proper regard for dress must great
~ influence for good any character. a