Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10
THE MAN OF CHARACTER.

Character is what makes the man.
Neither wealth. influence or position can
secure and hold the admiration. love and
respect Of the masses for an individual
unless that individuals character Is
moulded out OF the right kind Of materials.
People may worship AZ the shrine OF the
golden calf OF for p0iicy's sake yield
temporarily TO powerful influences which
may be under the control and guidance OF
individuals who may be fortunate in
these worldly possessions. But when
such individuals pass away their memories
are forgotten as readily as IS the dissipa-
ton q their material possessions. II Il
the man whose character Is moulded at
ter the fashion o. Him who walked the
highways OF life and could not be seduced
by evil temptations Il Il the man whose
character Is 50 unalterahly moulded into
the principles Of right. justice and fair
ness that he will do the right because IL
Is right and from no sense % an Interior
motive beyond the dictates OF his own
conscience. Il Is the man whose eharac-
ter IL above reproach. whose every act
may Be safely pTacarded before the public
gaze without fear OF criticisms. and who
can Withstand the forces o. evii influences
without fear OF contamination. These
are the characteristics which make the
man. who Is the greatest Of Gods crea-
tions. and whose presence and influence
among mankind tend TO make the world
better. and who Is not afraid OF anything.
either In the heavens or In the earth. Such
8 character may walk the earth as very
Colossus among his fellow men in the
dawning years Of the 18th century. be-
cause he becomes a rare specimen which
lifts him. in the minds OF men. high above
tie ordinary walks OF life .-
Len are striving for the development Of
their bank accounts the increase OF prop
a~mss Ewem "a hwnnHnwfwr ~ Fhnfw
liticaI influence and ambition. rather than
the cultivation OF a character which can
kuow no pangs Of conscience because OF
duties rtwhteously performed. The great
struggle of life is for gold. influence and
the qualification OF Unsuitable ambitions
for temporal things. which go out into
nothIngness and darkness. when the slen-
der thread Of human life has been snapped
and the spark OF the material being has
fed. Here and there a great character
still shines out like a splendid meteor In
= constellation OF lesser lights. brighten
ing the pathway OF human life and pre-
senting an inspiration 10 those who are
not already lost in the darkness OF their
Own creation
The Country Boy.
The men Of character. the men Of Drawn
and brain who have developed the world
20 its present high standard OF civilization,
who have overthrow empires made rot
ten ~ human indulgences and human
passions who have planted upon the soils
- al civilized nations the standard Of
virtue and good government, who have de-
vel0ped the resources OF the soil and guild
ed 70 success the helm OF commercial in
dustries: these are the men whose in
fancy and youth we're spent In close COM
munion with nature out under The broad
canopy OF heaven which covers the fields
and the forests OF rural life The nOblest
characters Of modern times. the men
whose purity Of heart and strength OF
mind placed them in the forefront Of every
great struggle with which this country
had 10 contend. and whose lives are now
presented 70 the youth Of the country as
examples worthy Of emulation. first saw
the light Of -ay in the humble. unosten-
tati0us country homes 81 their fathers.
The closer man Is brought into touch with
nature backed BIZ the cultivation Of his
mind. the broader his views the higher
becomes bis sense Of justice. the purer his
heart and the stronger his physical and
intellectual being do not deny that great
and good men are born and developed in
our great centers Of population, but IL Is
> fact. nevertheless. borne out by anthem
tic statistics. that the commercial life
az every city Is only made progressive BY
the constant absorption and addition 20
"a active forces b. the stream Of young
naeu. who. reared in the country. give
their future lives 90 commerce and trade
n these centers % population The as
sertion has often been made. and II is a
fact worthy Of note. that any city which
absolutely depended upon the boys OF its
own creation would in . short course OF
tine cease 70 develop and rapidly retro
grade. The fault lies not 50 much IN a
waste Of physical material as a want OF
manly character development.
Training the Country Boy.
The future OF our country. and indeed
az all countries. depends largely upon the
country b0ys- The knowledge Of this
fact should present the highest incentive
70 every man engaged IN agriculture to
mould the character % his boys upon
standard which viii tend 20 elevate their
lives above the common standard which
actuates the ordinary individual in the