The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1905-08-26

you my father and mother always held
you in the highest regard, and often
spoke Of you and wondered what had be-
come of you as when you left our place,
you left as sick man, and very deli
cate" The letter closes az follows: "let
Inc know whether you are able to come
10 see me. ] am a pretty busy man. but
] will spare some time on you il you will
only come. With my very kindest re-
CARDS and best wishes am one Of your
ex-pupils. and proud Of it, These ex-
tracts are the silver Innings Of which l
spoke a few minutes ago. Young men
just starting In life-those who are be
ginning to build a reputation and char
acter can find encouragement from what
l have related to build a good character.
There IL difference between reputation
and character which is not understood
by many. One may have very good
reputation and a very poor character,
for reputation is what people think Of
US, and character is what we reilly are.
A cashier Of very large bank located in
a western state, by the name of BigelOw,
who is now in the penitentiary. had a
verv exalted reputation while he was
stealing hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars from the bank; Of course his char
arter was vilIainOus, while he was Ell
jOying the credit Of that good reputa-
ton. But a good reputation naturally
follows good character. A mans re-
putiOn may be dimmed for awhile by en-.
w and malice. but 1t will shine all the
brighter when truth conquers falsehood.
as II surely will. II is no little sa-
tisfaciion to know that pupil Of thirty
eight years ago remembers me with feet
ings Of esteem and friendship. To know
that l implanted In his Young heart
feelings Of respect and in his mind kind
thoughts which thirty-eight years have
not effsced Is something of which am
proud. 1t will come to you young man
who has kept in the path of rectitude,
the question 1t pay to follow this
road all the timer" at times when th0rns
line your pathway. and when you see
around you men who travel devious and
forbidden ways meeting pecuniary sue
cess, you my feel inclined to join com.
pany with your more successful rivals
or friends who have strayed from the
paths Of duty and honor. You must
answer the question by your acts. and
choose the company you think best suit
ed to advance your welfare. Your hap
piness depends upon what choice you
make. 1t would be interesting reading
II we could get from all the men of pro-
minence who are now confined within
prison walls and those at large under
Indictment for i'll gotten gains. answers
to the question, ARE you satisfied will
yourself at the outcome Of your frauds
entertainments and stealings?
believe their answers would have a
greater effect in keeping the moral,
unsteady part Of mankind from falling
than the fear of filling prison cells
Take Mr.. Chauncey M. Depew as an il
InstratIOn; herois man whose presence
was welcomed at social and public ga
thsrings on account of his genial and
affabI6 manners, man whose eloquenct
and wit charned all who listened t.
him; the list Of imprOmptu speaker,
was not complete until his name was or
1t il the occasion justified his presence
a Nan whom the nobility entertained
and delighted y honor, fell, because h,
was not willing TO earn the character Il
sustain the reputation upon which ht
prOspered SO long and was honored q
| greatly. II would not be difficult
think to guess correctly what would b.
his answer TO the question referred t.
above am not prophet, but am be
lever in chronology il facial expression
is included in that science. / asserted
some years ago that he was a natural
born rascal. God has depicted upon
some faces the index TO the character oil
its pOssessor. Upon Depsw's face be has
placed a blandlike. d(lguing. never
changing smile which Sits enthroned
there as ii death could not remove it
| am sure sleep never made it bulge,
doubt II mental agony caused by thu
no discovery OF his dirty acts more thar
changed its former natural aspect to q
fpiOned Iikonaas Ono would iudUo from