Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-30
Concerning influence.

Did you ever think that the strong
est forces in the world are the forces
that you cannot see, that you cannot
hold in your hand or weigh in the
scales as you weigh gold and silver?
All about us in the air. But wheth-
er it be soft and gentle or a stormy
gale you do not see it; you merely see
its effect; You may sit in a bower
shaded thickly by honeysuekle vines.
and the fragrance around you will be
so vital and so sweet that you feel as
if you could handle, yet it is merely an
intangible perfume. You do not see
heat or cold or electricity. and in wide
~ different region you do not see the
spiritual forces that have the most to
do with life and conduct. The strongest
things everywhere are the things We
cannot see.
Nobody perceives in actual reality the
ideal that floats before the mind, stiffens
resolution and inspires to hard work
and steady efforts, yet every young
woman VINO is ever to succeed in reach
ing a goal keeps before her an ideal and
it beckons her on. If we are ever to at
tain to goodness, wisdom and happiness
we must as the poet says, follow the
gleam.'
l shall be sorry if any girls turns
away from this talk fancying that it
is going to be visionary and dreamy and
not at all practical. We hear a good
deal about germs in these days; the
germ of this talk came to me in a re-
mark made by friend about a girl she
had known. She told me how sweet
this girl was, how true, how unselfsh
and how fearless, and turning in the
doorway before she said goodbye, her
face lighted with a smile, she said,
Wherever Elizabeth went she changed
the atmosphere and made it more vital.
She lifted her whole class and before
they dreamed of it they were accepting
her standards and living as she did.
1t was not imitation, it was not that
they tried to speak and act III her way,
it was that something seemed to go
from her irto them and make them
want to do their best and be their best.
Elizabeth's influence was the loyeliest
and most compelling | ever knew"
One summer | attended great con-
yentlon where 1000 young people We're
gathered. Large numbers of young girls
were there, and to sit on a platform and
look at the sea of bright faces was a
JOY never to be forgotten, As in every
similar assembly the larger gathering
broke up naturally here and there into
groups and l found myself very much
attracted to a particular group composed
of students from d New England college.
attention was focused on one exquisite
girl a picture of life and beauty who
quite unconsciously seemed to be its
| leader | was not mistaken. She pos
sessed the rare quality of leadership that
is the birthright of few, and her class
mates almost took the shape of their
opinions from her. Later the president
| of her college speaking of her. said,
''She has depth of character, great mag
| netism and persuasive influence"
| / wonder if you have caught the clew
| that I am holding out to you? 1t may
be only a little slender thread, but it is
| as long as eternity, this silver cord of in
! fiuence that binds hearts together. Not
| one of us is without it. Our influence
may seem to be small or large, 1T may
| he for good or for evil; but it belongs to
us as onr shadow does and we never
walk or meet our friends without carry
| ing our influence as a rose its perfume.
| or an i'll weed its aroma.-Margaret u.
! SANGER in Cleveland Plain Dealer.