The Glenwood post., 1910-01-15
FORMATION OF CHARACTER

| school are taxing advantage or theH
opportunities is, perhaps, as clearly
shown in the weekly rhetoricals in the
high school as in any other branch OF
the work. The pupils enter the WORK
with zest that means success and
some of the orations delivered during
the past few weeks are of more than
ordinary merit. That the readers Of
the Post, who are also patrons of the
school, may have an idea of what is
being done, we publish the following
oration recently delivered by Grover
Barrier, high school pupil. He Sc
ected as his subject "'The Formation
of Character
The Grafton was as follows:
1.-THE most significant of our mo
tives in being here, though not prac
ticed and encouraged as much a. it
should be, is the formation of charac-
ter.
THE desire to seem, rather than to
be, is deplorable fault. Appearance
too often takes the place of reality.
We are too apt to judge people by
what they have rather than by what
they are. Reputation and character
are often confused, and though some
times reputation may, to certain de
gree, be taking the place of character,
yet the latter has lost none of its
value. Like good manners. its absence
and presence alike proves its impor
tance.
Have you not conversed with those
whose brilliant wit, pungent sarcasm,
well framed sentences does not suffice
to conceal an indescribable something
which led you to form an opinion of
distrust on every word they uttered
''Have you not heard those whose
eloquence dazzled, whose ostensibl.
sincerity inspired within you an en-
thusiasm equal to their own, and de-
spite their talent, have you not felt
back of all concealed a monster that
repelled the admiration their genius
attracted! Or. to speak more appro-
priately, the possession of bad charac
teri
"Shylock was talented. all of his
arguments against his adversaries
were cloquently arranged aud effect
lively delivered. So extraordinary were
his merits of speech that he outwitted
his opponents and won every cause.
NAPOLEON held aloft the leagued
armies of Europe and bewildered ma
tions gazed in panic stricken silence
as he constructed the road of success
according to his own inconsistent
vacillating whim. He displayed mil
itary genius unparalleled; skill, mar,
velous in perfection. Although pos
sessing perception sharp enough to
detect the concealed paths of his per
picked adversaries, he could see bu.
one road to Immortality; path which
led through the bloody battle field
and through streams of tears that flow
from orphans eyes. He can Justly be
compared to pestilence or the Blacl,
Death of the fifth century.
fBut his career is forever gone. and
over his tomb no lachrymating Is
done; talent, genius, power, these he
had-character he had none.
Conversely men often possess
name superior to the desert of Their
accomplishments, good indication of
character.
'It would be difficult to find bet
ter illustration of character than is
presented in the life of Abraham Lin.
coin. AS look over his career from
first to last, he impresses me more
than any other, as man whom diff
Guilty could not discourage. whom pom
ularity could not puff up, whom hatrs1
could not embitter, whom defeat conll
not sour, whom power could not spoil
whom money could not buy, whom
prejudice could not warp-a man so
genuine, so sincere, so faithful that his
very name has become synonym for
integrity.
He formed character that allowed
neither cowardice on the battle field,
nor tyranny in the presidential chair.
Hence did he win the admiration OF
the people, and secured for himself an
everlasting place of rest in the tender
memory of grateful people.
"History but voices the experiences
of men. in his dealings, his subiections,
and environment with men of charac.
ter. and these who have none.
"Nor is it a gift of nature. in this
at least we are not creatures Of cir
cumstances. Eloquence and genius may
be gifts of nature; but neither one
nor all Of these can give character. 1t
is the resultant Of many forces. some