The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-09-14
Habit, The Character Builder

| today and enthusiastic tomorrow? To- |
day use little deception, deyiate
from the truth--and be absolutely
honest tomorrow
Few of us realize that every time
we think a thing, do a thing. it gets
hold upon us and becomes part of
our lives; and that later we cannot
let it alone or take it up as we
choose.
One of the most insdious things
in life is the belief and confidence
that we can at any moment change
our whole method of life and do the
opposite from what we have been do
ing.
young man with splendid edu.
cation and fine training takes po-
sition which seems little question
able to him at first, but he tells him
self that he can give it up later when
he has secured something better and
he does not realize that meanwhile
he will lower his own ideals or his
standards Of right and wrong, and is
very much shocked when he discov-
ers after a while that he is liar.
He never dreamed of forming such
habit; but the little misrepresenta-
tions-just enough to turn the bar
gain, to get the order-has made
beaten track in the nerve and brain
, | hnr 1, ,Nr
: it, lying had become almost physi-
| can necessity. He still thinks he con
easily overcome the habit; but the
chances are that he will not.
The young man in questionable
= occupation thinks that he can drop
, it any moment; that he can fling
away the habit of dissipation; that
=. he can drop his habit of lying and
/. deceiving; but this habit OF inveigl-
}, ing others into doing or buying the
9 thing which we know is not what we
s represent it to be, becomes a real
S profession after time, like that of
| the detective. We have become cum
h ming in the art of deceiving, an artist
e in misleading, giant in roundabout
n methods, in covering up defects, a
" magician in leading the mind of the
s proposed customer by deceptive me-
It thods to a decision which we know
e he ought not to reach.
l. Why do we continue to write the
4 lying advertisements? We know II
IS Is prostituting our sense of right and
r justice. We know that it is not fair;
d, It Is not manly. Every time We do II
1t we feel the prick of conscience
" Something in us says, Do not do that
IL again. You know it is not right
IN There is something better for you
IL than all this lying than this miser
IL able deceit. Stop 1t.
IS When you first started in this ques
III tionable way it was easy to turn
back: but now the current of the
III mighty stream of habit has become
n like torrent rapids, which whirl you
H. along, even against your will, with
" mighty force that is almost irresist
c. able.
A man may be walking the streets
1t today without the slightest idea ina
d, he will commit a crime tomorrow; but
ct the criminal thought which he has
ct been harboring, and which he mas
to been making its track deeper ant
lie deeper in his brain, Is like the pep
n BILE dropped over the precipice, whicl
has been going more and more swift!
of and 1t may be that tomorrow he can
e. not arrest its results without almos
re superhuman effort of that will. ii
re commits crime as certainly as tina
ne stone reaches the earth. 1t Is the lot
ne ical sequence of the law OF FACILITY
az inclination OF constantly repeate
mt act.
81 would give a world If | had It,
e. said an unfortunate wretch TO D
st. a true man, yet in "a hours howeVe
i'd I may be overcome and disgraced b
in shillings worth of sim
on To neglect an offrepeated habit c
or substitute an OppOolNS - '
in painful and difficult thing than
as repeat the habitual act.
al Right habit making is characte
lie building. The habit of rising at &c
OIL tain hour in the morning Of meetin
~, engagements promptly, of BEN
We always courteous, kind accommoda
ct. ing, methodical and systematic
al starting everything exactly, OF DON
he everything to finish, of being scru
Sc. ulously honest, never ideal would
of life blessing that cannot be owe
&c. estimated. Those habits would WEI
iu- their beaten tracks in the soft ner'
I'M and brain tissue and become
re thoroughly entrenched in the cons'
Id. tuition of the mind as to require ior
continued effort to break up an