The Washington herald., 1916-09-15
Your Environment.
By oRIsON SWEET MARDEN,

BY oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN,
There is certain grape which grows in
France that has a worldwide reputation for its
delicious flavor. 1t has been transplanted in
many different parts of the world in vain at
tempt to cultivate fruit of the same quality but
it always deteriorstes when transplanted. 1t is
impossible to reproduce the peculiar chemistry
of soil, the influence Of the congenial original
climate. No has ever been able to grow this
peculiar, deliciousy favored grape in any other
part of the world because identical conditions
cannot be found.
How often we hear strong-willed people
boast they rise superior to their surroundings
and their environment. This is foolishness. No
body is independent of his environment We
are not only Of the earth earthly but we partake
of the quality of the soul of the environment
in which we are born and reared. Invariably
we draw from environment, from the at
mosphere, the climate the SOIL the hills, noun
tains or plains the prairies, that which cannot
be reproduced anywhere else in the world be-
cause there are no two countries, no two States,
that exactly alike.
We are a part of all we meet in life. Every
person who has ever spoken to us, every person
whose book or article we have read, is a modIng
hand which has helped to shape our lives We
are never exactly the same after reading book
or talking with any human being, and we are
not the same today we were yesterday and
we shall be different tomorrow
Children, like plants, absorb the character
istics of their environment. They drink in their
surroundings, and unconscously initiate the
models in their homes. We can easily tell
whether child has been reared in an atmos-
phere of culture and refinement, in an environ
ment of elevated ideals in the absence of
everything that is uplifting and inspiring
The child is photograph recording every
thing it sees and hears. 1t is a camera repro
ducirg in the mnutest detail everything it
takes in. Every day there is new layer, as it
were, Of home impressions fixed ndelibly in the
character
What difference it makes in the cultivation
OF our tastes and in capacity for happi-
ness whether have been reared in a home
OF refinement and culture, presided over by an
intelligent mother of high ideals, fine and cult
waited tastes, or in home of low flying ideals,
of vulgar standards. of coarse tastes
Association with the good can only produce
good; with the wicked, evil No matter how
sly, how secret, matter if our associations
have been in the dark their images will sooner
or later appear in faces and conduct. The
idols OF the heart look through our eyes, ap-
pear in our manners and betray their worshipers.
Our associates, loves, hates struggles, tri-
umphs, defeats, dsspations aspirations intrigues,
honesty and dishonesty all leave their indeble
autographs upon the souls window and are
published to the world.
Our manners, our bearing our presence, tell
the story OF our lives, though we do not speak
and the influence OF every act is felt in the ut
most part OF the globe. Every man that ever
lived contributed something toward making me
what l am. The chisel of every member Of So
ciety contributed blow to the marble of my
life and influenced its destiny
mans occupation, his manner of living,
his habits, his ideals, ought by the time he has
reached middle life, to have developed in him
a superb mental equipment His mind should
be balanced and his character poised; his very
personality ought to show that his life has been
triumph and not defeat, that he has won
out not merely from a monetary standpoint, but
from standpoint Of manliness, of nobility OF
character, and sweetness OF life
Every or woman ought to stand before
the world as a triumph Of masterfulncss One
should illustrate in his very presence the victory
OF man over brute; should show he has edu-
Gated the corrupt out of himself, and that he
stands before the world superb figure, mag
nihcent specimen Of manhood Ones occupa-
tlon, ones vocation should be instrumental in
bringing about much Of this result
We are forcibly impressed sometimes by
people who are changed under different condi-
tions. How surprised we have been at what
seems like a miracle in the transformation of
some whose environment and associations
have been radically altered. We notice how
quickly, for example, culture and refinement in
ones changed conditions will appear in the face
in the manner