The Ocala evening star., 1920-06-21

onward to success. Even the birds
of the air influence our being with
their beauty and melodious song and
the flowers on the hillside and in the
garden by our window fill US with
love and purity of heart.
| once knew a bright and intelligent
girl in college. She was very despon-
dent because of i'll health. One day
she wrote a note to classmate,
Rhoda. In the note she told how
miserable her life was and what mis-
fortune she had had. Then in the end,
she said that she did not know what
sha would do if it were not for her.
AS Rhoda was not a special friend
of the troubled girl, she was very
much surprised at being thought SO
much of by her. Nevertheless, it fill
ed her heart with joy at the thought
of having so much influence over that
girls life. She was entirely unaware
that the troubled soul was watching
or admiring her. 1t is the noble priv
ilege of every individual to stop and
see if any one is admiring him. Then
it is still more important. at a second
thought, to determine whether or not
our actions are worthy of being ad-
mired.
The people of today should be fore
ed to the realization that it is their
whole duty, as well as their privilege,
to let their influence shine for good
because it is wholly essential to pure
home life and good citizenship. What
kind of citizenship-consequ
what kind of nation-would we have,
# it were not for our homes where we
are trained to give to our community
the best that is within us?
The home is the birthplace of both
evi land good We discover the little
child before he is of school age tell
ing his mother and father a false
hood, or attempting to become die
tator of the family. He is not COM
PEELED to observe obedience. What
kind of citizen will he make? What
kind of influence will he have in the
community? Consequently, what kind
of a community will there be? The
mothers and fathers of the families of
America have the greatest response
bilities of any persons in the land.
TIC my mind, they are even greater
than those of the supreme officers of
our country. If they do not set the
proper example before the boys and
girls of today, who will be the citi-
zens of tomorrow, and teach them to
obey law and order and love the good
and ideal things of life, what kind of
nation can we hope to build? 1t
must needs be said that a nation
never rises any higher than its home
life. Has your home the best infiu-
ence available within it's gates? If
not, it will be almost beyond human
power for its individuals to perform
their sacred duty in life and have the
best influence over those with whom
they come in contact. On the mere
face of what we know and of what
the great men of today tell US, the
fact seems to be that our country is
going down morally and spiritually,
as we'll as physically. We have not
enough good influence permeating the
air. What is our hope? 1t is the
young people of today. One need is
that they be so taught that they will
be able to do the great work which is
calling them. But perhaps the hard
est task of all is bringing them to the
realization of what their response
bilities will be and the Importance of
their meeting and executing these OBJ
legations and duties in the right way.
The most beautiful thing about the
influence of a person is the fact that