Character and Manners—See Dual Character.
CHARACTER-BUILDING
Men might as well try to erect a skyscraper
on a bog as to attempt to build a
character on anything less enduring than
Jesus. Every little while some one makes
a new religion with Jesus omitted. These
structures dot the plains of nineteen centuries.
For a time they appear attractive.
But, sooner or later, their tenants discover
that there is something wrong with the underpinning.
Happy they if they can succeed
in moving out before the flimsy fabrics collapse
and bury their misguided occupants
beneath unseemly ruins.—Joel B. Slocum.
(338)
See Daily Character Work.
CHARACTER CONDITIONED BY THE PHYSICAL
A news item from Toledo, Ohio, reads:
Skilled surgeons at St. Vincent's hospital
have transformed Harold Hurley, the bad
boy, into Harold Hurley, the good boy.
A few days ago, Harold, aged twelve, who was slated for the Lancaster reform school, was taken to the hospital. To-day he was taken home, a changed boy, different in thought, acts, and even appearance.
Harold has been a problem to his mother and to the juvenile court officers for some time. Probation Officer Dilgart got a look at Harold recently and discovered a peculiar scar on the boy's forehead. Inquiry developed that when five years of age Harold stumbled, and striking his head upon a stone, sustained a fracture of the skull. Gradually he became bad; but instead of being sent to Lancaster, he was removed to the hospital, where the pressure of a broken bone on his brain was removed.
After the operation the lad's faculties gathered slowly. Dr. James Donnelly states that the pressure of the piece of bone upon the brain had gradually dulled all the higher sensibilities, and if it had gone on Harold would in time have become an utter degenerate. (Text.)
(339)
CHARACTER, CROWN OF
That all men may attain the crown of a Godlike character is the lesson of this poem by Edwin Markham:
When punctual death comes knocking at the door,
To lead the soul upon the unknown road,
There is one crown, one only, never flung
Back to the dust by his fastidious hand.
Touched by this crown, a man is king indeed,
And carries fate and freedom in his breast;
And when his house of clay falls ruining,
His soul is out upon the path of stars!
This is the one thing stronger than the years
That tear the kingdoms down. Imperious time,
Pressing a wasteful hand on mortal things,
Reveals this young eternity in man.
The peasant, he may earn it with the king,
And tread an equal palace full of light.
Fleet youth may seize this crown: slow-footed age
May wear its immortality. Behold!
Its power can turn bare rafters to a home
Hallowed with hopes and hushed with memories;
Can turn a field of ruin to a place
Where pilgrims keep the watches of the night.
(340)
CHARACTER IMPARTED
Said a young lady to her hostess: "I want
to scent my lace handkerchief and I have no
sachet with me." The handkerchief was
taken by the lady and placed inside a great
rose-jar. "Your handkerchief will be scented
in a few hours and the fragrance will never
depart from it." And it never did. The
lady explained that the jar had been obtained
in China and had been a rose-jar for
generations. But when it came into her
possession she spent a large sum of money
on attar of roses to penetrate the inner
glazing of the glass and her object was
fulfilled. The fragrance would never depart
from it and was communicated to any
object placed in it for a few hours. Roman
Catholic priests remark that if they can
have charge of a child until he is ten years
of age he will never depart from the faith.
Certainly the pervasive influence of the moral
atmosphere is a mighty power in determining
character.
(341)
Character Impugned—See Modesty.
Character in Pictures—See Genius, Portraying.
Character Like the Diamond—See Reflection
of God.
