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42
ClIAKACTEU.
just deserts, always pusses for what lie Is
worth. This is far from true. The full
extent of his enpacity may not bo appre
ciated, but his good or bad qualities can
not be hidden. It is a universal fact, that
tlie ability and capacity of nu individual
is not appreciated while he moves and
has his being among his fellow men.
Tliis is owing in a great extent to the vast
hordes of ambitious men, burning with
the ilamc of jealous7 at the success and
and popularity of him who so well de
serves it.
Shakspcarc failed to pass for what he
was worth in the estimation of a single
person in the ago in which ho lived. And
even now,
"Ten nncieiit towns contend for Homer dernl,
In which the living Homer bulged his bread."
Character is a much moro rare article
in the best society, even, than many sup
pose. Could we only pass behind the cur
tain, and gaze upon the actors, before they
appear upon the stage, in the drama of
life, the scene would bo appalling. Could
we only open the seciet doors and reveal
to tho world the workings and doings of
the great heart of Society, the idea of
Society and human character would up
poar as a vision.
To-day, as humanity moves on, in a path
more enlightened, more cultivated, than
the time gone by, we cannot but feel the
world is bettor. Covered by the veil of
pride, vanity and hypocrisy, tho world pre
sents an improved condition, wrapped in
the garb of moral and religious ideas, she
presents a brighter appearance, to those
lnystiiled by the same general decep
tion. Hut what is character? Intellect alone
does not give it, neither intellect com
bined with moral worth produces it.
Manyhavo possessed these peculiarities,
and yet were quito devoid of character.
Character involiintarlaly commands re
spect. It is something moro than great
capacity, more than groat Intellect. By
rou had all this, but character was to him
n Strang"!'. Were the d'eds of hh out
rageous and infamous life exposed in all
ihoir naked deformity, by those who sought
glory in writing of his worth, his dispo
sition and Inhuman desires would be in
comparable. For U, -roll's unequalled
abilities as a poet, for the splendor ol his
genius, lie has received h'13 just reward.
Byron hated tlie world, and the world
loved him in return, wbilo tho writings of
no man were more injurious to society, to
human kind, than those of Byron.
Some labor under the delusion that rep
utation is character, and rest contented
without character and with only a meagre
reputation. Reputation may exist inde
pendent of character, and among (lie
many, whoso names are fresh upon our
memory, transmitted to us through theev.
or living pages of history, who have made
themselves Miiiuortal by the brilliancy of
their intellect, and splendor of their gen
iitn, were, in innumerable cases, devoid of
character. We lind Bacon, Goldainith,
and .Johnson, who by their wonderful
power's iiieribed their names upon tue pa
ges of life, never to bo blotted or erased by
the passing of time. They nossessed an
extensive degree of talent, which ripened
into a solid reputation. But they be
longed to the class of, which Denliam
speaks, -'Who fears not to do ill, yet fears
the name; and, free from conscience, is a
slave to liimi1,"
Along the corridors of life, we (hid an
eagorstruggllng mass, blinded by the do
sire for name, for reputation, living with,
in the tolerance of mankind, only for fear
of name. The aspirants for true charac
ter are few, the possessors are fewer. See"
lug the world and its surroundings, char
acter appears only in name, only in
thought. The moral mark is drawn wid
er and extends farther in some than in
others.
But is tills moral mark only a descrip
tion, is it only for fear of name? Or have
you drawn l wide only for the love of
character? II,
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