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CHARACTER,
The artist takes the erndo mass of mar
ble, and with his soul lillotl with inspira
tion, chisels out a form of exquisite beau
ty. It is completed, and breathe. forth the
love of the sculptor for his ail, ami glows
witli the coloring of his fancy and imagi
nation. His llnest productions are those of the
human form; that form that is in the like
ness of its maker. It furnishes a scope
for li is greatest power and skill, and the
statue of a Pygmalion moves and breathes.
The artist, as an artist, linds the greatest
scope tor his power in the crcaUoir of the
form of man, while man, as a man, tlnds
the greatest use of his powers in the for
niation of character that combination of
all the properties and attributes which
bring man nearer to the fulfilment of the
mission of life.
Character in its wide signification is
man's individuality that which distin
guishes him from his fellow men. In the
general acceptation of the term, a man
with cltiiructor is one possessing noble
trails; whose life is controlled by grand
and worthy motive..
There must be a close line drawn be.
tween imputation and character. The one
represents the paste diamonds, (he other
the real, deputation is the life without,
and character the life within. A breath
may destroy a reputation which it litis titk
en years to obtain, while no one has the
power to injure character, except the one
who posest.es it. Scandal and calumny
may rob one of his good name, but it can
never touch his character. That remains
inviolate, and is to be as 'much more vab
ucd than reputation, as the real diamonds
are above the paste.
Pretentions, shams, and pampering pub
lie opinion will win lor one a name; but
struggles, sacillces, and a strict regard for
right can alone bequeath him a character.
The motives which lead men to form,
slowly and muefully, characters of which
they may be proud, are not always worthy
of the object in view. In their desire for
praise, honor, and respect, they will erect
an ediliee, stalely and imposing, but too
tine for common use, and they retire from
the contaminating influences of the public
and spend their time and energies in the
preservation of that which they consider
m precious. Their motives are selfish,
and nothing can be expected from such
in hours of trial and danger. Their cry
is consistency, and every new idea is re
jeeled for fear it might tarnish the fair
walls of their cherished mansions. Such
men never bring about any great reforms,
nor aid in the progress and enlightenment
of the world. They are so completely
wrapped up in self as to be oblivious of all
the great events and issues of the day, and
their attention being called to any such
matters they are unwilling to risk their
characters, forgetting that character can
not be injured, except by the voluntary
act of an individual.
Those men who boldly asserted their
rights, and withdrew from llie allegience
of their king, knew not the glorious sequel
to their venturesome undertaking; but
their greatest interests being at stake, they
did not shrink from being called trailoiv,
and risking their reputations and lives,
liny gave to us all the precious benefits
and advantages contained in the watch
word of our nation, Liberty
Martin Luther in declaring against the
opinions and prejudices of bis lime, did
notshriik from being called heretic and
inlldel, but followed up his convictions of
right and through his persistency and sue
cess lias the church attained to its high
state of spirituality.
Politicians, to further selfish ends, as
sume characters foreign to their own, but
often find that men who have always been
above reproach are chosen before them,
and their stroke of policy is a failure.
Persons priding themselves upon the
purity of their lives are unconscious, oft
entimes, of their weaknesses, urul yielding
once to the wrong, their characters are
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