CHAPTER XVI ONE's character depends upon what he is born with and what he makes himself under the influence of surroundings and associations. If one has the right point of view, a strong will, good motives, and good companions, his character is practically safe. If the will is weak, it must be strengthened by exercising it. One should faithfully endeavor to depend upon himself; to be thoroughly reliable; to control himself; and to be kind to everyone, at all times. Self-reliance is very different from self-conceit, and it does not preclude good advice at the proper time; but a man has really to fight most of his battles alone. Depending on one's self makes one stronger; deciding questions for one's self develops the judgment; having faith in one's abilities, opportunities, and ultimate success makes that success more certain. All men are divided into two kinds, the reliable and the unreliable. It is a great thing to be dependable, and to have dependable friends and associates. Promptness, truthfulness, honesty, fitness, loyalty, are above price. A tree is known by its fruits. I care not what a man professes to be; let him show it by his life and works. Self-control saves many heart-burnings and many shipwrecks. The temper, the tongue, the thoughts, the habits, need to be guarded continually. It takes practice to prevent anger, envy, discontent, worry, and undue ambition. Discontent is often due to poor health, but not always. One must practice serenity of mind and physical repose; one must moderate his desires, lest over-anxiety bring failure; one must be ready to accept cheerfully what comes when he has done his best. "We are not to be anxious about living, but about living well; and to live well is to live honorably and justly. Socrates The golden rule of kindness includes nearly all other rules of character. Kind thoughts, kind words, and kind acts make life worth living. "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" shows what kindness will do. Politeness without sincerity is good, but how far it falls short of the real politeness based on unselfish interest in others! It is a pity to have to say it, but there is a limit to kindness. Some metals are so base that even the Philosophers' Stone cannot change them. Drunkards and other drug fiends, or persons filled with loathsome diseases, cannot be reformed by love or marriage; the spirit and intent of a hardened burglar cannot be changed by a little maudlin sentiment and a cup of tea. Kindness should be withheld where it would fall on a desert; it is not right that the deserving and undeserving should be treated exactly alike. INQUISITIVENESS "Who made me, mother?" asked little Sammy. "Well, who's goin' to take me apart, then?" MAKING EXCUSES The young man who had an excuse for everything said that he failed on his examination the day before because he went to night school and didn't know anything in the daytime. THE OPEN MIND Four blind men went to "see" an elephant. One had been told that it was like a house, and he was satisfied when he felt of the ribs (rafters); another expected a stack-pole and found the snout; to the third it had been described as a tree, and he gloried in the stocky leg, increasing in size at the ground; while the fourth, in looking for fans, found the elephant's ears. All four went away saying, "How accurate the description!" Moral: One usually finds what he looks for. SINCERITY An aged negro, named Joshua, was in the habit of praying fervently each evening, "Please, Mars Angel Gabriel, come take Uncle Joshua home." Some mischievous boys in the neighborhood heard his prayer one night and decided to answer it. After he had repeated the usual request several times, one of the boys said in a muffled voice, "This is the Angel Gabriel come to take Uncle Joshua home." "Uncle Joshua! Uncle Joshua!" exclaimed the old man excitedly, “Dat niggah done been gone fum heah dese tree weeks!" A HABIT An Irishman was in the witness box and the opposing lawyer was trying to make him bring out in his testimony just what a miracle was. "Suppose you were on the top of a house," said the lawyer, "and you fell off and got up and walked away without the least pain. What would that be?" "An accident," said Pat. "But, suppose you were on top of that house the next day, ten stories up in the air, and fell right down on the street without even feeling a shock. What would you call that?" "A coincidence," said Pat, unmoved. "But," insisted the lawyer, "suppose you were on the roof of that same house the following day, twenty stories above the street, and you fell down on the hard stone sidewalk, head first, and didn't even realize that you had fallen. What, in heaven's name, would you call that?" "A habit," answered the imperturbable Pat. CHARACTER HINTS FROM SHAKESPEARE "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgments." "This above all,-To thine ownself be true, "The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices "To mourn a mischief that is past and gone, "Love all, trust a few Do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy "The better part of valour is-discretion." "Men at some time are masters of their fates: |