Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1883 — Home Influences. [ARTICLE]

Home Influences.

Does a boy love to be away from Irofiiei; .offt -Makerit more pleasant to remain at home than to be away, which may be done by pleasant reading in the family circle, or by the amusement and instruction afforded by many of the games now in the market. These attractions will be of far more service than mere restraint, an unreasonable cbntrol, brute force. And here it maybe remarked that, while parents have the right to inflict physical pain by the use of the rod, eShTHT as a. means of restraint when it is wholly depended upon, though its true use is a “means to an end.” The mother’s greatest power and influence is in her mental arid moral superiority over her child. Her superiority physical, if used judiciously, may but illustrate and enforce her higher superiority. It is as true that the wrong use of the rod, when in auger, may as certainly “spoil the child” as its disuse.

But, in short, remember that any power, either of the body or of the mind, is strengthened by proper use, by judicious exercise, and that indolence and disuse will as diminish power. The arm of the blacksmith, for example, by steady use in swinging the heavy hammer, as contrasted with that of the jeweler, becomes strong, its muscles wonderfully developed and firm, while the same arm would waste away, the muscles diminish in size and firmness, if that man should become a jeweler, or should fail to use those muscles. On the same principle, any power of the mind or soul may lie increased or diminished by the adoption of the requisite means. And sfnee selfishness is the opposite of benevolence, to remove the one or modify it is to develop the opposite by the exercise of that faculty. Indulgenc e naturally increases power, while restraint, self-re-straint, diminishes sUch power. It is possible, it is believed, to modify and improve any unamiable disposition simply by developing what may be desired by the pleasant exercise of the opposite faculty, and by proper restraints. If the horse, for example, can he improved in body, color, and in disposition, it would seem as reasonable to attempt the same improvement in the highest orders of intelligence, remembering that both are “under law,” and may be molded almost at will; the latter having the most flexible nature.—Dr. J. H. Hanaford, in City mid Country. Will Cableton contributed to the newspapers when only a hoy.