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of character； he might have ruled the world； whereas； for want of
it； his splendid gifts were comparatively useless。 He dazzled and
amused； but was without weight or influence in life or politics。
Even the poor pantomimist of Drury Lane felt himself his superior。
Thus； when Delpini one day pressed the manager for arrears of
salary； Sheridan sharply reproved him； telling him he had
forgotten his station。 〃No； indeed； Monsieur Sheridan； I have
not；〃 retorted Delpini； 〃I know the difference between us
perfectly well。 In birth； parentage； and education； you are
superior to me； but in life； character； and behaviour； I am
superior to you。〃
Unlike Sheridan； Burke； his countryman； was a great man of
character。 He was thirty…five before be gained a seat in
Parliament； yet he found time to carve his name deep in the
political history of England。 He was a man of great gifts； and of
transcendent force of character。 Yet he had a weakness； which
proved a serious defectit was his want of temper； his genius
was sacrificed to his irritability。 And without this apparently
minor gift of temper； the most splendid endowments may be
comparatively valueless to their possessor。
Character is formed by a variety of minute circumstances； more or
less under the regulation and control of the individual。 Not a
day passes without its discipline； whether for good or for evil。
There is no act； however trivial； but has its train of
consequences； as there is no hair so small but casts its shadow。
It was a wise saying of Mrs。 Schimmelpenninck's mother； never to
give way to what is little； or by that little； however you may
despise it； you will be practically governed。
Every action； every thought； every feeling； contributes to the
education of the temper； the habits； and understanding； and
exercises an inevitable influence upon all the acts of our future
life。 Thus character is undergoing constant change； for better or
for worseeither being elevated on the one hand； or degraded on
the other。 〃There is no fault nor folly of my life；〃 says Mr。
Ruskin； 〃that does not rise up against me； and take away my joy；
and shorten my power of possession； of sight； of understanding。
And every past effort of my life； every gleam of rightness or good
in it； is with me now； to help me in my grasp of this art and its
vision。〃 （7）
The mechanical law； that action and reaction are equal； holds true
also in morals。 Good deeds act and react on the doers of them；
and so do evil。 Not only so： they produce like effects； by the
influence of example； on those who are the subjects of them。 But
man is not the creature； so much as he is the creator； of
circumstances： （8） and； by the exercise of his freewill； he can
direct his actions so that they shall be productive of good rather
than evil。 〃Nothing can work me damage but myself；〃 said St。
Bernard； 〃the harm that I sustain I carry about with me； and I am
never a real sufferer but by my own fault。〃
The best sort of character； however； cannot be formed without
effort。 There needs the exercise of constant self…watchfulness；
self…discipline； and self…control。 There may be much faltering；
stumbling； and temporary defeat； difficulties and temptations
manifold to be battled with and overcome； but if the spirit be
strong and the heart be upright； no one need despair of ultimate
success。 The very effort to advanceto arrive at a higher
standard of character than we have reachedis inspiring and
invigorating； and even though we may fall short of it； we cannot
fail to be improved by every； honest effort made in an upward
direction。
And with the light of great examples to guide usrepresentatives
of humanity in its best formsevery one is not only justified；
but bound in duty； to aim at reaching the highest standard of
character： not to become the richest in means； but in spirit； not
the greatest in worldly position； but in true honour； not the most
intellectual； but the most virtuous； not the most powerful and
influential； but the most truthful； upright； and honest。
It was very characteristic of the late Prince Consorta man
himself of the purest mind； who powerfully impressed and
influenced others by the sheer force of his own benevolent nature
when drawing up the conditions of the annual prize to be given
by Her Majesty at Wellington College； to determine that it should
be awarded； not to the cleverest boy； nor to the most bookish boy；
nor to the most precise； diligent； and prudent boy；but to the
noblest boy； to the boy who should show the most promise of
becoming a large…hearted； high…motived man。 （9）
Character exhibits itself in conduct； guided and inspired by
principle； integrity； and practical wisdom。 In its highest form；
it is the individual will acting energetically under the influence
of religion； morality； and reason。 It chooses its way
considerately； and pursues it steadfastly； esteeming duty above
reputation； and the approval of conscience more than the world's
praise。 While respecting the personality of others； it preserves
its own individuality and independence； and has the courage to be
morally honest； though it may be unpopular； trusting tranquilly to
time and experience for recognition。
Although the force of example will always exercise great influence
upon the formation of character； the self…originating and
sustaining force of one's own spirit must be the mainstay。 This
alone can hold up the life； and give individual independence and
energy。 〃Unless man can erect himself above himself；〃 said
Daniel； a poet of the Elizabethan era； 〃how poor a thing is man！〃
Without a certain degree of practical efficient forcecompounded
of will； which is the root； and wisdom； which is the stem of
characterlife will be indefinite and purposelesslike a body
of stagnant water； instead of a running stream doing useful work
and keeping the machinery of a district in motion。
When the elements of character are brought into action by
determinate will； and； influenced by high purpose； man enters upon
and courageously perseveres in the path of duty； at whatever cost
of worldly interest； he may be said to approach the summit of his
being。 He then exhibits character in its most intrepid form； and
embodies the highest idea of manliness。 The acts of such a man
become repeated in the life and action of others。 His very words
live and become actions。 Thus every word of Luther's rang through
Germany like a trumpet。 As Richter said of him； 〃His words were
half…battles。〃 And thus Luther's life became transfused into the
life of his country； and still lives in the character of modern
Germany。
On the other hand； energy； without integrity and a soul of
goodness； may only represent the embodied principle of evil。 It
is observed by Novalis； in his 'Thoughts on Morals；' that the
ideal of moral perfection has no more dangerous rival to contend
with than the ideal of the highest str