The Investment of Influence | Page 5

a present to
Alexander the Great. She was lovely as the dawn; yet what especially
distinguished her was a certain rich perfume in her breath; richer than a
garden of Persian roses. A sage physician discovered her terrible secret.
This lovely woman had been reared upon poisons from infancy until
she herself was the deadliest poison known. When a handful of sweet
flowers was given to her, her bosom scorched and shriveled the petals;
when the rich perfume of her breath went among a swarm of insects, a
score fell dead about her. A pet humming-bird entering her atmosphere,
shuddered, hung for a moment in the air, then dropped in its final
agony. Her love was poison; her embrace death. This tale has held a
place in literature because it stands for men of evil all compact, whose
presence has consumed integrities and exhaled iniquities. Happily the
forces that bless are always more numerous and more potent than those
that blight. Cast a bushel of chaff and one grain of wheat into the soil
and nature will destroy all the chaff but cause the one grain of wheat to
usher in rich harvests.
As a force-producer, man's primary influence is voluntary in nature.
This is the capacity of purposely bringing all the soul's powers to bear
upon society. It is the foundation of all instruction. The parent
influences the child this way or that. The artist-master plies his pupil.
The brave general or discoverer inspires and stimulates his men by
multiform motives. The charioteer holds the reins, guides his steeds,
restrains or lifts the scourge. Similarly man holds the reins of influence
over man, and is himself in turn guided. So friend shapes and molds
friend. This is what gives its meaning to conversation, oratory,
journalism, reforms. Each man stands at the center of a great network

of voluntary influence for good. Through words, bearing and gesture,
he sends out his energies. Oftentimes a single speech has effected great
reforms. Oft one man's act has deflected the stream of the centuries.
Full oft a single word has been like a switch that turns a train from the
route running toward the frozen North, to a track leading into the tropic
South.
Not seldom has a youth been turned from the way of integrity by the
influence of a single friend. Endowed as man is, the weight of his being
effects the most astonishing results. Witness Stratton's conversation
with the drunken bookbinder whom we know as John B. Gough, the
apostle of temperance. Witness Moffat's words that changed David
Livingstone, the weaver, into David Livingstone, the savior of Africa.
Witness Garibaldi's words fashioning the Italian mob into the
conquering army. Witness Garrison and Beecher and Phillips and John
Bright. Rivers, winds, forces of fire and steam are impotent compared
to those energies of mind and heart, that make men equal to
transforming whole communities and even nations. Who can estimate
the soul's conscious power? Who can measure the light and heat of last
summer? Who can gather up the rays of the stars? Who can bring
together the odors of last year's orchards? There are no mathematics for
computing the influence of man's voluntary thought, affection and
aspiration upon his fellows.
Man has also an unpurposed influence. Power goes forth without his
distinct volition. Like all centers of energy, the soul does its best work
automatically. The sun does not think of lifting the mist from the ocean,
yet the vapor moves skyward. Often man is ignorant of what he
accomplishes upon his fellows, but the results are the same. He is
surcharged with energy. Accomplishing much by plan, he does more
through unconscious weight of personality. In wonder-words we are
told the apostle purposely wrought deeds of mercy upon the poor. Yet
through his shadow falling on the weak and sick as he passed by, he
unconsciously wrought health and hope in men. In like manner it is
said that while Jesus Christ was seeking to comfort the comfortless,
involuntarily virtue went out of him to strengthen one who did but
touch the hem of his garment. Character works with or without consent.

The selfish man fills his office with a malign atmosphere; his very
presence chills like a cold, clammy day. Suspicious people fill all the
circle in which they live with envy and jealousy. Moody men distribute
gloom and depression; hopelessness drains off high spirits as cold iron
draws the heat from the hand. Domineering men provoke rebellion and
breed endless irritations.
Great hearts there are also among men; they carry a volume of
manhood; their presence is sunshine, their coming changes our climate;
they oil the bearings of life; their shadow always falls behind them;
they make right living easy. Blessed are the happiness-makers!--they
represent the best forces in