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I r A* unueis \v. I [{TER. DEVOTED TO 1® INTERESTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. VOL. VII. lTHENS, GA., SATURDAY FEB 25. 1888. NO. 18 THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON CHAR. A CTER. To treat of this comprehensive theme in its minutest details, would require more time and space than we now have at our disposal. We in tend to examine three classes of people in this discussion ; but be fore proceeding further, we doubt not it would be well to deflue char acter. Character is a distinct mark, pro perty or quality by which one per son or thing is distinguished from others ; or as Emerson says, “char acter is moral order seen through the medium of an individual na ture.” In all ages of the world, each nation has had its own char acteristic, peculiar to itself, and distinguishing it from all others. Each has i'sown code of laws—each has its own customs and manners each has its civil and religions med inclinations, ligion but indolatry. Rations—each has its peculiar form of Government, &c. Besides these more noticeable marks of distinction there are others of minor impor tance, as diversity of dress, diet, habits, &c. Now by placing all these together and closely inspecting them, we are enabled to form some idea of the character of the people, both indi viduaily and collectively. There is no more potent factor in the fQrma- tion of character, than climate. It is climate that controls the temper- amt nt of a people; and tempera ment influences character. There are various other ways in which climate affects character. Now first, let us take for an ex ample, an inhabitant of the Polar regions. On examination, we find him to be inhospitable, deceitful, rough, &c. His character is bad and corrupt. One of the survivors of the ill-fated “Greely Expedition,” relates, in speaking of the Esqui maux, “that on one occasion, as the party of explorers approached an Esquimaux village, a man emerged from a hut and began to approach them. At first he pretended to be delighted at the presence of stran gers, and invited them to his hut, which invitation the party accepted. When they reached the hut, how-- ever, several Esquimaux sprang up on them, and would have massacred them unless they had used their fire arms. This clearly shows a want of charcter on the part of the Esquimaux or at least the want of good eharijffer. This depraved character m.y not be entirely due to climatic nfluence ; but we can safely affirmthat the climate exert ed great infuence over it. These people who iihabit these extremely cold couAtri s, are effectually isola- lated from the rest of the world. The while ran cannot introduce his institution*, because he cannot sur vive long enough to to do so. The Esquimaux has no code of law, but acts according to his own lie has no form of re- The sound of a church hell never echoed in the icy valleys around his home; the shrill whistle ot a locomotive would frighten him almost to death. He has to devour food as a glutton in order to preserve his life. Now, all of thes< things are caused by the rigor climate. Could, we re a sonab 1 yt t xpect- to find good cuarac- ters where such a state of things ex ists? Perhaps some one will insist that it is the absence of civilizing in fluences that, causes the baseness of character. This is true; but, what causes the absence of civilizing in fluences? We can attribute it to one thing only, and that thing is the rigor of the climate. Therefore, we come to the conclusion that too cold a climate is not favorable to the de velopment of a good character. Now, let us for example, take an inhabitant of a very hot coontry.— Look at the people of India and Southern Africa. As a rule, they are indolent, lazy, &c; A beneficent lather has, indeed, blessed them. 1 he soil, with very little cultivation, yields bountiful harvests. Tropical fruits thrive here, thus furnishing great supplies of food. The country is so very hot that a white man can not survive for any length of time, and, therefore, these people, like li e Esquimaux, are isolated. They aie given to the vilest types of fanati cism; they have no institutions of a ivlinini character; they are super- stanlly deteriorated, and now are | love literature, Horace, Livy, Juve- tho subjects of another people.— Inal, Sallust, Cicero, Virgil, and Therefore, we can safely say that an Terence, will never be forgotten, extremely warm climate is no more They were men of character, favoi able to the development of good , Greece, at one lime, the most re— eharacterthan an extremely cold one. fined country in the world, has a fine Now, as a third and last type, 11 climate. It was here that such men take the inhabitants of those coun- as Homer, Socrates, Thucydides, tries whose climate is neither too ! T'hales, and Plato lived. Their hot nor too cold, but just between 1 works have come down to us, and these extremes. Our own grand are still regarded as wonderful. country is of this type. We have every kind of climate. While the Thus we see that where good cli mate exists, good character also ex- titious^ &c These people seem to be content with passing the time in idleness, and grossly misuse the blessings of God, by making them subserve vile ends. Now, all of these evils are the effects, in a great measure, of climate. The Egyptians, who in habit a warm country, have con- mountains of the West and North ists; and where bad climate exists are covered with fleecy snow, the j bad character also exists. Every gardens and groves of the South aie Georgian should thank God for his verdant and luxuriant. This enables I kindness. We, too, are able to point every one to suit his taste as to cli to a long list of patriots whose mate. There is no nation upon the ‘Doom we tell with scarce a sigh, earth no older than ours, which has For ihey aie Freedom’s now and Fame’s; produced so many eminent men. It’ Some of the lew, the immortal Dames is the home of orators who, by their [ That wt ' re not born to die.” fiery eloquence, have stirred multi- Let us watch our characters, and tudes to rebellion, or by their im- guard them as sacred. Let us up- passioned oratory calmed tumult * hold the character of our State and uous crowds; or puec», Cevernmeat., mic verses havedelighted thousands; Hubert Estes.'’ of ministers who, by their persua sive powers, have caused hosts to bow at tile foot of the Cross; of statesmen whose wisdom has aston ished the world; of warriors who, by' their valor, devotion, and sacri fices, have carved their names upon the temple of fame. What more could a uation ask than the All wise God has given America? The clis mate is one of the greatest blessings, because, being invigorating, it gives clearness and brilliancy to the mind, and activity and buyancy to the! body. IhHH climate is the main cause of her > ‘ ntert ' st wa s ma ifested in it that he was requested to repeat it at the new Opera House. He lectured Friday afternoon at SEVERAL LECTURES. During the past week it has been the pleasure of the students to listen to sever, al fine lectures from Dr J. G. Armstrong. He lectured to a crowded house last Sun day afternoon at the new Opera House, and treated the subject of “Religion of Science,” in such a masterly way that everyone was convinced of the close rela tions existing between them. His lecture j u i ? ^ on Faust was delivered in the Phi-Kappa We can say that America's ! ba " on Tuesday aflernoon > and so great ™ _ • ... ! intoivst wns ma in it tKot prosperity England has a fine climate, and she can point to great men almost without number. Fiance owes a the Phi-Kappa hall on “Elocution.” At | the conclusion of this lecture he was pre great portion of her greatness to her ! Sented wilh a Landsome gold-headed cane climate. The common people of this j by lhe 8tudents of the Universiiy of Geor- couutry were able to overthrow mon gia ’ HS 11 teslim onial of their esteem. He archs and forever establish the fact that the people rule. Men of char acter, who were wearied of seeing imbecile Kings manage the affairs of state, “rose and in one night re quited the wrongs of centuries.” Italy, whose capital city was once “mistress of the world,” has a splen did climate. The breezes from the mountains rushed through the cor ridors of the capitol and fanned the cheeks of great Senators This country has produced men whose fame can never die. So long as men will shortly return wheD we hope he may be induced to lecture ou Ctesar or Hamlet. The Law Class held its usual de bate last Saturday. The question, Resolved, That High License is pre ferable to Prohibition. Debated affirmatively by Messrs. Curry,Hix- on, Johnson, B, B., and Racy; and negatively by Messrs. Hughes, Wal lis, Eberhardt, Johnson, A. S., Crum- uey and Lane. Decided in favor of affirmative by the Vice President, Mr. W. E. Steed.