THESE terms, though often loosely used one for the other, and thus perhaps, conveying to some minds the same idea, express, in truth, things which are widely separated, and which may be clearly distinguished from each other. Character and Reputation! What are they, and wherein do they differ? Character is what a man really is-Reputation, is what the world think and say of him. The former depends upon the man himself, and is subject to his control. The latter depends, to a great degree, upon others, and outward circumstances. A man presents himself as a theme—the world take it and develop it as they will. Character is the subject, reputation the predicate of a sentence coming from a double author, viz: the man himself and the world about him.

Were this world an honest and a just one, reputation and character would coincide. But it is not so. The spirit is not always seen in the expression—the motive in the act. Words and deeds are not always the true exponents of the heart. And as the avenues of expression are the only ones open to mortals for approach to the heart; as its inward workings are hidden from their gaze, its many windings and recesses discoverable only to the eye of Heaven; the ideas which they get of character, that is, the true character, are imperfect and limited. Then, too, the bar

of the world, to which the character comes for judgment, and at which it receives its stamp of reputation, does not dispense strict justice. There is much partiality; there are many imperfect and unjust decisions. With a fickle and whimsical world as judges and arbiters, it is a matter of no wonderment that reputation, in so many instances, is not faithful to character. Considering the source of the decisions on character, and the circumstances under which they are made, the inconsistencies and errors in this respect, which we see continually in every department and sphere of life, are rendered accountable. The world seems blind sometimes-totally blind and willfully so too. The good, the great, neglected and unknown, are suffered to remain in obscurity; or, perhaps slandered and depreciated, they fall as sacrifices to ignorance, blindness, and caprice. While, on the other hand, the ignorant and the vicious are permitted to rise high in the public favor, and have their praises trumpeted abroad. But high worth and genuine talent are often made too high. Mediocrity is exaggerated into superiority, and thus by freak and fancy does reputation exalt or depress.

They who are distinguished either in greatness or goodness, those eminences, so to speak, in the moral world, are the marks at which are directed many thoughts and feelings. They furnish examples for emulation, and the ambitious and aspiring make them the guideposts on their road to distinction. They elicit admiration and respect. But on the heights they occupy, however lofty they may be, they are not free from the attempts of envious and malevolent depreciation. Excellence has much to contend with, many enemies to confront. The great monster, Selfishness, who holds extensive sway, with his aids, malignant Envy and dark Jealousy, are continually busy in their foul work. Nothing is soflofty or so pure that they may not mark it with their contaminating touch. Men's judgments are perverted by the deceitful influence of selfinterest. Its insidious whisperings catch the ear and find an easy passage to the heart. The appeals of selfishness are difficult to resist. They strike home with force and power. Envy and jealousy blind and distort the mental vision. They raise a cloud before the eye, which shuts out the pure light and displaces the natural medium of sight. Thus on every great character there are fixed eagle eyes to catch, if possible, some points of imperfection-some flaws or blemishes whereon to feed envy and satisfy the hankerings of a morbid jealousy. The tongue of slander and the voice of calumny raise their hoarse notes, too often not in vain. Their poisonous breath too often takes effect. It blasts the fair and withers 'he beautiful. Ignorance, too, views that which it cannot comprehend