CHAPTER VI 



SCHOOL DAYS IN FRANCE 



Molding of Audubon's character — Factor of environment — Turning failure 

 into success — An indulgent stepmother — The truant — His love of 

 nature — Early drawings and discipline — Experience at Rochefort — 

 Baptized in the Roman Catholic Church. 



It is now commonly believed that of the three great 

 factors which mold character — environment, training 

 and heritage, the last is the most important, since it alone 

 is predetermined and unalterable. Environment may 

 be uncertain or unsuitable, training defective or de- 

 ferred, but blood is the one possession of which the 

 child cannot be robbed; and since it sets the limits to 

 possibility, in no small degree must it determine the ac- 

 quisitions and accomplishments of a lifetime. This, 

 however, is not the whole truth. Race may account for 

 much, but it does not account for everything; the child 

 is effectually robbed whenever it is not permitted to 

 realize to the full upon its inheritance. To be able to 

 convert possibilities into actualities it must receive fit 

 training and right incentives, and if at critical times the 

 proper spur is wanting, its patrimony may be sadly 

 wasted. The "good environment" for the youth, too 

 often thought to be the soft conditions of an easy life, 

 is in truth that only which provides the proper and 

 necessary stimulus. This may be now fear or pride, now 

 hard necessity or bitter want ; again, an awakened sense 

 of responsibility or ambition to excel may be induced 



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