Character and Success 103 



If treated as it should be, that is, as good, healthy 

 play, it is of great benefit, not only to the body, 

 but in its effect upon character. To study hard 

 implies character in the student, and to work hard 

 at a sport which entails severe physical exertion and 

 steady training also implies character. 



All kinds of qualities go to make up character, 

 for, emphatically, the term should include the pos 

 itive no less than the negative virtues. If we say 

 of a boy or a man, "He is of good character/' we 

 mean that he does not do a great many things that 

 are wrong, and we also mean that he does do a 

 great many things which imply much effort of will 

 and readiness to face what is disagreeable. He 

 must not steal, he must not be intemperate, he must 

 not be vicious in any way; he must not be mean or 

 brutal ;. he must not bully the weak. In fact, he 

 must refrain from whatever is evil. But besides 

 refraining from evil, he must do good. He must 

 be brave and energetic; he must be resolute and 

 persevering. The Bible always inculcates the need 

 of the positive no less than the negative virtues, 

 although certain people who profess to teach Chris 

 tianity are apt to dwell wholly on the negative. 

 We are bidden not merely to be harmless as doves, 

 but also as wise as serpents. It is very much easier 

 to carry out the former part of the order than the 

 latter; while, on the other hand, it is of much more 



