off heat; violets are larger in influence
than bulb; pomegranates and spices crowd the house with sweet odors.
Man also has his atmosphere. He is a force-bearer and a
force-producer. He journeys forward, exhaling influences. Scientists
speak of the magnetic circle. Artists express the same idea by the
halo of light emanating from the divine head. Business men understand
this principle, those skilled in promoting great enterprises bring the
men to be impressed into a room and create an atmosphere around them.
In measuring Kossuth's influence over the multitudes that thronged and
pressed upon him the historian said: "We must first reckon with the
orator's physical bulk and then carry the measuring-line about his
atmosphere."

Thinking of the evil emanating from a bad man, Bunyan made Apollyon's
nostrils emit flames. Edward Everett insists that Daniel Webster's
eyes during his greatest speech literally emitted sparks. Had we tests
fine enough we would doubtless find each man's personality the center
of outreaching influences. He himself may be utterly unconscious of
this exhalation of moral forces, as he is of the contagion of disease
from his body. But if light is in him he shines; if darkness rules he
shades, if his heart glows with love he warms; if frozen with
selfishness he chills; if corrupt he poisons; if pure-hearted he
cleanses. We watch with wonder the apparent flight of the sun through
space, glowing upon dead planets, shortening winter and bringing
summer, with birds, leaves and fruits. But that is not half so
wonderful as the passage of a human heart, glowing and sparkling with
ten thousand effects, as it moves through life. The soul, like the
sun, has its atmosphere, and is over against its fellows, for light,
warmth and transformation.

All great writers have had their incident of the atmosphere their hero
carried. Centuries ago King Saul sent his officers to arrest a seer
who had publicly indicted the tyrant for outbreaking sins. When the
soldier entered the prophet's presence he was so profoundly affected by
the majesty of his character that he forgot the commission and his
lord's command, asking rather to become the good man's protector.
Likewise with the second group of soldiers--coming to arrest, they
remained to befriend. Then the King's anger was exceedingly hot
against him who had become a conscience for the throne. Rushing forth
from his palace, like an angry lion from his lair, th