Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-25
10th June, 1912.
A. q.

When my dear Daughter was here the
subject of common cursing and swearing was
slightly mentioned.-It has led me to think
more OH the subject since, than had ever done
before; and as 1t will be an amusement under
my present confinement, I will give YOU some
ofmy ideas on the subject, in doing which
shall endeavor to point out to you some OF the
many advantages arising from the practice, es-
pecially as you are raising q family, and ought
to know whatever might advance them in life
But the benefits are SO many and great that
am at loss to know where to begin; TO YOU.
however, suppose 1t unimportant whether the
greatest advantages be pointed out FIRST Or last
Neither shall attempt any order or system
n managing the subject, but begin at once by
observing that those children who are initiated
into The society OF swearers Us soon rs they can
f1lS, claim the attention of the fashionable part
OF the community, who take pleasure in shew-
IN, themselves untettered with the shack!es aud
restraints Of Religion, and who not only court
the affection CT such children much more than
of those pretty little innocents who are taught
10 praise their Creator, but endeavour private
~ further to instruct and establish them in the
great and valuable accomplishment of cursine
and sWearlng---by these means, those children
acquire holiness and confidence in themselves
which make them positive whe her they be in
the right or wrong.
But after 10 or 10 years more have ELAPSED
they then begin To reap the real fruits of what
they so early iearnt-for when they have done
criminal act, they can st once deny it with
bold and most solemn otth.-The independence
and confidence such chaps acquire puzzle
their parents, and in some cases they even man
Gge old-tashioned daddy and mamy-thus, they
early into Importance. When from size, and
certain change which nature makes III their
voice, they are considered as verging to man
hood, they can reach it at once by harsh, bold,
positive oaths, and make assertions on any
subject whether considered or not and iflike-
ly . be detected in a lie, they can swear DO
sltively to false reasoning, as well as 10 false
iacisi" and should ii happen that any one is har-
dy cnodgh to discover that he either doubts the
goodness OF their reasoning, or the truth of
tn ~ assertions, " damn your soul" will Der-
ha.lS stop him.-If not stopped that way, rage.
III and more bitter oaths, Of more bitter can
be- ..e marshalied in hidcous array, and an an
p..s.,nce ofimminent danger awaits the culprit.
who wants faith to believe what is so sole,nnly
sworn to, attho' among those chaps are to be
found the most arrant towards in existance, and
many of them would much sooner even tell the
truth than light titus you see they pass for
men of bravery without one single particle of
courage in their composition. When those
young men who have been the heroes of this
eul9gium become men in years, they have oc
casion for oaths the remainder OF their lives.
Tor II Cannot De denied that without oathS there
AFTER neither servants, nor children, nor any
body else think they are in earnest, and how
ever necessary 1t was to learn TO curse and
swear early in life, and TO place dependence on
the practice, il, i'll its consequences made them
neglect the improvement of the mind i'm other
necessary accomplishments, as some call them,
hence they are from the necessity of the case o.
bliged to hold fast to the one thing needful
Hence oaths are substituted instead of reason
ing, and loud, harsh imprecations in place Of
convincing argumcnt-thus you sec, again, that
men, who have only learnt to curse and swear.
which is done without expense, without trouble.
and ,,lm0st without thought, are match in ar
gument for the studicus and informed
forgot TO mention sooner one circumstance
which is, that the business of swearing ought
not to be put OF too late, for those who begin
after they are grown, do it with very bad
grace, and sometimes instead of saying "damn''
right out, will utter " darn" with feeble voice.
Us il ashamed ofthe expression.
Icould fill many pages in enumerating the
ADVANTAGES OF learning, early in life, the ar. OF
cursing and swearing bat / presume I have
already said enough to shew that it is not only
gracefaiy but mos. useful aut, valuable ac-
complishnent. lift were not 50, Chow tn.
Devil' came it to pass that SO many people
curse and swearl
Your ever loving Father,
p s. Your Girls should not learn to swear
Scoldng Will be more suitable for them, which