The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-08-13
1IR. SHIRLEY.

Mn. SHIRLEY,
writer in your paper Of the 23d July calling him
self " NeTtas appears be extremely alarmed for the
safety of this when its fathers and those who
now superntend the affairs Of the town are laid in
their graves
Now Sir when stranger reads the piece in question,
what must be his conclusion If may be permitted
to for him il would be that the whole of the
youth of this town have sunk level with the in
ernal regions, and ere would let child enter IT,
would follow him 10 his grave These think be
the feelings Of those who read such high cooured
scrpiions OF the vices Of " young. 1 must con-
TESS 1 was somewhat surprised TO hear that. g that
hour which calls for refreshmen the labouring part of
of citizens witnesses the youth resorting their
places of dissipation &c" And il was still more sur
prsing hear that il is in these times that we
can find young man. whose countenance does not
strongly testify that he is too fond of the intoxicating
cup. Ii did not know this is not the case, should
be led TO exclaim Portland how thou fallen not
that would charge Feritas with falsehood for
believe he actuated by good motives but in his
paroxism OF fear, he has made ms charges general.
which can not bear. feel conscious that place
my, hand on my breast and plead not gully for my
self and many of my fellow apprentices, would not
attempt to refute the charges brought against us, but
like Veritas, q not keep silent when | am
wrongly implicated.
That there are some addicted the lowest and most
degrading vices particularly class OF dandies) shall
not pretend to DENY. but wish Neritas" TO aim his
at them and not at the whole of " young.
whereby many innocent suffer reproach in the
ewes OF strangers
If" Veritas viii take the trouble 10 attend at the
apprentices library only one evening think he will
be convinced that his fears groundless, for am
sensible he will there health and temperance pic
tured in the faces of large portion of q Young
who visit that institution He will then be satisfied
that instead OF" bachanaan revels they trim the
mighty lamp choice book at an |" hour which
calls for reiresbment I; that if they undermining
their constitutions all, IL is in storing up useful
knowledge. Let him examine the size of the books
charged to some of "our young" and he must con-
cude they very diigent to read them through and
spend any time IN nightly debaucheries" for he must
know that their time by day is devoted to the inter
est Of their masters
BY "a late article in the Gazette (which I believe
was editonaD 1t appears that the demand for books is
increasing and that of young took (f /
mistake not) GO vols. in the Of year.
This think proves there redeeming spirit in them
rather than an allurement 10 /" rregion impiety and
prohigacy."
Many other proofs might be offered in defence Of
the character Of many OF our young" but think
enough has been said in their defence convince any
candid person that vice does not prevail such an
alarming degree as = Veritas in his overheated zeal
has imag med and really hope he will so far retra CT
what be mas said as to exonerate the fellows Of
AN APPRENTICE.
1t affords high qualification that we can add our
testimony to that of ''An Apprentice, in favor of
numbers Of the youth Of this town. who instead Of re-
sorting the haunts Of vice, employ their leisure
hours in useirln profitable reading. We hcpe, too,
with him. that that valuable institution THE 7ppren-
ices Library, will receive the support and patronage
TO which, by its claims from the public it Justly