Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-04-16

country spreads SO literally before them
1t IS during the interval Of life usuall
devoted to education at public schools
'hat principles are formed, and habits con
tracted, whether for good or for evil. which
exert the most decided and predominati,O
influence over the coming iestinies OF
their subjects. II is now that the youth
unPractised in the world, for the first time
leaves the guardianship of home and il
dismissed from the morality of the paren
tai board. He is sent forth to encounter b,
himself, or guarded only by the recollec
lion OF the advice and anxious warnings
OF the friends whom he is leaving. which
perhaps IN The Overweaning confidence nj
youth he deems superfluous or ob,rusive
lie IS ushered upon a new scene. All the
accompaniment Of his situation are ne "
With his own character and those of his
companions as uniformed he is left with
but little effective aid from more ma,ured
lexPeriehce,i 70 form those ties of compan-
'onsh'p aud establish those connexions in
his intercourse with his fellows and with
general society, which. in great degree,
INK his estimation with his instructors and
are perhaps to give their coloring to the
whole current Of his future life.-But his
principal dangers are from the BANQUET &,
tile Bowl, Il the countless mischiefs which
Turk unsuspected amid their treacherous
enJoyments gaming, contentious, dis.
ease and every nameIess inpurty. Now,
tor the flrst time, the song of the Syren
hrst strikes upon his unpractised ear,
and dissipation beckons him to her pol.
iuted haunts. They venture within the
circle OF the enchanter, and the touch of
her wand converts them into brutes. Their
first advances in a course Of dissipation
are, perhaps, slew, hes;tating, reluctant.
Stung with remorse, and overwhelmed
with abundant self reproaches, while the
fumes of recent debauch are dissipating,
he resolves to be more cautious in future
and to offend no more. Happy indeed, il
he have the hrmness to sustain his resolu.
ton. Bntthis is rarely the case. Surround.
ed by temptation, which youth are, unfor-
tuna:ely, rarely armed to resist, such res.
olutlons are most frail. They readily yield
TO the influence of example, or are dissnlv-
ed before the breath of persuasion. Emit
ced again within the outer circles of the
whirlpool, he is borne around within its
giddy verge, and ere he is aware of his
danger, he is carried beyond the reach of
escape or rescue, and his descent is pre-
cipitated upon the rocks on which all his
hopes are dashed and lost
--lllum ter fuctus ibidem,
Torquet agens crcum, ct rapidus vorat seouore
vortex.
The chains Of memorable habit are fas.
tened upon him, and ere he is aware that
he is eniangled in her meshes, he finds
their iastenings too involved to be loosen
ed, and their links too strong to be bro
ken. If he have the resolution 10 attemut
an escape, he has rarely the strength to
effect IT., and after few vain and inei-
fectual struggles, he sinks down the hope.
less aud unreslsting victim of Intenpe,-
ance--the bond-sIave of a Tyrant, whom
he himself has established in undisputed
dominion over his whole life. He is now
the tit tenant Of the styc. How few return
ing footsteps mark the escape of any one
who has been allured within the den OF
the monster
Tine enemies Of the human race, among
whom iniemperance stands pre-eminent
IN Its destructive agency, have always
proved too strong for individual opposition.
An union OF effort among the friends of
their species, promises to effect that TO
which tile separate exertions of indiyldu-
ais have been found unequal. Experience
has amply proved the value of the princi.
pie OF combination whether in accom-.
plIshing good or combating evil. Encour-
aged by Us success in various other depart
ments OF. benevolent aud christian enter
Prize,sit has recently been brought to bear
most successfully against the desolatinp
evil OF lntemperance. We are gratiied
to see it introduced within the walls OF
our University; not that its students par
ticulariy stand in need Of its protection,
for IN regular and orderly attention to the
pursuits which brought them there, in ODE
dience o'ibe law and respectful subordi-
nation to Just g. gentle authority the pre-.
sent matriculates OF the University of Va.
may challenge comparison with ,hose
OF any other similar institution. But we