The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-09-18
From the Psychological Journal.
A CHAPTER ON REFORM.
BY J. TITUS TOWNSEND.

No one will deny the progress OF this age
in the paths OF science and knowledge, but
that mans advance is equally rapid towards
perfection of character and consequent hap
piress, few are willing TO admit; true--he
can produce the countless achievements of
art as his handwork, command the very ell
ements 10 his bidding, or measure the blue
distance from star 10 star YET is lie not, with
all his works and aspirations, the slave of
pride and evil passions, with all his great
ness and power, wholly unable to govern
himself in the smallest matters relating TO
his moral and physical being? To look
upon the masses of earths population is 10
look upon condition of toll, suffering, and
degradation. Ignorance and vice, hand in
hand intemperarce and licentiousness, and
human oppression over all, presentsto us a
picture from which we may well start in dis
may Select, if you will, from the mass,
the minds that govern all human action.
Our wisest Legislators, most profound schol-
ars, earth's greatest retormers, and arts
most talented disciples-even here you will
find that deficiency in physical and moral
excellence, which alone is sufficient 10 clog
,he wheels of progress The tongue Of ell
oquence and the voice of inspiration may
teach the duty of man to man but we look
in vain for an unexceptionable example a
mong the most gody of our pulpit mo9ilors.
If the master-spirits of creation thus lack
the essential elements of perfection, we may
search the works of human Lille in vain for
peace and happiness. In truth, life is full
of suffering. Through an incessant pamper-
ing OF appetite and other animal propensi-
ties, constant violation Of the laws of ma
ture, diseases innumerable are entailel upon
us, sapping to the foundation the spring OF
| life and energy hence it is that SO few,
comparatively, arise from the turmoil of the
million TO eminehce and distinction that
such countless scores drop into the grave be-
fore their ears are half told.
Selfshness is the all pevading spirit o.
this boasted age of refinement, and man.
mon is lne universal god before whose gill
ded altar conscience, truth, and all the pu-
ror feelings of mans aRiuse are blindy sac
rificed, Wealth is passport through life,
more potent than knowledge or virtue, and
far surpasses charity in the covering of sins.
The causes of the present unhappy con-
dition of the human family. and the reme
dies for the social evils that now exist, are
matters than which none more important can
occupy the intelligent mind; suggesting vol
umes of earnest, thoughtful consideration,
and spacious field of action; yet how few
with the moral courage 10 enter upon the
field, and prosecute the noble work of the
earlh's redemption. The pulpit is given 10
expounding ,heoretic hobbies. distorting
pure scripture 10 meet the misconceptions OF
sectarian creeds; vilifying opposing sects,
and, not unfrequently, directly pampering
the PRIDE and folly of an auditory assem-
bled al fashions call 10 compare silks and
jewels, and 10 lounge on soft cuhsions in
lively nattention TO all else than fashions
mockery.
The press, holdingthe scepter of immense
power for good or evil, is equally blinded by
passion, prejudice, and self interest, and al
most wholly subservent 10 the "almjghty
dollar" Lofty talents, fitted 10 inspire the
multitude with the noble spirits of truth,
love, and justice, are perverted to the vilest
of uses, smanating from which society is
drugged 10 enervation with licentious lore,
thrilling illustrations of s;cky fiction, teem-
ing with every device, skilfully woven 10 in
toxicate and mislead the imagination, 10
feed vanity, excite passion, perverl pure
natural feeling, and fill the mind with de-
sires never to be realized.
In like manner our theatres are given 10
the qualification of morbid craving, and 10
the .perpetuaion of human foly-abound.
ing in perncous examples and influences,
and exhibiting those hish-wrought, over
drawn pictures of life, iinseled with scenes
whose only existence spring from mans
overIasked and fevered brain. Scenes of
blood and revenge, hypocrisy and intrigue,
halt. atlired dancing women, unblushiag bias
phemy, all alike injurious 10 the morals aud
demoralizing 10 the senses. Nor does it re-
quho uetp tcecdICu 10 trace OUT me cause I
of the evils with which society is afflicted.
We conceive that this distempered cond-
tion may be cured, but by no quack theory,
religious revival, or-change of costume.
LIE, us look at home for the cause and the |
remedy.
Woman and her offspring At the ten
derest age should the seeds be sown that,
with careful nurture, will rid en- into bles.
sed harvest. Is it not on woman that the |
task devolves of regeneratins the fallen race
of man? Is not her receipts and examples
the installation that ever controls his efforIsq I
Woman's influence is the soil in which
mans destiny is determined for good or i'll. (
If the soil is barren or uncongenia, princi-
pie gives place to corruption and 1t springs
forth, like rank weeds, 10 contaminate. How t
shall we find woman of the present day?
Is it with that healthy constitution and self
controlling power OF mind fitting her for the
important duties of her mission On the
contrary, shall We not find her, intellectually
and physically, incompetent for her great
tasks Her very limited education consists
of vain show of parlor accomplishments,
her time is occupied in altering the pattern