Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-06-04
A Looking Glass,

clean"-have called at our office for work,
or help in absence Of work Nine out of
ten of these men were notoriously intem-
perate, and in several instances the little
money they asked to help them to the
next printing town, was all expended for
liquor in this Borough. Three of this
class called upon us within fortnight, re-
Gently. 1t is matter for serious inquiry,
whether such characters are worthy of Pc
cuniary aid-whether hard working, eco
mical, self-denying, temperate men are
under any obligation whatever to pay any
more than their share as citizens, in sus-
tanning men, (eyen of their own calling
in extravaganza, intemperance, and de-
bauchery. We have pretty much come to
the conclusion that what little money
printers can save, can be better employed
than in pandering to the vitiated tastes of
the improvident and drunken. We do not
believe that true "charity "-extravagant,
unreasoning, and blind though some repre-
sent requires that there should be no
discrimination made between the honest
and virtuous poor, and the debased and
reckless who bring misfortunes or their
own heads by wanton violations of laws
human and divine.
Look at it. The last strapped" jour.
in cur ofice-once a stout, intelligent,
well-disposed, and good looking man
had made from 50 to SIS per week, for
years, and never less than 50 or SO;
never had any sickness had no family;
and here he @as-in rags, with face and
body disiigured, mind brutalized, and sixty
years old at thirty -fve-begging for few
cents from those whose advantages and
earnings had never been equal to his.
How have those thousands of dollars
gone" "By drink-tobacco-dancing-
Notwithstanding s-circus-rdes---
women-wine-dress-and spreeing and
high living in general = always good Jei
to'o," All this "yood .teUop," and ere
ating and pampering half dozen unne-
cessary, artificial wants-had ruined him
in purse, in character, in hope, in health,
and in all probability in soul, for time and
for eternity. He had few merry days,
aud scattered bis money lavishly--been
% FIRST rate fellow" in every circle; and
now, deserted by his friends at the very
tine when he needed friendship-kicLed
from the doors where he had spent his
money, and enfeebled his body, and itn
dered himself incapable of earning his
bread-now, the "good fellow" depends
upon the charity of strangers for a meal
of victuals and money to take him to the
next town! At the same time he can
point to his companions-men Of equal or
of inferior opportunities-who have pre-
serred health, character, happiness, and
have secured good home for themselves
and families, by early practicing the prin-
ciples of sobriety and economy, and avoi-
ding evil and dissolute company.
We wish every Apprentice, and Jour
neyman, and Clerk. and Student, and
Youth of no occupation, would look these
lessons in the face-woUld draw out in de-
tai! the contrast between poor Jour. sot
Of middle age-without home or friends
and the industrisus and temperate mechanic
of the same years. Both started in life,
but a few years ago, equal in hope, in
mind, in opportunities one varied uer.y
hHie-a mere trife-from the path of
prudence and strict rectitude, and has ever
kept on the downward track; the other
trod steadily forward in the "path Of wis
dom, whose ways are pleasantness and
peace" Nop, how wide the distance
between them And it is not 'Proyi-
dence," Or "Luck," that has made the
difference. Each man has made his oson
condition. 1t matters much less what
advantages man may have, than how he
avails himself Of those advantages 1t is
Of little consequence how much a man
earns-what he spends, and ho'c he spends
it, will determine his prosperity in life.
Young man whoever or wherever you
are-look in the mirror held up before
you in this true sketch; and, if your
better judgment tells you it reflects your
image, heed wisely and well its kind ad-
monition. An improvident youth will
ensure You a miserable old age. W. u.
SUNBURY & ERIE RAILRoD.-At the
meeting of the Committee to collect sub
scriptions to the stock, held last evening,
(says the Daily Ne,os) new subscriptions,
a mi nun tino 70 t,yapty i