Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-09
SWEARING.

SWEARING.
Do you see those boys at play? Now listen
to the oaths that flow from their lips as readily
and as roundly as they would from an old SALT
who has manned the fore-top of man-of-war
not ten years of age, think of what they are do
ing! Orcan it be that such language is wrong
Children are naturally initiative and those boys
have doubtless heard men use the same bias
phemous language. And as they wish to be
to be men, is to do as men do. And therefore
he who swears the loudest and boldest, is the no.
blest fellow and the most of man. They rea-
son on this subject, as far as they reason on any,
thing, just as they do about drinking and smo-
king-he who can smoke and drink the most is
the most to be looked up to.
AS shocking as it is to ones feelings to hear
profanity from the mouths of children, the boys
are not as much in fault as the men from whom
they learn the practice. Children have less
knowledge and experience, and it cannot be ex-
pected that they will judge as correctly of the
propriety or improperly of any course, as those
OF ripper years. Men know better than to pur-
sue such practice. No reasonable excuse can
be offered for it. 1t can neither refine nor exalt
the character. Whoever is in the habit of it,
renders himself unfit for respectable society,"
How unsuitable is such language for the draw
ing-room or parlor And if improper to use in
the presence Of ladies, it is unfit for any society.
A real gentleman is aware Of this fact, and
therefore refrains from profane language when
in the presence of polite society. BY the same
rule he should always refrain from it if he re-
spects himself; for it is Of no more use to swear
at horse, or man, than it is at lady. And
it is as improper to swear at a laborer or loaf
er as it is at clergyman or judge.
The fact is, consistency and sense of propri-
ETY. will tell any man that swearing is useless,
ngentlemanly, degrading and demoralizing.-
And the highest authority has said, ,-"Because
of swearing the land mourneth; :" and the most
solemn declaration of the Supreme Being is
:" will not hold him guiltless who taketh my
name in vain"
Men who are guilty of this practice call them
selves Christians, and consider the heather in
great darkness. But the heather do not swear,
in their own language. When they attempt it,
they use English. Mr. Loughbridge, mission
ary TO the Creek Indians, says he is certain they
never attempt it, To call another by some vu-
gar name, as an cold dog" or something of
the kind, is the nearest approximation they can
make.
"On certain OCCASION" says he, Jim Henry,
a half-blood Creek, then government interpreter,
swore very profanely in English. After he had
ceased, asked him if he could swear in Creek"
"No," he replied, the Creeks cannot swear
in their language. Icoud translate an oath in
to our language, but it would be the most SOL
emn prayer to God which any one could offer." :"
The same is also the case with the Seminoles,
Choctaws, and Cherokees."
Would it not be well if there were no words
in English by which so senseless and degrading
practice could be sustained! Delicacy would
not then be so often shocked in the streets, and
a hundred evils closely connected Herewith
would not then be encouraged. "Swear not at
all" is the counsel Of wisdom, and happy is he
who regards it. Young men ruin themselves by
profanity.