Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-24
The Use Of Profane Language.

Scarcely day goes by that the ears Of the sen,
sitiye are not shocked and outraged by the use ol
profane language on the part of those who should
know better. There are many individuals In the
community who rarely speak five minutes with
out uttering an imprecation or an oath, or employ
ing the name of the Deity in an irreverent and
immoral manner. The vice has become habit
with them. habit that has been indulged for
wears and thew are either unconscious of its exist
ence. or thew find it impossible to correct it.
But profsnity is not vice which is confined
exclusively to manhood or old age. The merest
children may be heard in our streets, cursing,
swearing, imprecatng-and taking the name OF
God in vain-and as if, too, they were thereby
manifesting some peculiar smartness.
The vice of profanity may be said to be me e
source and the parent of many other vices, ana II
prevails to fearful extent In this community
The habit is not only wicked, but it is low, vul,
gar and ungentlemany. No individual Indeed
can be true gentleman, as we understand the
character, who is in the practice OF making use OF
profane language He can neither respect him
SELF his Maker, his friends, nor the propretles OF
life. 1t is true that many persons swear uncon-
sciously. They have introduced certain blasphe,,
nous phrases into their every day vocabulary land
tnuS,ln the IIlOSt P4t@e
ses are employed, as if they gafflshed adorned y
gave force to their opinions. Nothing could be
more erroneous, nothing more fallacious. The lis
tener is apt to be shocked as well as dlsgusted.-
His natural inference is, that the blasphemer has
been mingling the greater part of his life, either
with very vicious or very low companions, and
that this branch of his education has become
leading feature of his character In BRIEF gentili-
ty and profanity cannot 60 hand in hand together.
They are inharmonious and incompatible. The
error is not only vulgar and vicious, but 1t is
coarse, violent and undgnifed. 1t darkens and
defaces. 1t violates courtesy and disturbs sensi-
bilty. For the head of household to be an ha-
bitual basphemer, is indeed deplorable. The ef-
feet must be pernicious in almost every point Of
view. The listening family must shudder when
by themselves, while they cannot but feel abash-
ed and mortified when other parties are present.
fortunately, in refined society, in polished social
circles character of this description is regarded
as moral pestilence. He is so indeed, and he
should be so designated and treated. Whatever
NAV be our own moral or religious views,we have
no right to trampe upon the faith and opinions of
others, and thus to violate the conrtesles and a
menities Of social life and civilized society. The
mvckng and unholy blasphemer, although he him
self may have no sense of the fearful responsible
ty of his language, should be compelled in some
signal and significant manner, to respect the feel
ings, the sentiments, and the religion of others
If he be unwilling to acknowledge his accounta-
biliy to God he should at least be induced to keep
within the limits which regulate and control the
morals the manners, and the social intercourse Of
men, '"Thou shalt not take the name OF the Lord
thy God in vain, for the Lord will rot hold him
guiltless that taketh his name in vain. "-Iennsyl-
vafia Inquirer.