Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-10-30
THE VTNDICATOR.
sTAUN ron, Va.
MONDAY MORNING, OCT. 80. 1854.
4 v1,ofd in Season.

The long nights Of winter are rapidly ap.
preaching The cheerful fire already bla-
yes upon the hearth-stone and fiie social
chit chat passes around the~family circle.
The season for reading, study dnd intels
lectual improvement, generally, has return
ed again.
At this period We 5flei think Of the
thousands Ct young people, who spend
!. their lo, 6 and invaluable evenings, un,m.
| ployed without reading, study or i'm
provement. Minds susceptible Of the
highest cultivation are neglected. .shd their
possessor frequently inddlge5in the grossess
folly and wicRedness to the chagrine and
disappointment O. too inculgent. and often
criminal!5 careless parents. Youths, who
possess talent if Developed, which might
make them Brilliant lights, Of which ma
ton might well BE prodd. are permitted to
saunter about in the forbidden haunts of
vice, Unchecked and without reproof.-
This is growing evil. Are the young
always to blame for this deplorable condi-
zion of things? Far from it. Parents,
whose grea, aim should be to give direc-.
ton, elevate and excite the aspirations Of
their efiildseh 10 enoblins and substantial
objects, too frequently, SET the most IN.
becoming examples. How shall this evil
be Iemedied It is one Of no ordinary
magnitude. The young are the hope of
the nation, the church, society, and in
short of the world. While we are so as
sidiousiy bearing ourselves in directing
and controlling tie affairs Of The present.:
in order that we may leave to the rising
generation free. prosperous and hsppy
country, let US take care, that the heirs of
this great nation are not suffered to grow
up in prodigality and vice. The young
are the property Of the body polite, and
as such, we feel it our duty and claim the
right 10 speak of them.
Were we permitted to appeal to them.
we would urge The early cultivation Of
tke mind. Let it be disciplined and
brought to subsection to the will. Let it
daily. yes, hourly be Systematically enga-
sed in investigating some principle, or
subject Which can be turned to useful ac-
count in life, that it may not be stulti6ed
BY the silly prattle which drifts upon
the current Of time. or filled with the vap-'
id dreams of degraded stupidity and lgno-
rance. But, probably, some one has al
ready said that he has no time for study:
we say he is mistaken. If the obiector
be mechanic, or farmer, he should be
diligently engaged in studying every
principle Of science. or device Of art i'm.
bodied in his manual labor, So that he
may avail himself Of any Improvement that
may be discovered. But farmers and me-
chanics, generally, are not employed more
than ten hours per day eight hours are
ample fer necessary rrpose, and there are
left six hours. each day, which could gen
orally be devoted exclusively to study
Time long enough for close application to
books, in the opinion Of an eminent Med.
ical Professor.
Let no young man be discouraged be-
cause he has not the opportunity of attend
ing the schools and colleges, for though
he labours under many disadvantages. yet.
he can find encouragement III the fact,
that many Of the greatest and best men OF
our country are self educated.
1t is more important that tie youth Of our
country should BE- thoroughly instructed IN
this wonderful age Of discovery and inven-
ton, than any other, in order thatthsy may
carry on the great work Of unfolding the
arcana of nature, and bringing them into
useful application; bit chiefly should they
be intelligent because o: the Increasing
complications Gf our governmental policy,
the diversity Of its interests, the sectional
and social jealousies which are daily grow
ing stronger, in order that they may be pre-
pared to guide the destiny Of this great
country.
We hope our humble suggestions may
arrest the attention Of the precocious youths
into whose hands they may fall and that
some one will resolve to try what he can
accomplish, pending the ensuing win.
tet..