Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-07-09
Soul Selling.

We now resume Our subject, and propose
to note some account ofssales with the re-
ceipts thereof.
A great many sell out and take in.exclange
sensual enjoyment. The great distinguished
popularity Of a human being is his person
atty, and when the being is in possession of
that he may be said to own in fee simple,
wealth the universe cannot give. This is
officially true, but practically we observe
that self has less marketable value than DO
tatoes or powderette. This may be attribu-
ted to one of two causes, or perhaps to both
these being an understandingamon p~urcbas-
US or a glut in the market. So anxious is
TIE multitude tc sell out, that they tumble
in an change and clinch the bargain with
the Srst bid without so much as asking,
WHAT'S Souls worth to-day ?" So rapid
are the transfers made that the purchaser
runs a great risk of buying damaged goods,
or goods that have been sold over again, or
goods that nobody wants hence, it is ex-
tremely diiicult to lay down any rules for
the protection of buyer or seller against i'm
position apd tricks of the trade-
yUIth and the precious jewel thrown away
upSn the mere candy sticks of boyhood SO
thai on arriving at maturer years, and see
ing a thousand prizes that he covets, he re-
Allies with o pang that he is bankrupt, soul
rupt and without q jot of stock in trade
Then, again, a thousand sales are made,
wherein the soul is snapped for a few bot
ties Of Champagne a la jerSey-the Devils
own soup in fact. If such traders would
only cast an eye about, they would see the
i~mprovidence in selling out for poison cider,
when he might have put in a bid in the great
auction of sensuality for the choice brands
from Burgundian orchards and vineyards of
the Rhine. This class Of prodigals are of
very little use in society and the political
economists is troubled to know which to pity
the most, in consideration Of the success of
the price, the purchaser or the seller. One
may readily doubt the propriety Of barter
ing the soul for any degree of sensual indul-
gence, but common prudence would dictate
diving terms" and exact of the purchaser
the best mares Of his kind.
History furnishes a CHASTITY record, which
should serve as a warning against the dispo-
sition of self for any degree of sensual graft
fcation whatever. Take Rochester and By
ron, for examples. Rochester made what
might be called a :" crack bargain" and, for
a time ran a merry race, but the pretty song
wound up with shame, death and a damnato.
ry little duodecimo written by a good Bishop,
which came near being IL final argument
against spiritual commerce, so full was it Of
groans and devils. Byron roared like a lion
in metre over his youthful iudiscretion, in
order to annual the birthstone contract and
a slight spur on the Imagination will pain
him haggard, man peeyish, truculent and
desperate, looking for all the world like a
begging, bankrupt angel Not only history
but every mans experience, points out divers
instances where the entire spiritual inheri
lance has been bartered off for a few briet
years of indulgence in wine, whiskey and
/ their thousand compound incomprehensibili
ties. OF what avail is it that philanthropists
and political economists raise their voice,
against this indiscreet mode of soul selling
None Some young man may rise from the
reuunI of this and 60 straightwny to tn,
= gropShop and sign, seal and deliver his sou
oveTto the DEVILS " agent for a bottle o
bEndy. One word young man, if you arr
7 fired of your soul-if you believe it not prof
? yitable to keep it longer-if you are deter
mined to sell out for q mess of ale, let u
, exhort you on the score Of dignity, to let i
, be ale of the best brewing!
There are other modes of soul selling
! which We may notice in future numbers.