American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-03-15
THE ROAD TO RUIN.

| lhe theatre Is often called school
oil morals. but the vast majority who en-.
ter its walls find it school for vice.
Amos Lawrence testified that Of the
young men among his early associates
who frequented the theatre. not one
prospered in worldly point ofview.
or came to good end. Such testimony
might be multiplied indefinitely. A re-
cent incident published in one OF the
New York papers. illustrates the infiu-
once OF the theatre upon the actors be-
hind the scenes:
Among the twelve who were punish.
ed for drunkenness was one--a female
whose history is truly melanchol y,
though by no means unusual. She is
not yet old, and was once pretty, court.
ed and admired by all. She was born
in the South. of wealthy parents, and
her early years were blessed with all
the privileges Of ono of her situation.-
Her education was thoroughly complete
and she early gained good reputation
as q writer. She soon evinced a pas.
sion for the stage--a passion so uncon.
trollable that. despite the en,reaties of
parents and friends, she became an &C.
tress. In this sphere she was very sue.
cessful. and after time made her ap-
pearance on tho boards in this city,
where sho created no little furore. Her
appearance was always hailed with on.
thusiasm. but after time her fame and
foitune began TO wane. She fell as ma
ny of her profession had done before, a
victim to drink Becoming daily worse
no manager would run the risk of enga.
ging her. For "a time she gave evidence
OF an intention to reform, but the terri.
BILE passion predominating she again fell.
The formerly lovely woman. talented
authoress, and fine actress, sleeps to,
night vagabond in the Tombs -
Il Drunkard': Byeins The startling doc.
trines taught in Youmans' "Scisn,iic Basis
OF Prohibition, ore fully coSoborated by The
following passage from late number Of the
Boston Medical Journal. What a trade OF
guilt and horror is that, whose Legitimate
effects upon the heart and brain of its pa
irons are so unnatural and monstrous
"Hyrti, by far the greatest anatomist of
the age, used to say that he could distinguish
IN the darkest room, by one stroke Of the
scalpsl, the brain Of the inebriate from that
OF the person who had lived soberly. Now
and then he would congratulate his class
upon the possession Of druDsard's brain, ,ad-
mirably fitted from its hardness and more
complete preservation for the purposes of
demonstration. When the anatomisi wish
es to preserve a human brain for any length
OF time. he effects his object By Keeping
that organ in vessel Of alcohol From a
soft pulPy substance, it then becomes com
parativeiy hard. Blu, the inebriate, an,ci.
pating the ana,omist, begins the indura,ing
process before death--begins 1t while the
brain remains the consecrated temple Of the
soul, while its delicate and gossamer tissues
still throb with the pulses Of heaven born
life. Strange nfatustion, thus TO desecrate
the God-like Terrible enchantment ,ha,
dries up all the fountains Of generous feeling,
Petriiies all the tender humanities and sweet
Charities of life, leaving only brain Of lead
and heart Of stone -
Disp~ting NTH Satan. An old and
excellent writer gives tho following val.
liable advice:--"lf you would not be
foiled by temptation do not enter into
dispute with Satan. Whom Eve be-
gan to argue the case with tho serpent
the serpent was too hard for her; the
devil, by his logic, disputed her out of
paradise. Satan is too subtle sophis.
ter to hold an argument with him.
Dispute not, but fight. lfyou enter in
to parley with Satan, you give him
half the victory" The reason 10 obyi-
Gus; for we cannot parley with Satan
without giving up principle; and wher-
ever we allow ourselves to debate the
question, whothor we will do wrong, il
is almost certain that we shall Yield
Piinci2le being abandoned, there is lit
tie else to guide, but ey! passions which
strongly prompt to sin.
Il SandwicA Island PreacAer.--At a
recent missionary meeting at H!o, a
native islander was authorized and sent
out TO preach tho gospel to the island
ers OF the Pacific. That no understood
The work he undertook Is plain. from the
extract from speech he addressed 20
his countrymcn. Said ho Il do declare
to you, that the cause Of my going out
on this mission is my exceeding great
debt TO the kingdom Of God. / have
land, and cattle, aud horses, and parents
aud brethren, and have looked on all
these, but they will not cancel my debt.
Therefore, give my whole body and
soul without reserve for this salvation.
because this Treasure was freely given
to US, therefore we freely give without
murmuiing."
Tho Boston papers think that, in The
event OF peace tho tiado between this
country and Russia will DO worry prof.
t.l1 r.