Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-05-28
A WORD TO YOUNG LADIES.


We wish to say word to young ladies'
about your influence over young men.-
Did you ever think Of ii? Did YOU ever
realize that you could have any influence
AT all over them! We believe that a Young
lady by her constant, consistent, Christian
example, may exert an untold power
ou do not know the respect, the almost
worship, which young men, 10 matter
how wicked they may be themselves, pay
to consistent Christian lady, be she young
or old. A gentleman once said to a lady
who boarded In tie same house with him.
that her life was constant proof of the
Christian religion. Often the simple re-
quest of a lady viii keep young man
from doing wrong. We have known this
TO be the case very frequently; and young
men have been kept from breaking The
Sabbath, from drinking, from chewing, Just
because lady whom they respected, and
for whom they had an affection, requested
1t. A tract given, an invitation 10 90 10
church, a request that your friend would
read the bible daily, will often be regarded.
when more powerful appeals from other
sources would fall unheeded upon his heart.
Many of the gentlemen whom you meet
In society are far away from their own
homes-away from the influence of parents
and slsters-and they will respond to any
interest taken in their welfare. We all
speak OF young mans danger from evil
associates, and the very bad influence
which his dissipaied gentleman companions
have over him. We believe it is all true:
but we believe il is just as true that gen
tleman's character is formed, to a very
great extent. by the ladies that he associ-
ates with, before lie becomes a complete
man of the world. We think, in other
words, that a young man is pretty much
what his sisters and young lady friend
chooses TO make him.
We knew family where the sisters en-
couraged the younger brother to smoke,
thinking it was manly, and to minge with
gay, dlssipated fellows because they
though. il 'smart;" and he did mingle
with them, until he became just like them,
body and SOUL and abused the same Sisters
shamefully. The influence began further
back than with his gentlemen companions.
1t began with his sisters, and was carried
on through the forming years of character.
On the other hand, if his sisters are watch
fuI and ahectionate, they may, in various
ways-by entering into little plans with
interest, by Introducing their younger
brothers into good ladies society, lead them
along until their character is formed, and
then h'gh-toned respect will keep them
from. low society. If a young man sees
that the religion which in youth he was
taught to venerate, is lightly thought of
and perhaps sneered at, by the young la
dies with whom he associates, we can
hardly expect him TO think that it is the
thing for him. Let none say they have
no influence, any more than you can live
without breathing. One is just as una
voidable as the other. Beware len, what
kind of influence it is you are constantly
exerting. An invitation to take a glass of
wine, or TO, play game Of cards, may
kindle the fires Of intemperance or gam
bling which will burn forever. A jest
given at the expense of religion; light
trifng manner in the house of God. or
any Of the numerous ways, in which you
may show your disregard for the souls OF
others, may be the means of running many
for time and eternity.
A DEAR SHOT.