The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-12-09
Young Men.

SUlGTt lfc ttCClStOlIitN W 10y LILO llttttNA
ing JUNCTION to their souls that the world
is rushing ahead tremendously. They
talk Of the Astounding intelligence Of the
age-of the vast increase Of knowledge
of the extensive travels abroad (uever at
home} by the schoolmasters from all
which they infer that the "good old tines
we read about were an unmittigated hum
bug, and that no age was ever fit to live
in until the present.
Perhaps there is a grain of truth in
this; we believe there is. 1t is good
philosophy, at all events to be satisfied
with ones condition. The man who is
utterly stultifed with self-conceit may be
an intolerable bore, yet is he happy
man. We would not ruffie the serenity of
his satisfaction for moment if it were
possible-which it is not.
We shall therefore take occasion to in
dictate, in few words, our opinion of the
prevailing wants Of our time.
The urgent need of our country we
believe to be for well-bred and upright
young men. OF fast young men there
are more than enough. The development
in this direction commences very carly.
The rade infant is no sooner out of his
long clothes, than he exhibits the incipient
traits of the dandy loafer, and by the
time he is fairly jacketed, he wants to-
bacco pouch, a pack of cards, and swears
worse than the army in Flanders. He
soon learns to speak of his pal ents as the
sold man and old woman,"-is turbulent
at school, and disrespectful to superiors of
every station. A little older, he ripens
into the dissolute debauchce, or the sssport-
ing buck Of the ruffian species. If the
latter, he talks about lamnaing everybody
that won't keep out Of his way-becomes
q perfect adept in games of chance, can
drink more raw brandy and eat more
oysters than any man Of his inches. He
is, in short, registering, bullying, besot-
ted, vulgar wretch, and WORKOUT mise
rable man, often at the early age of
twenty-five years.
We are aware that the majority Of our
young men do not reach this extreme
degradation. Many after having sown
their "wild oats" settle down into very
respectable manhood. Yet is it not
fact that, in nearly all our youth, ycnera-
ton for what is great and noble-a love
Of truth for truths own sakc-humilitv in
the presence of age, wisdom and worth, -
IS it not lamentable, we say, that these
virtues are very seldom observable in the
young men Of this country. Notwith-
Standing tie universal intelligence of the
land, and the widespread advantages
within reach Of every person, a very large
proportion Of our youth utterly neglect
them. The fact is apparent to the most
careless observer. Painful evidences of
ill-nanners and ignorance meet you at
every corner. Rowdyisn is rampant.
1t disgusts yoa in the public OF social
assembly. unaasuming manners and cour-
teousness are no protection from the inso
lence and the vulgar slang Of those who
glory in their own folly. Your question,
civilly asked, is frequently far from ciyilly
answered. |. is esteemed crcdtable to
sncer at homo and its quiet and holy in
huences. Tho aged are treated with pert
insolence, il not with insult The virtues
of moderation, prudence frugality, sobr-
ETY., chastity, modesty and reverence, are
discarded from practice, and sneercd at
rs oll-fashioncd and not cup with the
tines Their conversation is frivolous,
lewd, coarse and slangy. Their ideas of
life are, that he cunning, the grasping,
anil the INSCRIPTIONS are the successful
men, whether in the professions, in trade,
or in politics. They have no realization
how q manly sclfrespcct will make a
young man upright, manly, truthful, cour
tcous, well-informed, disinterested and
noble. They reflect not that character is
the result of nrowth-that vulcarity and
q low standard of life viii just as assuredly
produce Il mean and sorlid old age, as
that generous, heightened morality and
q lofty aim will produce an honorable,
virtuous and esteemed maturity.
These are the young men soon to as
sumo important stations as citizens. It's
they who are to sustain, if sustained at all,
the institutions Of our proud civil fabric,
and the sacred relations of our social life.
To then, we must look, as to the future
Aliases upon whose shoulders the destiny
Of n nation vii! rest. They are the bone
AMI muscle, the brain and soul, Of the
body polite. Is It strange that gloomy
thoughts Of tho future obtrude themselves
when we observe the class that IS growing
up to assume these important relations!
Nevertheless, We viii still hope on.
We viii take courage from the fact that
sa many thourhtful minds are now orou-