Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1857-04-25
PrOfane Swearing.

The Philadelphia Daily Sun says The
drunkard excuses himSlf on the score ol
necessity he pleads the aching void with
in he says it imperaively calls for
something of an exciting nature. And
should he become vagabond, still we
pity him, and regret that he formed ha-
Bit which has beggared him, and made his
wife and children paupers or plunderers
or hard workers; yet, in the drunkard's s
worst condition he has the excuse, guilty
as he is, that he has formed habit which
in most instances, with grasp like DEATH
makes sure of lis victims.
He who, forgeuul of Heavens high
mandate and the laws of civilized society,
suffers himself 10 become the victim ol
passions, which, properly regulated, lead
to and secure happiness. may plead in ex'
tenuaton Of his wickedness-abeii the
plea is baseless---that the indulgence is
not primarily the result Of an acquired
habit, bu, is placed on a natural basis.
The gambler, lhe thief, aye. the cow
ardly assassin, may have been urged TO
violate the peace and good order of the
community by something which, TO say
the least of it, may have the appearance OF
necessity.
But for the profane swearer there is no
excuse. He is sitting, walking. riding,
in brief, locomotive nuisance. Like the
drunkard, he oifends you with The VILE
ness which proceeds from his mouth.
Like the licenlious, he is continually ex-
posing the nakedness of his soul 10 the
Iibidinous attacks of the father of liars and
swearers. Like the gambler, he stakes
his time against yours and always wlns.-'
your time is invariably lost. Like The
thief who steals Bibles and other good
books, he steals your hours and they do
him no good. Like the assassin. he lies
in ambush. and stabs with his sharp oaths
the few good thoughts which politics and
the devil permit an editor TO have and 10
sum up in a word. the profane swearer is
greater nuisance than the drunkard, Ii
centious, gambler, thief and assassin, In
all their concentration and combination.
The drunkard, as far as possible, hides
his shame---the prolane swearer glories IN
his. The licentous covers himself with
darkness---lhe profane swearer seems to
seek sunlight for his enjoyment. The
thief sneaks---the profane swearer stalks
abroad like bully. The gambler hides
behind the red curtains Of the groggery,
or revels in the tapestry covered saloon
of the private genteman's "heli'---the
profane swearer carries on his trade In
the work shop, the office, the counting
room, the theatre, the church, the railroad
car, or the turnpike and in the street. In
brief, he does his best to damn his immor-
tai soul wherever he is, and is the most
energetic, the busiest, most faithful agent
Satan claims as his own.
We have no patience with the prcfane
swearer, for he has no excuse. Has
man been injured Profane language
will neither lesson, obli,erale nor redress
the wrong. Does he think he forIifies
his assertions by appealing profanely 10
the great God in whose hand he is His
vulgar impudence exhibited by his insult
ing The Deity, staggers our belief IN his
veraci,y--.for the man who is reckless
enough TO treat with leviiy the name OF
the Supreme Being, will not fear TO de-
ceive man. The sentiment of The Hea-
then poet that ga god should never be in
vuked, unless the occasion were worthy
the presence of god," should mantle
with the blush of shame the cheeks OF
some who call themselves gentlemen
ave, more than that, Christians.