Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-10-08
s,,sar, Young MEN.

\
TLtrc is an option quite c,Alens
that it is evidence OF smartness IN .
young man to drink iifror. This mis-
ehicvous error is embraced by many reA
spectacle ID lies, and thcj often WolccfAs
them TO their society, and give them
their gracious attci,tion md Confidence
We have known some VI these fast
smart yourg scapegraecs. those only
certificate of genti,ity and talent ws- that
they could swear and drink liquor and
play the rowdy. Sentimental cfcathfes
of the feminine gender often bcsfow up.
on such apologies Of manhood their
sweetest smiles and most coinplaceht
words, when they would pronounce dulls
boorish, and uniterc sting, gentlemen OF
rc al merit.
What pity he drinks so much,' ),
oft, said Of brainlcss fop. when his
drinking in fact is his only passport to
what is styled refined society. It is pity
that any one s,o Id Iisgracc humanity
and insult his Maker by quafIing a!cuhs l.
liquors, bat we ut erly detest the GUS
tom of a,tributing genius and talent to
The drunken debauchce, when his habits
are the only proofs Of his superiority.
We know physicians wh' are in reslity
the most contemplate quacks, ncithef
possessed of knowledge Of the human
system of remedial agents; whose
practice is extensive, simply because
they often get drunk. We have ocet'
sionally known such to reform, and theft
great reputation at once vanished.
Lawyers who are drunk halt theft
time, and not remarkable for theft
shrewdness the other half, are often ass
signed place at the head Of the profess
sion.
We do rot say that men Of brilliant
talents and extensive requirements never
become inebriates and vaga bonds, but
We say that it is wicked and outrageous
to substitute inebricty for genius. and
clustering profanity for learning. Many
young men Of the brightest promise aro
ovcrtaken by the destroyer. but it is
sin and shame that the hollow. hearted,
shallow headed wine or bfandy drinking
idlcr is enrolled among 'earth's gifted
sons
College students sometimes forget
what is manly, and close up their col
lege terms with spree that would dis.
grace band of s,sayes. They think
it is smart, and glory in their shame,
and the community too often look OH
with complacent smile, instead Of an
indignant irown. In this day Of light
on the subject Of drinking, II is nnpaf'
donablc in our young men to thus de-
grade and bestializ. themselves. The
practice of winding up Literary festivals
with drunkenness and revelry shows
depraved state of public morals, reck-
lessness and depravity compared With
which the d unken orgies Of city loafer.
dom are nothing.
Thieves and loafers in the purlleus Of
vice and crime, amid the fumes and
stencil of tobacco. lager beer aad strych-
nine whisky, may be pardoned fer thelf
excesses-they live and breathe only
in that kind Of atmosphere; but for COLI
lege students to initiate their example,
and descend from the heights of learning
science and refinement into this Avern0
of evil, and spew out obscenity, profa-
nifty, and vulgarity. is sad commentary
upon poor human natare. There ie a
sad defect in that system Of education
which docs not correct this evil. Presi-
dent and professors who fail to teach
those committed to their care, that they
forfeit all claims to deccncy when they
thus engage in bacchanalian rcvels, are
not true to their trusts. Young men
who thus brutalizc themselves MAY bc
smart. but they are vie; they may To
tie pride of their parcnts,b but they are
disgrace to their kind; they may be the
admiration of the ladies', but decency
would blush in their presence; they may
te fine scholars, but virtuous ignorance
would scorn their comparionship.
We speaks strongly, for we have felt
keenly, as we have seen the sober. TEN.
perate, decent young man treated with
coldncss and contempt by the polite and
refined, and The legitimate place occu-
ple,l by drunken, dilapidatcd spawn Of
humanity.-Crusader.