Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-22
THE GAZETTE.
MORNING, DEcExa. 90, 1855.
THE REASON WHY.

The awful tragedy which convu!scd the
upper part of New York q month or two
since, has excited much inquiry respecting
it's probable cause. We find a calm, lucid,
and, we doubt not perfectly authentic state
msut Of the matter, in the Advocate and Fam
lily Guardian, from which the following is con.
densed.
1t appears that young Gouldy's own moth
er had died when he was very young, and
little lie said Of her character and Influence;
but the testimony is unanimous that the step
mother had filled her place in the family,
10 the most satisfactory manner. She ne
elected DO duty, aud secured the warm re-
gard of all the members Of the household
The parents were esteemed members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Their home
was made pleasant and inviting. The kin
dred ties, the social connections aud intuen-
ces of the family, were oil Of desirable
character. How, then, was 1t that son Of
good talents and manly bearing, having su'
perior educational advantages and fae pros
poets in life-in the full possession OF h:s
reason-could have been left to become
parricide fiatricide and suicide in single
hour?
The moral fabric that he has been wea7in
in the loom of life the past year, may per
haps furnish some solution to the strange
problem. We learn that during the progress
OF the revival of last winter, this youth was
deeply convinced of his lost condition aud
need Of an interest in Christ He was about to
forsake his sins aud seek for pardon and sal.
walton, when he was met by q member OF a club
with whom be had previously become allied
and urged to Ego once more" to the place OF
revelry, pay his dues, and remove his name,
If be wished, "but not to sneak cut axe a
coward"
This appeal to bis pride overcame his weak
resolyes-and soon he was again IN the midst
of boon compaions. The fallen c0man was
there, with Der Establishments; the Prince Of
Darkness, too, was there, with his unseen and
unresisted destinations; and when that youth
returned to his home, good angels wept
and demons triumpbed. His soul was
polluted. lie bad disobeyed the command,
keep myself pure" The Holy Spirit was
grieved from his heart, and judging from
subsequent developments, took His eternal
flight. From that hour he would listen to no
persuasions to leave the downward road, and
ever and anon in the company of the pre- fiji
gate, he exhibited sad evidence, as occasion
prompted, of the fierce fires burning within
him. 90 that fatal night the last vestige OF re-
straint was manifestly thrown OF. There be
stood fursaken of a rejected Saviour, bring
ing upon himself swift destruction" How
true is it that
"There is a time, we know not when,
A point, we know not where,
That marks the destiny OF men
For glory OF despair
This time, in the present case, was the
memorable evening when the Infatuated
you,h went to pay what he supposed would
be bis last visit to the club. Then the scale
turned forever. Then his path took the down
ward direction to despair; and the final result
was only q question of time.
All bad been we'll If be had listened to the
voice Of conscience, when the spirit etrove'
md he was constrained for time to inquire
what he should do to be saved; if when met
by the tempter and urged to go "once more"
in the w.y of evil, had be taken bis Bible,
and turned to Prov. vi. 20-24, and read. "My
BOD. keep thy fathers commandments, and
forsake not The law of thy mother; bind them
continually upon thy heart, and tie them
about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall
lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall Keep
thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk to
thee. For the commandment ID lamp, and
the law is light, and reproots of Instruction
are the way of life. To keep thee from TIE
cr;l ,roman, from the Batte,y Of the tongue Of
lie strange ~oman:" Had he given heed to
this and similar counsels ;nstead Of the taunts
of the wicked--then be had been safe. and
this chapter of crime and woe left unrecorded
Indifference to these precepts scaled his doom