The Nevada Democrat., 1858-01-27
For the Democrat.
Boys

4 ~ yp'
Time was when there were boys In those
good old days there were giants in our land
among the men. The boys then grew up as
boys should. fresh, brave, generous and virtu-
GUS. When they arrived at mans estate they
were full of the ambition which is required to
make successful race among men, along the
great course Of usefulness There were bright
eyes and fresh limbs, there was respect to age,
love for home and country, and admiration for
great and good, with the youthful. But now
all are men. The nipple is exchanged for the
cigar and manhood is put on even before infan-
cy ends, or boyhood begins. The squeakng
voice Of the gosling age is heard to ring out
oaths of the most deprsved of maturity. The
small hands which before cur day were won't TO
rejoice in bat and ball, new grasp the billiard
cue. and the young lungs breathe the air OF a
close room, reeking with tobacco and the fumes
of wbiskey. Boyish modesty is not seen in our
billiard rooms; (never was) but loug coats and
plug hats in which are placed the bodies and
heads of miniature men, move up and down the
tables to the music of striking ivory. The
smoke Of "Regalia" curls from lips which
should be youthful, but which are familiar with
every cup of vice. The "chew" Of tobacco
thrust within the mouth disfgures cheeks on
which the down has not yet sprouted. Blear
eyes and red eyes are seen duly shining in the
morning from heads over which sixteen sum-
mers have not yet dawned, but which are not
too young to have been gloriously muddled the
night before.
When these boys get to the age of men, (they
are men long before,) they are tired of life
They know all its vanties, and are beyond the
power of enjoying. To them virtue has no at
fractions, for virtue has long been contemned
and despised. Love and sympathy have long
since been smothered in their youthful breasts.
The vices and temptations of the world, against
which the strong man struggles often in vain,
have met them in the threshold of life and be-
fore they get that strength which Solomon says
is "the glory of the young man." they are over
come and without energy to regain.
Does not an acquaintance with the youthful
of our community furnish example of all we
have said? What is to be the result?
Is there parent, or indeed man, in this
community who could, unmoved, witness 80
much dissoluteness among the softer sex of the
rising generation as there is among the sterner.
Why the difference? If the ones are to be the
future mothers in our land and are to train up
the statesmen, soldiers, ministers and yeomen
who are to guide, defend, instruct and sustain
our country, are not the others to be the faith
ers and to have equal, If not greater, response
bility?
1t is a remarkable fact, though not at all to
be wondered at, that the intellectual men of the
cities spring from the country. That demands
are made yearly on the rural districts for talent
and virtue to supply the cities. The cities pro-
ducs nothing, with rare exceptions, but dandies
and rOues and their young in years are old in
vice. The country genius goes gawking thro'
the streets to ind a mart for his talents, and
young Fitz Noodle laughs to see SO much green
ness, done up in such an ungainly package. But
young genius and nature is sure to make his
mark, while Fitz Noodle accomplished in all
the ways Of the word-which means an ac-
quaintance with all its worst ways--gocs silent
ly down to death, a thing of life but without
joy.
But where are California cities to get their
suppy? The rural districts are practiced in all
the arts of the world. The boys in such dis
tricts are sharpers or debauchers at the age
when they should be kneeling at night. by a
! -, flOur Eotbar -
They are learned in all the localities of vice,
aud can be seen practcng there with the airs
and oaths of men. The boys have caught the
spirit of money making which possess their ell
ders and hence they trade in all kinds of GIN
cracks as we'll as in politics, and early fad all
sorts Of places where customers may be found.
Temptation, OF course, always besets thOm, and
no wonder that they are found engaging in
games, the pursuit of which too often ruin per-
sons of stronger minds and constitutions.
We are of those who think that children can
be over taught and over governed, That life
and health can be crushed cut OF the young
mind by too strict watchfulness over their
morals and habits We believe that there are
two extremes, and that truth, or the true plan
is between the two Lamentablo is the truth
that in our town the subject of this article have
been allowed to run into the worst extreme.
Could not our Library Association do much
to lessen the evils we have spoken Off 1t is
surely an object worthy of their serious atten-
tion.
|
JUDGE DouGLAs's PosITIoN.-Our Main street
neighbor defines the position Of Judge Douglas
as follows:
"The little giant labors to prove that the Le-