San Andreas independent., 1858-01-09
A Good Name.

Iy, there are few harder lessons to acquire
by the young than that their present eon-
duct will build them up reputation from
which they may wish hereafter to escape,
but cannot. When young man learns
this lesson thoroughly, he has acquired
knowledge the value of which he shall
know better by and by than he does now.
This seems to be the line which divides
wisdom from folly, and we think some
popular authors have committed a serious
indiscretion in the matter in which they
speak of young mans sowing his wild
oats, as if it were necessity for him to
indulge in vice to some extent before he
settles down into the sobriety and virtue
of a we'll bred Christian gentleman. We
protest against this pernicious error as
one which has ruined thousands, who but
for this would have escaped. 1t is ln-
deed very singular notion to graft into
a young mans mind that in order to be-
come model of temperance he must
have been stung by the adder of drunk
enncss, that in order to be model OF VIZ
tue he must first enter "the house which
is the way to hell" In respect of hon
esty, temperance, virtue, and every other
grace which one desires to be reputed as
having, we hold that the Scripture rule
is the only safe one, as given in the char
acter of Joseph, and as announced in
these words, "Whatsocver Il man soweth
that shall he also reap" We hold and
teach that blot on the moral character
of even a young man is very hard to re-
move, and that therefore he should be
warned not to touch that accursed thing.
Not long since, we conyersed while
with an old friend, and he spoke OF
mutual acquaintance who had attained
eminence in one of the Christian denom-
nations in this country. His fame as
preacher and man of piety was widely
known, but our friend remarked, 81
knew him when he was a young man,
and | cannot rid myself of the notion that
he is hypocrite now, as he was confes-
sedly then. / am not alone In this opln-
ion; all who knew him when he was
young feel as | do" We could not SYM
pathise with this feeling, for we believed
then and do now, that the person alluded
to was an exemplary Christian; but we
perceive in the case an emphatic testimo-
ny to the truth we have announced, that
it is sad thing for young man to act so
as to acquire bad reputation, because
that reputation will haunt him like his
shadow as long as he lives. We have
known instances not few in which young
men have been led to commit what
mawkish charity calls indiscretions, but
which the truth must call abominable
crimes. Some of these have to all ap-
pearances repented sincerely, and have
entered on a virtuous life Of this num-
Der few have entered some one of the
learned professions, and yet we find that
those who knew their early crimes stand
in doubt of them to this day. 1t was not
long since we met such a man it was
years since we had seen him, and it was
thousand miles from the place of his
sin. He has of late years leda steady and
sober life, but when those who knew him
years ago see or hear of him, now, they
find it difficult to shut their eyes upon
the sins of his youth. That stain is in
delible, and its memory will hardly be
buried in the grave BY this VIC do not
mean to discourage the efforts of the fall
len to rise, but simply to warn the inno-
cent to beware how they cloud their
names with the reputation of crime. A
good name is better than great riches; 1t
is better than ointment poured forth.
In looking over the list of our carly
companions, we are surprised to find so
many of them suffering the rctribution of
early crime. Two of them were tempted
to dishonesty and fell. One of these two
has since occupied high office in Wes-
tern State, but that early crime could not
be left at home 1t has followed him
westward Another became secretly adj
dicted to card playing, and when on his
way South on a Mississippi steamer IN
pursuit of school, supposing himself un-
known to all on board, he indulged in
gambling. A gentleman on the boat was
on the point of offering him a lucrative
situation when he saw him seat himself
at the card table This young man has
/ SIUCe DcCOulC d NdSdDOHN' AuOtLtI Ou
similar voyage Oh a western river, gam
bled all his money away, but has since
led better life, and yet the memory of
his misdeeds has not perished Many
are afraid of him. Another fell into
sin we will not mention, and though for
years he has sought to cover up that
crime, he may live hundred years life
of good works, and yet shall find it true,
that,
"The evil that men do lives after them!"
Our age is one peculiarly marked with
temptations to the young. The thor
oughfares of our cities, and even the
quiet streets of our villages abound in
enticements to evil. This is an age of
extravaganza in apparel in meats and
drinks, in houses, and, in word, all the
appliances of luxury. Journals are not
blameless in this respect. They have
too often sounded the praises of wealth,
and In some cases have sought to palliate
crimes of men in high position. AS we
see the youth growing up around us be-