The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-01-27

The Springfield Mass Republican is
publishing a series of "I.etters to Young
Men," evidently from the pen of DR.. Hol-
land. They are not less truthful than
witty. We make extracts below from
the second number
There is great deal of stuff published
every year in books addressed to young
men, about female society. Soft and SEN
timental young men love to read it; and
if they can pick up any where among this
pile of chaff bit of countenance for the
policy of early marriage, they are delight
| ed, and Immediately begin to pay atten-
ton to dicky and doxy. l propose to
dispose of this matter in the present let
ter. l suppose that in every young mans
mind there exist the hope and the expec-
tation of marriage. When young man
pretends to me that he has no wish to
marry, and that he never expects to mar
ry, l always infer one of two things
that he lies, and is really very anxious for
marriage, or that his heart has been pol
luted by association with unworthy wo-
men. In thousand eases we shall not
find three exceptions to this rule a
young man w'o, with any degree of
earnestness, declares that he never intends
to marry, is a fool OF o brute.
Now, about female society. Is there
anything in female society, us such, that
is SO peculiarly fructifying to masculine
virtucs' Suppose a man east away on
the Cannibal Islands, and net in sufi-
c;enontly good flesh to excite the appe-
ties of the gentle ep;cures among whom
he has fallen. Suppose him, in fact, to
be ''receivod into society,"" and made the
private secretary of king alike without
| brooches and liberal education. Sup
pose, after awhile, he finds himself SUBJ
siding into q state Of barberisin, and casts
around for some redeeming or conserya-
tive influence. At this moment it occurs
to him that in the trunk Oh which he
sailed ashore were q number of books
He flies to the trunk, and, in an ecstacy
Of delight, discovers that among them is
volume addressed to young men. He
opens it eagerly, and finds the writer to
declare that next to the Christian religion,
there is nothing that will tend SO strongly
to the elevation and publication of young
men, as female society. 'Stated preach
ing" being out of the question, he tries
the next best thing. He seeks the society
of women, that he may drink in the mar
vellous influences of their presence. He
| finds them squatted on their launches,
their heads frowzy and worse with sub
lime self-denial Of the use of ivory combs,
and engaged in picking their teeth over
the last missionary. About what year in
the popular era is it supposed that he will
arrive at that degree of perfection that
will make him "a nice young man!'
Now, perhaps you do not perceive the
force of this illustration. Let us get at
it then. When you find yourself shut
out from all female society except that
which is beneath you, that society will do
YOU just as much and no more good than
that of flock of South Down ewes, es-
pecially if it be young. If, in all this So
cietv. YOU can find one old woman of six
ty, who has common sense, genial good
nature, experience, some reading, and a
sympathetic heart, cherish her as you
would her weight in gold, but let the
young trash 90. You will hear nothing
from them but gossip and nonsense, and
You will only get disguised with the world
and yourself. Better thousand times
get an old hat and petticoat worn by your
mother or grandmother, and hang them
up in your room, and then read books.
Inspiration to higher and purer life always
comes from above man, and female So
ciety can only elevate and purify a man
when it is higher and purer than he is.