Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-13
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit of the Age.
The Evils Of Modernism"


demand our attention more than the ''isms" !
of the present day, aud Of the present age. I
They seem to rise mp in almost every
portion OF our country, and strange to say,
however preposterous, aud absurd, have
their yotaries aud advocates. Surely this 1
i evidence conclusive, that "thc heart of
man is deceitlul and desperatcy wicked" {
who can know itl To euumerate all the ,
"isns" of modern times would be task too ;
irksomc, neither is it necessary. But it {
may bc proper aud necessary to notice a
few OF them, especially those which affect
society most ia this southern portion OF our
country. IL is however some consolation
10 know, that by some shook or crook we
have rot rid OF some OF the "isns" OF
former age, by which | mean holism and
rirlism. Still the gain | fear is not very
considerable Formerly there were girls
and bows in the world. Now the present
are is so fast that this stage of human life
Is over-leapcd, and We pass at once from
childhood 10 manhood, and from childhood
10 womanhood. We have entirely got rid
of 5oyism and girlism. Now this rapid
change would be some relief to those who
have these fast young folks in charge, if it |
was not attended with a heavy additional ex- /
pense. Formerly our children were tanght .
10 obey, honor, and reverence their parents, .
and were also brought up to industry IN
sou.e of the pursuits Of life, put to some !
mechanical business, or taught to cultivate
the earth, and thus aid their parents in
raising mi educating them but now alas
how ofteu are the useful avocations of life
locked upon by our yonng folks as beneath
them, and tit (in their estmation) only for
poor people aud slaves: This state OF
things is certainly to be deplored by every
wise father and mother, and should it con-
tinue much longer, will it not make our
sons coxcombs aud dandies, and our
daughters mere dolls and playtllings ! It
is not necessary to stop to enquire where
the fault lies--it is too apparent and self
evident TO need proof.
Is II not strange, that parents who act
wisely in almost every thing else, would
allow themselves to act So unwiscly in the
education and in the training of those
most dear to them on earth Talk to
them about this thing, and they admit at
once that there is great evil III it, and
freely admit that should this state of things
continue for generation or two, that ruin,
both temporal and spiritual, must toe the
inevitable consequence vet instead OF re-
solving to bring about "A reformation, they
cndcavur to- satisfy their consoiences hy la
inenting what they do not eudeavor to
remed Hsw vain and foolish to admit,
that there are great and growing evils that
arc even threatening the yely existence of
religion. morality and good order, and yet
make no effort at all to counteract, and
remedy if possible, evils OF such character
aud magnitude, as threaten seriously to
prostratc, and even destroy, those virtues
and principles, which are not only necessa-
~ TO constitute, but to uphold and perpet-
nate good society, and good government.
This is Just the way that thousands OF good
aud wise people act in reference to the
great Temperance reform. They all adj
NIT (even the drunkard) that intcmperancc
Is n dreadful evil, and that it is the fruitful
source and cause of a host OF other great
and destructive evils tliey act in ref
erence to- this evil, as though it WAS :ncu-
r,blr--and try TO satisfy the clamors o.
-e.irEs.igncc by mer. ly admitting and lameu
tinu that it is great evil. Can ANY mar
Justify himself, (or the course he Is pursu
ing in regard to any evil that is prevailing
where he lives,) oven at the bar OF In
own conscience, while he makes 10 effor
TO correct and reform what he conscie',
tiously knows TO be wrong' Now woul'
/, not I've better for every parent to pursu
such course in reference to the rearing
educating anil training of his children a
An enliuhtened conscience points out, an
which will be most likely to cOuduce, nc
only To their own best interests, but ais
to the best well being OF society! Som
parents endeavor TO palliate, If not excus
their foolish and indulgeut course towar
their children, by SAYING that such are I'll
customs of society, and such the potenc
Of fashion, that should we oppose what cu
tom seems 10 have established 10y univcrs
consent. we would not only be called o
foyies ourselves, but that our childrc
would be unpopular, questionable, and
lau.hing-stock to all who considered thei
selves wel-bred and fashionable in societ
Now while this might be true, even to
alarming extent at the present time, Y
would it not also be trne, that If pub
opinion could be made TO react, and I
evils Of which we are complaining could
gradually corrected, would not those W
were instrumental in correcting those ev
be entitled to the applause and gratitu
of All me- for their moral courage in CO
batting and correcting such enormous ev
The evils Of which We complain, ASSUME
grave and formidable aspect, when view
u connexion with the influence they