Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-15
MISCELLAN IN Y.
For the Spectator.
WAYNEsBoRo', Va, Jan. 2Sth, -.
An Incident i'm College Life,

wWbat assurance have |, if | send my child to
Co]lepe that he will not come back to me q
drunkard or a skeptic2" is the enquiry OF many
parent who would have his son enjoy the ad-
yaptages of Collegiate course of study.
II is lamentable that any have ever had rea.
son TO ask this question-but alas | how often
does it happen that the young man on leaving
home. the pride of his parents, with correct
moral principles, and steady habits, returns to 1T
with q shattered constitution, ruined morals-a
notorious sot!
MANY, many fond mothers heart has been
made to bleed over the wreck OF what was once
so flattering, hopeful and cheering, in that dear
how the idol of her heart. This is an evil Incl
dent to College life, and never can be fully rem
edied until these seats of learning are no longer
the resort of the dssolute and the vlclous,-
when the virtuous no longer find there any
temptation to vice or immortality.
The sad truth is that there always will be
those who will be ready to seduce, and lead into
the by paths of sin aud folly, the feet which but
for their seduction. would have trodden in wis
dnm,s nleasant ways.' And TO what desperately
wicked means will the votary of vice resort in
order to accomplish his purposes-to win the
pIiant and unsuspecting fellow-student from vlr-
tue to vice. from good resolutions, to total a.
abandonment to all that is corrupting and soul
destroying. =,
Twelve years ago, l was student at the
aHich School, of B. in the State OF M. And
while one met with as much morality there on
the part of the students, as at any other similar
school, vet as is always the case, there was one
Boarding House, at which there was congrega-
ted number of young men, who gave all the
time they could get from their studies to the
bottle and card table-by some reputed clever,
generous fellows, and representing respectable
families, with plenty of money, that greatest
curse to students, they often had admirers and
friends in those who would scorn to unite with
them in their plans Of disspation-their Bac-
chanalian revelries.
The session had advanced several months
when young man from an adjoining State ar.
rived, and finding there friend whom he had
known at home, and who, as yet, had no room.
mate. it was soon determined that they should
room together.
The stranger and his baggage was soon trans
ferred from the hotel to the room of his friend,
in the boarding establishment referred to.
| A son of religious parents, himself moral
Young man of steady studous habits, ne desired
to make proper improvement OF his time and
opportunities. He felt himself fortunate in be-
ing associated with one who he believed, would
aid him in keeping and strengthening his re
solves of study and sobriety. Alas! he had
fallen into the hands of one, who was most dis
posed to have him he anything else than sober,
studious scholar He had himself, at first been
student, and had won some distinction in his
class. but had been subjected to evil influences,
and not having the moral courage to resist the
allurements to vice of lis prohigate companions,
had fallen into their practices, from close ap-
plcant to the duties of the school, he had become
q devotee at the shrine of Bacchus.
And from the hour of his friends entrance in
TO that room as his ''ohum',' plans and schemes
were concocted to have him become one OF
those who preferred pleasure to study and duty.
His actions were observed carefully by the
students for several days. then the night arrived
when the plan, previously agreed upon, was to
be executed, with view of testing the new
comer's resolves-tO ascertain whether he was
for dissipation or books-whether his aim was
TO do his duty, or to serve Bacchus and the
devil.
AT q certain hour that night he was to be in
vited together with his room mate, to room
where il was proposed to have a prayer meeting
on the mart of the students. Eleven o'clock, and
a friend, one of the company of fast boys whom
we have mentioned, waited on him, and they
accompanied him to their room.
Every arrangement had been made-hymn-
books, bible, &C., were on the table, and an air
of sanctity pervaded the room; every one had
the appearance of sincerity, and devoutness, as
though he really desired to honor God by earn
est prayer and to ask his blessing to rest upon
them 10 all their abors and studies.
There was present, besides these students, a
person from the vicinity of the Academy, who
had few years before been a student himself,
but who was now not connected with the
school, He had called in that night, as was his
custom, for purposes of dissipation, gaming, DC. !;
and he it was determined should assume to be a