The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-25
A Word To Young Men.

We Won! have Il word with some Of
these young men who are just taking the
initiatory degrees in a course Of life, which, if
well followed, must speedily bring them to
disgrace and ruin. We would beg them to
They may imagine that their pecadlIos
are unknown outside OF their companions,
and tl,a, they are suffering nothing from
these iudulge But they are vastly
mistaken. "a man is known by the COM
lany he keeps" An esteemed conlcmpo-
rary, the Baltimore Patriot, and on this
subjects, remarks that if lad oftweve and
upwards is generally found in the company
Of his sisters and cousins" and assocating
and ttiIiating with The gentler sex accompa-
nying them to lectures and places of ration
al amusement and instruction, mixing in
the social and domestic circle-found ut all
times participating in the agreeable hearth
entertainments, but above all, habitually in
The house of worship on the Lords day, it
is proof positive that such an one will grow
up 10 be respected bv everybody-will be
Il useful and valuable citizen in society.
and ten to one become consistent Chris
tain in all his walk and conversation. On
the other hand, let this youth labluaIlv
associate with the rowdy clases-run with
the "mcsheen" smoke in the strcets-shun
female society -tipple at the low groceries
Use protane language-a absent himself
from the sanctuary. and how long will It be
before his name will be in the police annals
and appear in the daily journals among the
arrested and convicted. Like begets like, and
effects follow causes as certainly as the rising
and setting of the SUN.
We do not say that every boy who attends
the Sabbath School when quite young WILL
invariably, become good man and useful
citizen but we do say, that if boy will
continue to walk in the path suggested in
the foregoing part Of this article, he cannot
fail to become good man. These Sunday
school boys who turn out bad" have done
SO because they are not dutJul. They fire.
quent the schools under sort of necessity
placed upon them by their parents 10 get
them from their government-no that they
are as anxious for their ultimate good so
much as to be relieved from the care of them
at home-hence, "away to the Sabbath
School" Parents Of such are often forget
ful Of their responsibility to their children,
and too regardless of the fatal consequences
+. likely to result from this negligence on their
part. But this is only the exception 10 the
rule, and we repeat, that frroper attention
is paid to youth in the cultivation of their
moral and social qualities, which relieve the
approval, at least Of all we'll thinking per-
sous, the chances are rs thousand to one,
that the man will be law abiding and trust
worthy in all things.
This theory, then, being true would it not
be we'll for parents and pastors, teachers and
taught to more direct attention to this sub.
ject than they have ever before done ?
We have lectures on music and science,
philosophy and physic. i'll of which are
right and proper. but how seldom Is 1t that
is discussedl In the literary institutions
every regard is paid to the cultivation of
the head, and every endeavor strained to see
who will receive the highest medal at com.
mencement day while the heart culture is al
most if not altogether neglected. The boy
from the graduating class with shining
medal hanging from his button hole, to 60
forth into the world Of temptation and de.
ceit. unprepared to meet and successfully re-
sist allurement. Indeed, his education has
been more to fit his mind, to obtain the re-
wards, than to prepare himself for the faith
ful discharge Of duty in the use of the
means to insure the reward. He for
gets that boy gradually grows TO be the
man, and the man to be great and good
that the really admirable is not in the tin.
sel and tIappings. but inthe mind and heart,
gradually and judiciously educate 70 show
forth the external that which ia. good in the
internal 1t is we'll and truly said that.
" Worth makes the man.
The want of it the Jslloto.
seurasBY Was once asked by young !, as
pirant for literary fame. what be should eat