Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-03-18

DRINKING AMONG YOUNG MEN. The
Philadelphia San says truly that in
discriminate drinking among our young
men eventually makes its mark upon
the population Of our large cities. We
can see it already betraying itself in
the rising generation. 1t is impossible
for any man to drink even pure liquors
six or seven times day without suffer-
ing severely in constitution. And when
he transmits this impaired constitution
to his son, who in turn impairs it still
further by the same course, it requires
little foresight to see that We are pre-
pairing population for our cities that
will not, in physical frame, be much
superior to the wretched Aztecs. This
love of drink and bar-rooms is every
day increasing. Every day SEES our
youth becoming more and more the vic
tins Of this habit, for We really think
it is more a habit than q passion. 1t
is no love Of joviality that tempts them,
except in few cases. 1t is not the
hot exuberance Of the youth. 1t is not
the evanescent impulse of the gay
young fellow who is sowing his "wild
oats" 1t is, as has been said, cold,
deliberate, confirmed habit. No at
mosphere of recklessness surrounds the
drinking groups, except on occasion !;
and no peals of merriment atone for
the act by proving that it is at least
unusual. A grim and melancholy air
pervades each countenance. The
drinks are poured out, the glasses are
touched with loathsome air Of custom,
and each man swallows his portion with
the same impassive countenance that
he would wear if he were drinking a
glass Of plain water. All the corcom-
itants that partially redeem or excuse
drinking, as far as it can be redeemed
or excused, are wanting in this sad and
formal ceremony.
PAST TROUBLES
'Let the dead Past bury its dead %
Don't harp on past troubles. When
we see a pale, nervous woman in the
midst Of her friends, preferring to en-
terrain them with list Of the racking
pains she has suffered, to saunter in
Gods free air and sunshine, we cannot
wonder that the rose returns not to the
blanched cheek. Why is it that to some
these memories are very meat and
drink They consume them-the Bit
ter agony is acted over and over again,
the tears thrice shed, the place cherish
ed where such or such a dreadful thing
had occurred-the scar fondly petted
that tells Of the almost fatal knife
They gasp over and yet cling to them,
walking the world with a loathsome
carcase fastened to and perpetually
dragging after them.
| A SCOOTER ANSWERED. IA plain
countryman, as be was going to church,
was met by an InGdel who asked him
what he went to church for. He re-
piled "to worship the Almighty God. -
The In6del, thinking to confound the
man by ridicule, rejoined: "And pray
is your God great God or little
God % The poor man paused for a
moment at the impiety Of the question,
but at length gave an answer that show
ed what a great advantage the most
simple possess, whose minds are en-
riched with the word Of God. "My
God," said he, sis 50 great that the
heavens cannot contain him !; and so
little, that he can dwell in my heart ~
So true it is that "God has chosen
the weak things Of this world to con-
| found the wisdom Of the WISE"
BOYS, Work 1t is one of the be-
setting sins Of young men Of this ex-
travagant and INDECENT age to endeavor
to get rid Of work-to seek for easy
and lazy employment-and the conse-
quence is that many Of them turn out
worthless vagabonds. Boys, avoid this
whirlpool as you would plague spot ;
Danish from your bosom the dangerous
desire to live without work. Labor is
honorable, digni6ed it is the parent
Of virtue, health, wealth and happiness
look upon it as an invaluable bless
ing, and never as a burden or curse.
Idleness, on the other hand, is the fruit
full source Of vice, poverty, degrade
ton and misery would you escape all
these shun it. Pursue some honest call
ing, be not ashamed to be useful, 60 to
work Be man and not drone.
sEIt is a remarkable fact that in
the teachings Of Christ, there is no
elaborate argument, no formal EXPOSE
ton Of doctrine, no display Of brillian-
cy, talent or learning; but instructive
dialogue OR parable drawn from some
passing incident, simple story, and
breathing narrative, pathetic remon-
STRANGE, or touching delineation of fu-
ture veal or wo. Yet he ''spake as
never man spake," and his words went,
with the power of omnipotence, to the
hearts Of those who listened to his SIM
pie, yet solemn and impressive dis,
course.
TO- The term S'putting your foot in
it," is Of legitimate origin. Accord
ing to the 'Asiatic Researches
very curious mode Of trying the title to
lands is practiced in Hindoostan. Two
holes are dug in the disputed spot, in
each Of which the lawyers oneither side
put one Of their legs, and remain there
until one Of them is tired or complains
Of being stung by the insects, in which
case his client is defeated. In this
country it is too generally the client,
and not the lawyer, who ''puts his foot
in If -