The hydraulic press., 1859-04-02
Practical Sermons.

| Seated on tnelr Sentlnei trlpOoS the
editors of this State frequently enunciate
short practical sermons, which are not
less effective because they contain vein
of humor and discard the arbitrary as
sumptions of theological sermonizers:
With keen appreciation of the vices,
follies and wants of society, these prea.
chers of the pen suggest remedial prin-
ciples and modes of relief in brief,
forcible and striking manner that offends
no mans self-love, while it fatters none)
and wins the approval of every judg
ment.
Let us read one or two of these lay
sermons First see what the Sterrd
Citizen has to say, under the droll cap
tion of Young Men and Tree Frogs"
"The frog acquires the color of what
ever it adheres to for short time; ifit
be found on the oak, it will bear the
color Of that tree if on the sycamore
or cypress, it will be a whitish brown
and when it is found on the growing
corn, 1t is sure to be green. Just SO it
IS with young men their companions
tell US what their characters; if they
associate with the vulgar, the licentious
and the profane, then their hearts are
already stained with their guilt and
shame, and they themselves will become
alike vicious. The study of bad books,
or the love ofwicked companions, is the
broadest and most certain road to ruin
that a young man can travel, and few
we'll directed lessons in either will lead
them on step by step to the gate of des-
truction. Our moral and physical laws
show how important it is to have proper
associations of every kind, especially in
youth. How dangerous it is to look on
a picture or scene that polutes the inn
agination, or blunts the moral percep-
tions; or has a tendency to deaden a
sense of our duty to God and man."
Very pertinent are the remarks Of
the San Andreas Independent on the in-
ordinate ambition for political prefer
ment which characterizes so many of the
young men of America, and which is
Justly entitled ga great national weak
ness. The editor observes that every
trade, art or profession requires some
preparatory lessons, save that alone of
the politician. He, like the brain-be-
gotten daughter of Jupiter, is presumed
to be instantly endowed with the utmost
wisdom, and equal to any occasion. -
After portraying the misery and degra-
dation which attach to chronic office
seeker who is not successful, our cotem-
porary thus finely concludes:
Say you succeed; that you achieve
the fortune of that one lucky man in
ten thousand; that your vanity is held
in check by avarice, or your aspirations
sustained by a lordly ambition. What
then? From the first of these passions
every generous and noble mind shrinks
with loathing and disgust. 1t is the
she wolf which hunted 20 T Hante to-
the gates of hell, more terrible than the
lion or the spotted panther. We will
not do the young the injustice to believe
that their desire for Office is caused by
so mean passion as avarice. 1t is
ambition that impels them. Let your
ambition be gratiied then, until you
have reached the topmost round in the
ladder of political fame. The chances
are that each step has caused you sac
rifce of honor or friends. And when
YOU have attained the dizzy hight if you
cast backward glance, you must possess
heart of adamant and conscience of
India-rubber, if you ever again enjoy a
night of sound repose, or stomach of
healthy digestion. At best, and after
the most honorable life, resulting in.
gratifed ambition, the incumbents of
political greatness dwell among enemies
and in constant ear-shot of croaking de-
traction. Their friends are but parasites,
and their honors an estate in reverslon
to tonlbs and the memories of the dead.
s.He who ascends to mountain tops will lfnd
| The lofties: peaks most clad with ice ana sno"i
He who surpasses or subdues mankind
| Must look down on the hate of those below"
| CIRIoUS Custom The Cleaner