The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1860-05-17
GREENyLE SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY MORNING. MAY IL 1860

quents the theatre and opera---neglecis
church, the public lectures, The lyceum,
and other means Of mental and moral
improvement: spends his, evenings, at
drinking saloons and club.rooms-
occasionally be seen flushed with liquor
at the faro table in a gambling hell
or, what is infinitely worse, paying hom-,
age TO Cyprian goddess in some "gild.
ed temple Of infamy." That young man
is drifting. His little boat, which was
moored so safely TO the mossy banks,
where the flowers Of happiness, content.
ment and success l'loomed, and which
is laden with a priceless cargo-a car
go of eternal hopes and interesls-has
left its fasteniugs, and is drifting out
upon the turbid stream Of fashionable
dissipation. Slowly ard gradually il
glides from the shore, carried along 10y
the soft breeze Of popular applause; by
degrees II nears the current -enters II
and with Irresistible force il, hurried
to destruction, is inevitabIy stranded up.
on the inhospitable brakers of everlast-
ing dishonor. ns s...a. na- -. "
There is young girl, upon whom
centre the fondest affections Of her pa.
rents-the light of whose eve, and
the JOY Of whose heart she is.
Nature has bestowed her blessings on
her with lavish hand. She is Jeauli :.
full, kindheared, has a mind .suscepii
bic of high degree of cultivation, and
is surrounded by all that wealth aud
luxury can supply. She must be edu-
Gated in accordance. with the station in
life which she is expected to occupy
She is sent to g fashionable boarding
SCHOOL, Being little selfwilled, and
freed from the restraints Of home, she
does pretty much as her fancy dictates
pays but little attention TO her studies,
except those branches termed lorna.
mental" begins TO be vain of her
beauty, which has been indiscreetly
praised in hearing-may be seen fre-
quently poring over the pages Of "yel
low covered" French novel, which,
somehow, she managed TO smuggle in.
to her room-carrics OH clandestine
correspondence with one or two beaux
at the expiration of the usual time
returns home to her parents, with
smattering of drawing, French and
music-sccomplished. She makes her
debut into fashionable society-attends
all the balls and palties-listens to the
poison breath Of flattery-accepts the
attention ofmen who, though they move
in fashionable circles, are Of question
able morals-permits such An one TO
lead her in the giddy dance, andyields-
her form TO his lascivious embraces as
she whirls with him in the passion ex.
citing waltz-feels no thrill Of startled
purity and virtue as his moustached lin
touches her hand rs he assists her into
her carriage, but rather thrill of graft
fled vanity and dangerous excitement
eschews church and church going per-
sons Except when she wishes to exlib-
it herself in a new and fascinating
toilet.) That young lady is drifting
Her little barque, with silken sails, has
left the haven Of purity, where it was so
securely anchored, and is drifting, DRIFT
ing out into the stream of fashionable
folly and excitement. Slowly and al.
most unobservedly the distance wilens
between it and the shore; driven on by
the breezes Of vanity and admiration,
it will soon be in the current; and when
once there, unless through the aid Of
some powerful interposition, will lie
urged onward. by the relentless tide I'M.
til it is landed, wreck, upon the dark
shores Of eternal rnin and disgrace.
Reader! whether youth, young man
or young lady, let me ask you, where
are youa Are you drifting upon the
tide of human life, at the mercy of wind
and wave, without pilot, or rudder, or
compass I? There is haven where You
can moor In safetyI an anchor sure
and steadfast," which, If you cast out,
neither wave nor wind nor tide shall
set you drifting again ..aW w. a