The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-07-23
ImpurIty In the Young.
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There is greater prevalence of un-
chaste practices and habits among the
young than is commonly supposed. OF
this physicians often discover the most
painful evidences, not merely those
which come fully to the light, which be-
long to comparatively few cases, but
such as are incidentally and rather OBJ
scurely revealed in very many cases
that come under their notice. For
every one whose health is utterly ruined
by self abuse there are very many who
are suffering from it in all degrees short
of this. The injury inflicted is both
moral and physical, secretly undermin-
ing the foundations alike of principle
and self-control, and of health and
physical energy.
II becomes then a serious question for
parents and teachers how this evil may
be prevented. and we propose TO offer
to them some suggestions in regard to
this.
The ground is taken by many that
the difficulty must be met only indi-
rectly, and that no direct notice should
be taken of it so far as prevention is
concerned. 1t is supposed by those
who advocate this course that there Is In
most cases a pure mind, wholly igno-
rant of the evil, and that no knowledge
of il therefore had better be Communi-
Gated. We do not believe in this. We
allow that most of the means must be
indirect. We allow, also, that 1t is
rather u delicate and difficult task to
deal with the evil directly. And yet SO
rife is it, so very general Is the knowl-
edge of 1t to a greater or less degree,
and so pressing and numerous are the
temptations that threaten to draw the
young into IL, that something of direct
instruction and warning is requisite.
The subject should be plainly dealt
with, especially where there is the least
reason 10 suspect that the evil exists in
any measure. Even before there is any
ground for such suspicion, the relations
of the sexes may be discreetly treated
of in conversation with more or less
reference to the sin and evils of un-
chastity. There is little book written
by the late DR.. Ware, of Boston, which
is an admirable example of the man
ner in which this subject should be
treated in conversation, and II is very
appropriate book to be put into the
hands of any young person of either
sex. 1t is published by A. Williams &
Co., Boston, and is entitled, "Hints to
Young Men on the True Relation OF the
Sexes"
There are some sources of temptation
to impurity against which the young
should be particularly warned. One of
these Is the influence of impure COM
panions. Many pure-minded boy is
he never would have thought of them.
Such practices are sometimes made al
most general in a school by the intiu-
ence, tie teaching, as we may call 1t, OF
the wicked few. Especially is this apt
to occur in bOarding-schools.
Another source of temptation much
more common than is suspected by
Tnnat and ia obscene
books. Some of these are exceedingly
corrupting. The poison of unchastity
is introduced in this way most etfectu-
ally. The mind OF the victim Is filed
with the most impure ImagiDations,
and the animal pTOpensities are kin
died into a flame of excitement. So
dire is the evil that publishers and cir
culators of such books, whenever they
are discovered, ought to be visited with
very severe penalties. No moderate
fine, no short imprisonment, Is enough
for such IL crime.
AS to indirect means of prevention, /,
much, very much, may be done by pre-
engaging the mind and senses with
agreeable occupation. There is a love
of excitement in the young which must
not be ignored, but must be provided
for and regulated. But education as
now conducted does not adequately
provide for it. Rather does it provide
dHhluSl IT, lOT Is uGElleoblH uullt uTY
and hard. Every subject that is stu
died is stripped of its interest by pre-
dominance of dry details, or a memoir
iZing of words and forms of expression
that are Understood partially or not at
all. The natural love of excitement,
therefore, as soon as there IS escape
from the tedious and dull task of the
school-room, seeks qualification, not
always In stories and novels, but often
in something worse, in whatever cor
rupting influences may offer. Let edu-
cation cease to be a dry skeleton, and
let 1t have a living body with a living
soul, and it will meet the wants and
desires, and be prominent means of
preventing vicious indulgence. Above
all, let not the pupil when he enters the
school-room be shut In by prison-like
seclusion from all the beautiful world
that is around him. II natural science
interests more minds than any other
study-if 1t is peculiarly fitted for the
youDg-if 1t furnishes constant ma
Ierial in familiar things around for
thought-if by It's connections with
other studies it will give an inter-
est to them which they cannot
otherwise have-and il 1t employs the
senses both largely and agreeably,
and therefore satisfies the love of e1-
element, so far as that is nervous and
bodily, as well as mental, then 1t is
SN--
means OF guarding against undue SEN
sual qualifications. We may, add, also,
that it has a tendency to elevate the
moral sentiments, and impart a rever-
ence and love for the source of all puri-
ty and beauty and joy.
For the same reason there should be
adequate provision for the amusement
of the young. This should not be left,
as il too often Is, to hazard. 1t should
| be as much calculated for as study and
employment are, and less of 1t should
be left to be sought for outside of the
| family circle than Is ordinarily the
case, Home should be the chief place
of amusement.
OF course one OF the principal means
OF prevention Is the moral and relig-
Ious influence continuously exerted in
the family, ever fortilylng in principle,
and inducing habit of supreme regard
to what is good and reasonable, while
| it keeps in subjection mere animal pro-
pensities and passions.
We cannot dismiss this subject with
| out protesting against the little impuri-
ties of conversation which are SO often
indulged in even in respectable circles.
A loose word, bordering on imPurity,
carelesSly dropped, may be the oeBln-
ming of an unchastity in some young
| person that hears It, which may emo
only in his utter ruin both moral and
| physical.
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