Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-06-20
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1867,
Young Hen.

Young men form very important
class In society, and on them rests
a great amount of responsibility. They
will soon be called upon TO assume all
the duties Of life, both public and pri-
vate, and in their keeping will main
ly the future welfare and destiny Of the
nation. AS preparation for the perform
ance Of the duties which will hereafter
devolve upon them, they must have
suitable character and that must be
well founded when they are young men.
Both the enemies and friends Of a nation
understand this. The great conspirator
OF the Roman Republic, in attempting to
accomplish his purpose In its overthrow,
commenced by corrupting the young
men, knowing that If he succeeded in
that step great point would be gained
in the achievement OF his object.
Those who would acquire the charac-
ter which their age and country demand,
must appreciate its high value, as all
efforts to accomplish an object depends
much on the estimate placed upon it's
worth. The man who has a noble
character, although he may not possess
dollar in the world, has far richer
treasure than him who is in the posses
sion Of millions with an Indifferent
character. 1t is nobility Of character
that makes an individual happy, infuen-
;aI uaar,1 racnarfad and hnporad Mil
ton understood the value of character
when poor and neglected, he was Of
fered lucrative office by Charles the
Second, after the restoration; in reply
to the entreaties Of his wife to accept it
because of its worldly advantages, said
my aim is to live and die an honest
man. These heroic words should be
treasured up by every young man. A
noble character must be the result Of in
dividual exertion. 1t cannot be inherit
ed from parents or purchased with
money. In our country father may be
possessed Of wealth, honorable and dis
posed to do all possible for the encourage
Ihent Of son, so far as money and in
fluence will 60, but 1t will be Of little
avail towards raising him to true re-
spectability and usefulness without his
own efforts. Hence, many relying on
their fathers character and standing in
the world and not on their own exer-
tions, find at an hour too late, that their
ability and success depends on what
they are themselves, not on what they
have or on the possessions Of their
friends.
The signs Of the times clearly evince
the fact that very large majority Of
our young men are doing very little to-
wards forming character fitted for use
fulness and responsibility. Their friends
observe that their tastes and habits are
all In the wrong direction, and tremble
iJr the terrible result. In the large ma
jority of instances the canker is tntempey.
snee. This is the great temptation tC
which our young men are exposed, anC
by which they are ruined. There are
other causes, but this is the giant one
which leads directly or indirectly tt
them all, and tens of thousands arr
walking in this path every year,
An aged gentleman, who has had rart
opportunity for observation in this re-
spect, recently remarked to US tina
"there is more drunkenness among
young men now than at any previous
,~I xr,,t In
results of his observation will cores
pond with that Of others generally
Even boys are seen frequenting Low
GROCERIES and Keeling in the street. W.
observed lin looking over the register o
our State Reform School, that several O
its inmates were committed to the insti
tuition for no other misdemeanor thai
drunkenness. This state Of things
alarming-it is sapping the foundation
of society, and blighting our young re
public.
Friends OF young men you can eZ
ert great influence towards strength
ening and saving them. But little ca
be done with confirmed inebriates, bu
much for youth. Show our young me
that You have an interest in then
Throw around them healthy influence
kindly warn them of their danger, an
take special pains to bring them unde
good influences. Many young mar
knowing the fatal end, goes forward I
his destiny for the reason that no frien
has individually warned him OF his dar
ger. We say to one and all, Sape Ii
young men.