Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-02-12
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exempt from civil habits, which, although
not criminal and not always considered in
the light Of sins arc injurious weakness,
/ which so far destroys sclfcontrol us to ex.
pose the subject Of them while under their
/ influence to be Oh Of guard, and therefore,
} liable to be deceived or entrarpcd into harm
or folly. A legal crime il social offence and
the law takes hold Of it. A sin is an offence
J against the moral law A vice is that which
docs injury to oneself and, on that account
ought to be avoided. The luw seldom at
'cmrts to punish man d vices, unless by
their influence they inju.c society. In ono
OF Bu!wcr's novels a character is introduced
who boasts that though guilty Of every vice,
he never was accused Of crime. There are
thousands Of young men who might mako
; the same boast, and many who do make it,
whether truly or not. And yet upon tho
scale OF whole life, but few things will 50
much determine young man > prospects Of
SUCCESS as exemption from vice. There are,
OF course certain common and not uniash.
ionab!c errors which no man will iutcrfers
with in Others. 4 man may keen what
hours he likes, cat whatever food pleascs
him, and smoke il he please, and drink whit
he plcasc' yet so long as lis conduct doe,
not annoy his neighbors or hurt his family
he can take his own course. Yet every MAJ,
bent upon Furnishing his own success in lii;,
as student in college, as u mechanic, as a
merchant or professional man, very soon
finds out that upon the temperance and wis.
dom with which he controls his own habit,
as to ties, points will lis success in lie dc.
pend. n man may dip into errors OCCASION
ally, but when they become 50 habitual rs to
DO vices he had better turn round, for bad
ha,h Is very serious matter. 1t soon pro.
claims Itself in mans countenancc, it af.
tects his health, it sllortcns his days. A
good habit may bring him to an honorable
old age, while a bad ono destroys his spirits
and Happiness, his independence, his for.
tune, and finally may take his life itself. A
we'll conducted youth and vigorous happy
old age, are natural counterparts. Indeel
many whose carly life, through feeblcucss,
has given but little promise, have by purity
and sobriety ripcncl into hale, hearty ma
turlty OF powers, enduring beyond that of
'nany others around who set out with supc.
rlor advantages Of constitution and opportu.
nifty. To avoid OF conquer vice in youth
Is not only so much added to life, when the
aeatlsf h ts are gipcst and the sense Of its worth
Mems virtues or their vices form their
most intimate friendships. \ common weak
ness may make men indulgent, social, and
companionabic for a time. Robert Hall,
when anxious to excuse himself for smo.
king, said he was qualifying himself for the
society Of Dr. Pari. But, after all, the ab-
senec Of vice ,nakes the most lasting and val.
liable friendships. Indeed it is tho effort at
sci.conquest, and the love Of pure, unsul.
lied course in early life, that produces such
ties Of mutual trust and fraternity that no.
thing earthly CAN sunIer. Perhaps it may
even be said that this is the best test of what
are truly virtuous habits aud what vicious
All vices ostracise friendship sooner or later,
in the course Of their continuance, because
they are essentially selfish, and tend to in.
crease, ud aauseam, in their evil consc-
quences if pursued. On the other hand,
the mge pure, simple and natural the
sources Of mans pleasures, the more elc.
vated, enduring and beneficial the ties that
bind his ac1uaintanccs and himself together.
The body greatly affects the mind, and that
cheerfulness and elasticity Of thought which
is so rcnovatins and dctying to care and dis
ease, is more the resu!: of superior and
more perfect cleanliness aud temperance
than most persons suppose. No art can
make the dissipatcd and incorporate ploas.
ant companions in old age. In the larger Of
cases they defy tho effort ofthc physician to
prolong life to the natural period. But ex-
istcnce, if continued, is but in the dregs.-
The nerves are sources Of torture, as the
habits arc Of disgust, SO that it is true Of
such that they do net live out one half their
days.
I With so many means Of improvement
and wholesome enjoyment as art aud science
are bringing round the young men Of the
present day. Itrcquircs but the wisdom Of
scli-conqucst and moderation 10 afford thcm
the prospects Of an advanced life or we'll
preserved serenity as no race has had before.
In this sense the world improves with tho
experience and the wisdom of each genera.
ton, and those who survive longest and be.
come most influential in each generation arc,
we believe, Of higher, purer, and elevated
stamp. But then it follows that the vices
which would have been pardonabe in for.
mer times, will become intolerablo now
Saul was made king because he was the tall
est, but he soon had to give place in tho
throne to Solomon the Wisest, and be, in
turn, must yield to tho best and holiest.-
Bodily vigor and mental brilliancy each in
turn must give way before superior moral
worth, though so gradually and in such a
manner that the combination Of the whole
shall be ever increasing inaueniially, and
valued and exhibited in their ruling power
! over mankind