Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-12-07
soBR1ETY.

10 tue young Iuii VI Aiio onu sAsoSi
the idea of sobriety frequently suggests
a depressing gloom and an ausssre
gravity utterly at variance with the nat
ural animation aud spirit Of their years.
Admitting it to be al excellent virtue
in the mature and the aged, it is yet
esteemed heavy, formal and distastsful
to youth, and calculated to drain from
it the ardor and enthusiasm which are
its chief attractions. But it needs no
lengthy argument to prove how super
fetal is such a view. Sobriety or sober
m~indednsss is simply the predomiuance
of ,ound reason, and includes tho ability
Of forming correct judgments, and the
habit of carrying them out in practical
life. No youth would willingly resign
any portion of his reason, still less
would he desire habitually to act in OPP
position to it. But properly exercised,
sobriety no more damps the zeal or sub
dues the. spirit of youth than it adds
wrinkles to the brow Of age, 1t is in
deed opposed to folly, ab,urdity, and
extravaganza of every form. 1t prevents
extremes, check, what is ridiculous,
restraints folly, but forbids NO happy
laugh, and c~uetails nj reasonable source
Of enjoyment. So far from this, the
thoughtful use Of the reason which So
briefly implies, absolutely iuculcatss the
sprightliuess and rivacity> natural to
youth as firmly as the gravity suitable
to age.
Willis the sobriety Of youth will de-
tract nothing from its real pleasures, it
will, on the contrary, lay the only sure
basis for permanent happiness. The
principles Of truth, mercy and love,
which form tho foundation Of all the
happiness that exists in the world, do
not grow and flourish spontaneously.
Though their germs lie in every human
breast, they need the offices Of a
sound reason and a wise judgment to
bring them into fruition. Sobristy in
youth will correct mere impressions Of
fancy and feeling; not sweeping them
away, but guiding them into their true
channels, and assigning them their
proper rank. 1t will change the 1uctu-
atiug and alternating results Of mere
emotion into q steady, calm, indepsnd-
sucs Of mind and conduct, and will give
a settled aim and purpose to the life,
that shall eftec,ually prevent its becom-
ing the sport Of circumstances.
Its tendency to restrain is only mani
tested in what is evil and hurtful. 1t
lays its gentle hand of warning upon
the sppetites, passions, tsmpers and
faucies, not to crush them, but to limit
their indulgence to the bounds Of reason
and good sense. Sobriety is nssdful for
the successful pursuit of any of lifs's
objects. A t%houghtless, Aippant habit
of mind, that rushes into ill-advised
projects, or pursuss laudable ones in
erroneous ways, will ensure disaster;
while the sober-mindsd youth who o q
siders all points, adapting tho schemes
of life to his character and qualifca-
tons, and bringing a sound judgment
to bear upon all his methods, will rarely
. . - L.. 49,. NJ a,.
person need consider the sober second
thought q hard master, but rather a
gentle adviser, and a wise though loving
friend and guide. 1t may be legardsd
as a well-tried and sympathiSing eoun-
,ellor, leading us not out Of the paths
of eheerfulnsss and pleasure, but into
those which, happy in themselves, lead
to happiness, in the future.