Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-02-09
Ruined Young Men.

great cities are full of them. They are
among the saddest sights upon which
| the eyes falls. Young, but already
ruined! At the beginning of life,
| but with character gone, honor gone,
4 principle gone, and only the thinnest
| veil of reputation in some cases left,
| insufficient to save them from imme-
diate expulsion from all decent, social
circles and business employment. The
devil has them fast in his snare. He
knows how gradually to draw them on
even from boyhood, by gradated Sc
ries Of evil deeds and influences, run
ming downward as an inclined plain,
thus: bad companions, disObedience
to parents, late hours, smoking, thea
tres, drinking, gambling, lewdness,
HE'LL! Between the two latter in
many he interposes crime, but not
always; for it is not necessary.
A few weeks since young man in
this city, clerk in a bank, known
pleasantly by multitudes of our busi-
ness men who came in daily contact
with him, was led astray by vile assO-
ciates, of both sexes, and after passing
the night with q courtesan, rose, and in
the frenzy of remorse drew a revolver
and took his own life! And can we
soon forget the face of anguish and the
streaming tears of father who called
on us lately to ask what he could do to
save his ruined son. He had for some
time feared evil without definite
knowledge. The late hours kept by
his son filled him with fOrebOding,
and he lay, night after night, sleepless
upon his bed, listening, as the time
I -,
perchance it might lead to his door,
Finally the truth burst upon him and
he was confessed by his son. His boy
Just entering on manhood was thor
oughly debauched. His time, his
money, his thoughts went to lewd
women, and he had been utterly de-
ceiving parents and friends.
AS we talked with that father, we
were also reminded of the anxious in
quiries which but few days before,
another father had made of US rs to the
disposal of son, saying ''it is the bur-
den of my life to know what to do
with my boys Lately we were at
church prayer meeting, at which this
topic was introduced, and the exercises
deepened and deepened in sOlemnity,
almost to dread, rs one and another
father arose in rapid succession, and
besought with tears the prayers of the
church for his son, telling in some ca
ses only of dangers, and in others of
actual falls, and stating facts about the
general condition and temptations of
the young men in our cities, which
wrung every heart. Men and women
went away sad, with burden on their
souls, to seek their closets, and there
to intercede, parents for their sons, and
sisters for their brothers. Doubtless
it was spiritually more profitable than
many meetings from which they had
gone in joyous mood.
To what is this evil owing? On
whom rests the responsibility Alas!
| the causes are many, the guilty parties
numerous; in truth, we are all, in
some respects, involved, by reason of
/ duty neglected. Parents have the first
responsibility. They have the right
by Gods law and human law, to re-
! strain their minor sons. They ought
! to know who are the companions of
| their BOYS, and where they go, and
| how they spend their leisure time
| Especially should they control their
sons as to their evenings, restricting
them as to the number that shall be
spent away from home, and as to the
huur of return, and positively deciding
upon places TO be visited. a chief
mischief is the free allowance of spend
ing money. This is the ruin of rich
mems sons. They learn to crafty all
their desires, and they thus secure the
weakness of character which comes
from Indulgence instead of the strength
which is impaired by self-denial.-
They are surrounded on this account
by evil companions who wish to share
and guide their pleasures, and to enjoy
vice at their expense. Here is where
Christian men mistake, TO their sub
sequent grief, who lavishly fill the
pockets of mere boys with money, and
thus oil the wheels of dissipation. 1t
is far better that men of wealth should
make their SONS earn their spending
money by some form of work at home,
or at the place of business, and should
insist OH their keeping an account of
expenses. Vice is costly, and lean
purses are great safeguards to virtue
Yet reliance must not be on mere neg
ative means of repression. Home
must be made pleasant and attractive,
by music, books, games, and cheer
full social circle, in which the parents
are active participants; and variety
must be given occasionally, by taking
the older children to concerts and 9TH
er pure entertainments.-A