Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-06-22
Fireside Department.
Sobriety.

To the young full of life and vi
vacity, the idea of sobriety frequent
ly suggests depressing gloom and
an austere gravity utterly at variance
with the natural animation and
spirit of their years. Admitting it
to be an excellent virtue in the ma
ture and aged, it is yet esteemed
heavy, formal distasteful 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
superficial is such a view. Sobriety
or sobermindedness is simply the
preponderance of sound reason, land
includes the ability of forming cor
rect judgments, and the habit of car
rying them out in practical life. No
youth would willingly resign any
portion of his reason, still less
would he desire habitually to act in
opposition to it. But properly exer-
cised, sobriety no more damps the
zeal or subdues the spirit of youth
than it adds wrinkles to the brow
of age. 1t is indeed opposed to
folly, absurdity, and extravaganza
of every form. Itpreyents extremes,
checks what is ridiculous, restrains
folly, but forbids no happy laugh,
and curtails no reasonable source of
enjoyment. So far from this, the
thoughtful use of reason which
sobriety implies, absolutely incul-
Gates the sprightliness and vivacity
natural to youth as firmly as the
gravity suitable to age.
While the sobriety of youth will
detract nothing from its real pleas
ures, it will, on the contrary, lay the
only sure basis for permanent hap
piness. The principal of truth, jus
tice, mercy and love. which form
the foundation of all the happiness
that exists in the world, do not
grow and flourish spontaneously. |
Though their germs lie in every hu-
man breast they need the offices of |
sound reason and a wise judgment
to bring them into fruition. Sobri-
ETY. in youth will correct mere impress
sions of fancy feeling; not sweeping
them away, but guiding them into
their true channels, and assigning
them their proper rank. 1t will
change the fiuctuating and alterna-
ting results of mere emotion into 4
steady, calm independence of mind
and conduct, and will give settled |
aim and purpose to the life, that
shall effectually prevent its becom-
ing the sport of circumstances.
Its tendency to restrain is only |
manifested in what is evil and hurt
full. 1t lays its gentle hand of warn
ing upon the appetites, passions,
tempers and fancies, not to crush
them, but to limit their indulgence
to the bonds of reason and good !
sense. Sobriety is needful for the
successful persuit of any hfe's OBJ
jects. A thoughtless, fiippant habit
of mind, that rushes into ill-advised |
projects or ways,will ensure disaster,
while the sober-minded youth who
considers all points, adapting the
schemes of life to his character and |
qualifications, and bringing a sound
judgment to bear upon all his meth
DDS, will rarely fail of attaining his
aims. No young person need con-
slider the sober second thought a
hard master, but rather a gentle ad-
wiser and wise though loving
friend and guide. 1t may be regar-
ded as well-tried and sympathiz-
ing counsellor, leading US not out of
the paths Of cheerfulness andpleas-
ure, but into those which, happy in
themselves, lead to happines in the
future.