Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1872-03-30
LApon EDUCATION.

Tits high time that the young people
Of the South had learned the invalu-
able Lesson, that it is no dissonor to
work and that idlencss is not only the
root Of evil, but is, in itself, dishonor
able, because palpable reputation
Of the duty each one owes to himself
and the community to swell the tide Of
prosperity by some userul contribu-
ton There can be no true manhood
without independcnce--thcn Let the
poor work for it, with the assurance
that, whilst doing so, they secure
health of body and mind, and find &C.
curity against those temptations to vice
which overpower the best intentions
Of the habitually idle.
lie! memory retraee the steps Of
those who take drink and smoke ci-
CARA, in the belief TINT it is manly to
do so; who frequent saloons and
lounge at street corners in search of
amusement and companionship which
they seek, in vain in their own vacant
minds and idle hands, are they the
rising young men who build up their
own independence and shape the des.
TIMES of their country 1t is from
this crowded highway of idleness, that
society gathers its finest specimens of
drunkards and criminals--its moral
lepers in every stage Of progressive
putrescence.
No young man Of ordinary sense, be
lieves that he will ever be any other
than an honorable and useful member
of society. But without trade which
he is determined to work at persist
ently-without settled purpose in
life and the determined will that un
derlics perseyerance--and consequent
su,ce! s, muscular Incidence and men
tai vacuity incline him to n place
among the idle and vicious. He APP
peases his conscience with the mental
reservation that he is superior to the
temptations which beset the loungers
about dangerous localities and when
curiosity is gratifed, he will retire be-
yond the reach of moral contagion.-
Day after day, he rcnews the asso-
citation; day after day temptations
strengthen their hold upon him; the
voice of conscienceis gradually weak
ened into an inaudiblc whisper and he
who might be an ornament to society
aud the pride of relations, becomes a
curse to both. Industry would have
carved out very different destiny, but
neglected education-perhaps the weak
ness aud folly of family pride-has
paved the way for the young mans fear
full fall and in that event, the parents
are the guilty parties-thc children
blt the hapless victims.
But be this a. it may, a fearful re-
sponsibility rests somewhere, for the
rapid deterioration of public and pri-
vote virtue and corresponding increase
of vice and crime To ameliorate this
hateful condition Of society, children
should be indoctrinated with the pur-
est moral principles from the earliest
development Of mental perception,
and be taught to love virtue for its
own sake. As an auxiliary to this sys-
tenn of education, industry must be
cultivated by practice as well "a pre-
ecpt, and taught as a duty whilst idle
ness is held up to view, as little less
than crime, In the application OF
those fundamental ideas to the proper
education of the young, there should
he no distinction between the child
rem of the rich and the poor, nor be
tween male and female Sound NOR
ality is essential to all classes and con
ditions, and habits of industry, in the
field, or in the dwelling, are the stron-
gGSt safeguards of virtue, The habit
if not needed in after life, is more
easily abandoned than acquired when
it becomes necessity.
Another benefit to be derived from
this system of training. is its retroact,
i've effect upon teachers and parents
who, to make the system effective
must practice what they preach, II
- Ky, 49, ', ~, 0.'oI ,n ,''''''
,ha J;,,a;,,. 81 ,, ."' i"P'";s l''e y
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