Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-29
wMAr AnE wE COMING rol
Pennrsppno. March 20. 1872.

hNh1Sbthug mhTCu ~, AofAs
Mn. EDlToR--SiR: Permit me again to tres
pass upon your valuable space, and adduce 9th.
er reasons in Justification Of the above interoga-
terry. The idiosyacracies ofthe American char
acter ars remarkable. And our imperfectly ed
ucated young men, in their eagernoss to evinee
contsmpt for old rules and customs, and what
Europeans would call forms of etiquette aud to
display the principles orycleped republIcanism,
often become not only rude, but insolent and
boorsh
Aud this trait in our social ediice rarely fails
to arrest the attentiouor educated men generally
aud they mentally ask, "Is this a correct index
OF American principles and training" ?"
Happily tits not. But ralhera pcryersion of
that training. II is false and deiestabe pride
and is known by the sobriquet of "Young Amer
ica." It ignores the respect even due 10 the 9TH
er sex. 1t begets a bold and reckless demeanur
in place OF courtesy, oud when accompanied by
profane and slang phraseology, creates an i'm.
preston which is anything but crediiable to us as
people.
Another conspicuous trait in the character of
some Of our young men, is the utter want of re-
spsct for their elders. Now, ir there is any ono
feature mure pleasing than another in the de-
partmout Of youth,h is Difference to age. For
nothing is more grateful to such than the polite
and respectful attention Of young persons Bui
too often they pass dnnoticed are hustled out Vt
| the way, or they are aadr ssed with rude and
| unbecoming language. II Italways CRATES harsh
" on their ears and cannot fail to produce feel
ing Of disappointment and grief
| Now, sir, this does not arise from wanton cru
city or love Of mischief, but from sheer thought
|
waatonly cruel or uniformly nnkind, but with
the "iasp manner peculiar to the race, they do
not reflect or witness the effects Of their conduct
/ And vet an appeal to their generosity in behalf
of A deserving object, is often promptly and lib
eaally net, showing that they are not, either nat
| urally or b. edtcatiop, reHl, uukiud.
There is something radically wrong in the ed
uoa,ion of Young people il they do not thereby
become socially as wei as intellectually better.
Ought it not to instl into their minds sound and
correct principles For il a mans Conduct IS moi
actuated by SUCH he will surely become the VIC
tim of error II not Of vice. He will be but too
in the hands of designing and unscrupulous men
and may endure the obloquy which should fall
on those who have made him subservient to their
own base ends. Nothing but principle will save
our Young men from the use of intoxicating
drinks, the use Of tobacco in III its fOl ms, iron
profanity and the lack of Difference to those who
are ever entitled to their respect and courteous
regard
And it is this want Of principle which render:
our youth so frequently the subjects OF remark
| 0ld fogy, 'old coon. 'old codger, old cuss an6
similar epithets do not come with good grace
from those who claim to be, and believe them
selves Just "a leeile ahead' OF all other people
But so long as these peculaTities do epist among
us, and crop out in so many instances, the up
right and truly educated may look on with pity
or derision, while we again ask, "Whatare we
coming to ?" TRAVELLER.