The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-03-08
Selected,
YOUNG MEN
And the Quicksand of Society

and the dangers that beset their path
way, is subject of grave Importance.
So much has been spoken Of them by
ADLER tongue, and written by powerful
pens-too often, alas! scorned and UNI
heeded-that it is with doubtful heart
and trembling hand l by request COM
mence a subject ofsuch Importance to
them and to our christian community.
Ali tits not the frivolties of fashion
of which l have previously written
that engage our attention here, but
our country's preservation; and who
that looks reHectively on the young
men "of to-day" can tell ,OtGt it
will be tomorrow?
When 1 look out upon the broad
thorough-fare and behold the restless
throng that, from morn till night, pass
and repass in the city streets,-each
bent on his own course, full of his own
cares, and with his own sins and sor.
rows locked in his bosom, while his
face often betrays his reckless, or per-
haps remorse or disappointment,-I
wonder at the thoughtlessness with
which so many young men rush on,
eager to grasp whatever this Aeeting
life afords,-regardless of the warning
of friends, or the dangers that deck
their way in city life. All! how sad
reflection on "the coming man." to
see among these 60 many youthful faces
prematurely ripening into maturer
crime! Yet SO enticing arc the fiatter-
ing inlets that leap, with airline rapid
ity, tothe gulf of destruction; so absorb
ing is the influence that surrounds them,
drawing them downtown to ruin,-
that they are deaf to the voice of warn
ing till too late for their escape.
My dear young friend, pause in your
perilous course for moment, and listen
to the voice of warning. Look down
on your fowery pathway and behold
the hidden death-strcams beneath your
feet. See the horrid faces that glare
on you as you pass? the bold, reckless
looks; the haggarl, vagabOnd, forms;
the bloated face and staggering step
that invites your scorn and derisiOn?
Al! these are examples of the depths
to which they lead companions in the
downward course; and the death-cry Of
millions, already struggling in the quick
sands of destruction, warn you of your
pending peril!
The popular places of amusement of
the day,-innocent as they are deemed
and essential to mental culture, are
too often fruitful sources of ruin. All
how little you dream of their absorbing
influence! How steadily it creeps up
on you as, with the gay and gifted
throng assembled there, you drink in
its fattering sweets, unconcious of the
bitter poison beneath, and that the
quicksands are gathering about your
feet! But the broken Sabbath and the
empty churh pews tell a more solemn
tale; while n tortured death-bed, -four
ishing grave. yard, and crowded hell,
walls the sad requiem of the followers
of such danger and Elusive paths.
Now, of course you are morally dis
posed and there are places you avoid,
while there are others-nOt quite chris
tianly-which you feel safe to visit till
youths follies are past. All, young
nam! beware of the HIDDEN SNARE:
in these Turk the most deadly peril.
The Devil is quite up with the times
in this day of invention, nor behind
them in discerning the cravings of a
restless humanity; so, in the snares
laid to entrap you, there is no lack Of
variety, even for the most delicate
flstidious sensibility. To the broad
death-stream run many sparkling riv-
ulets where they gayly step in and
taste, with the fiattering assurance that
they can return at will; but alas for
their delusion! Bewildered, they lin.
ger, till satiated and sickened at last,
they turn toward the stepping-stone,
to find it has vanised, and instead,
rolls the merciless gulf. And, with
the dark waves of destruction boiling
up to their view, and the death-shriek
of the lost sounding in their ears, they
awake to the startling conviction that
they have ANONYMOUSLY flOated fal
down into the submerging death
stream, and their feet are already en-
quilted in the creeping sands. In vair
they now cry for help; their only reply
is the derisive laughter of wild exul
tant fends as they sink forever. All
! how numerous, how enticing, how
fatal, are the snares laid for your limo