Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-09-03
MIS- ScELLA NE 0U S .
tFor the Spirit of Jefferson ]
FLEE YOUTHFUL LUSTS.

-
To person of reflection and sensibility,
there cannot be subject of more painful
thought, than that which the morals of our
youth present. In many of them, We obs
serve the brightest colors of human charac-
ter almost totally eclipsed by the toulest i'm
moraIities. We see them triumphing in
vice as proof Of distinguished spirit and
refinement, and permitting their passions to
shoot wild in all the dreadful luxuriance of
folly and guilt. Amidst this wide>exteuded
ravage of talents and virtue, it becomes not
the man of benevolence to sit idle. Silence
would be treason against society. Let US
unite then, in the arduous yet delightful task
of guiding the steps of inexperienced youth.
Let us point their passions to heaven, and
teach them to burn with holy love. Let
US teach them that the happiness of this
earth consists not in brutal onjoyments, and
10 the debascment of their faculties, but
that to be truly happy, it is necessary that
their affections be pure, their objects iuno-
cent, their minds clean, serene and steady !;
and that the feeblest pulse of conscious vir-
tue distributes more genuine bliss, through
the system, than all the spasms and convul-
s;ons of libertine pursuits. -
1t has been remarked of virtue and vice,
that III order to render the latter disgustfully
repulsive, and the former irrcsistably attrac>
tive, nothing more would be necessary than
to personify them-to mako them the objects
of human sight-to display them naked to the
eye, instead of describing them to the mind
of man. know not what effect such an exhi>
bition might have OF the frigid hearts and
inveterate habits of advanced age-but on q
youthful mind, I am persuaded the impress
sion would be deep and strong. In vain
would vice beckon them to her embrace,
while her frenzied face, her gorgon locks,
her distemperod gesture, would drive back
the current of blood upon their hearts and
chill it all with horror. Virtue, on the oth>
er hand, with placid mien and sweetest
smile, would wake into lie each generous
affection-touch their souls with rapture
aud stretching forth her arm of snow, would
only have to bid them come, to be obeyed.
Thus would the pencil delineate them. Ours
is . moro difficult task We speak not to the
eye, through which the vivid commupica-
tion is SO direct, SO rapid, SO resisting; We
address a slower organ, and must solicit pa
tience. ....
The words of our motto present an i'm
mepse subject. They might lead us to des>
can't ON lusts OF pride-the great as we'll az
the little passioDs of misguided youth. Let
us limit our remarks within a narrow sphere,
and select from the cluster Of youthful lusts,
one which is more fashionable and perhaps
more detrimental to thom in every point Of
view, than any other with which the present
age Is scourged. | mean the Illicit indul>
geuce of that passion which was given to US
for the preservation of the human Species
Considered merely with reference to this life,
know not more deadly snsidote TO bliss
than this lswless tyrant over man. How
often does it dig the grave for genius and
character! How are all the energies of the
mind unstrung by its excess all tho affec-
tions of the heart deadeDed and empoisoned;
every virtuous propensity put to fight, and
all the charms of chaste society lot and for
gotten. Marx that youth to-day See his
checks crimsoned with stream Of health,
his eyes beaming intelligence, his smiling
lip portrayiDg the peace which Presides over
his breast and his step, how firm, elastic
and sprightly. Attend to his conversation.
Hear the depth of remark, the nice discrim>
ination, the flash offancy, the affecting SEN
timent OF virtue and the tone of eloquenoe.
Every object lends a spring TO his feelings or
his reflections He looks abroad upon the
scenery of nature and his heart beats with
sweetest agitation. He surveys the course
of the planets" Wheelhiy. mistaken,
through the vojl iEanlense, and his soul kim
dies with religious tervor. lie traces on the
page of history the revolutions of the earth,
and experiences every change of emotion and
sentiment; he applies the incidents OF other
natioDs,to his owD. and by the fate of one
foretelIs that of the other. Glowing in the
pursuit of knowledge, he watches the opera
tions Of his own minds feelings be seruti>
nizes those of otbers-he observes the hu-
man character in all its grave as well as CO.
centric movements. In short he is alive to
all around him, and presents to an admiring
world. the interesting spectacle of youth
combining the most sublime faculties, the
most Eigilant observation aud the warmest
virtues. Mark the same youth few mouths
hence, after his resurrection from the bed of
sin. Gracious heaven can this be the
same? Where is the vigorous gesture, the
eye OF fire, the firm and manly voice and the
roseate bloom of health See how feebly
his emsciated form totters along! Fled are