The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-09-19

ano looked up TO Wltn love ana aHSC
ton by an smiable wife. In an ur
thinking, evil hour, ne raised To
lufing wine cup to bis lips, and IN 6
doing reused a psssion-a demon
We may say in his heart that ha
till then slumbered. and he knew no
be possessed. He did not de
scend the ladder of responsibility al
at once. Leng and fiercely did b
struggle against the envelop!ng fold
and strive 10 break the methes OF tn
fatal vice. He would form resolu
tions-resOl1tions of self-denisl, bu
10 break them. 10 the gloom con
sequent upon the suffering inciden
10 the awakening from q debauch-
when Assailsd by the tears and en-
treaties OF his loving vile be would
promise anything. But the customs
of society. the jeering but kindly
meant remarks OF bis friends, would
cause him to take one glass-just one
for mere companionship-to be 60
ciable with them, nothing more. He
would weakly accept the invitation,
and appetite infamed would hurry
him into intemper.nce once more.
1t is not for US to condemn the
uEages of polite society nor of any
society, yet we look upon many Of
them as the real sources OF crime and
sin. The boy just entering into life
wishes to be thought man. The
thoughtless older ones play upon his
credulity and make light of his sim
plicity. At the modeet difidence be
exhibits, aud at tine bushes retiring,
nmid. nature sends to his cheeks,
they laugh. They teach him to be
more bold-to quaff the ruby wine,
for that will give him confidence.
The cigar oass is passed to him and
though oftentimes Tepugnant to his
feelings, he nearly kills himself to be
as his friends would have him-a fool.
The elegant, and high toned accom-
plishment OF swearing il next added
to his store, followed by the desire to
shine IN the eyes of the fair sex. A
laughing, grinning, hideous and
knocking devil is unclaimed aud he
hurries onward towards perdition.
This is no overdrswn picture, for we
have seen the brightest intellects, the
moat generous spirits and the noblest
minds, debased, lost, ruined, just by
irst giving way to the flippant
and the careless, self-satis-
fed airs OF society. Insidious in sp-
preach, gradual in its advance to
mastery, vice frat blunts the moral
feelings of a sensitive nature, blinds
it's perceptions CT virtue and after
undermining the once pure temple Of
The soul. finally lays all in ruins
around. Prospects, blighted, life
1AIkened and heaven obscured, exist
snce becomes a constant, never ceas-
ing disgrace TO himself and endless
Vexation to relatives and friends.
In the midst of such Influences
John Carson could scarcely be
to be as consistent, as up
light, as self-contAined and as vir-
.uous, as was the more favored Robert
Dacres. His mother had died-died
Of poverty, OF grief and affliction and
Of shame, and her loving, guiding
Influence was no more experienced
ssding ever towards the good. In
its OF gloom, dependency and des-
oeration, boy as he was, be would
rink sometimes TO drown care, juat
Is many an older and more respon-
'ible person has done time and again.
His friend Robert would talk seri-
,usly to him and be would scknoWl-
;dge the error OF such course AMI
would make up MS mind to amend.
For weeks, perhaps for months, ne
Seuld be consistent and steady, then
/ lapse would come aad he would
plunge again into dissipation. He
lid not lack for understanding, nor
lid he ever strive to palliAte, or hide
he errors into which he fell. He did
not commit them unknoWingly-at
east in his sober moments-but
ceiling Of desperstion-a wish to be
i'd of thought, of life even, free OF
every restraint, would come over him
md he would plunge once more into
i'm regardless OF consequences. Had
,aIm, peaceful circumstances snd
.efning influences been around him
had example, as we'll as precept.
been ever before him, what different
ate might have been his. He pos
Isssed every qualification necessary
% make a smart and intelligent man,
Is we'll as an usstul one.
In this manner the two young men
grew up, opposite in almost every
quality and feeling, excepting courage
and generosity. Excess was fast
out the nobler qualities OF
The nature of Carson. 1t seemed as if
sll the evil passions OF his bosom in
famed under the influence OF drink.
bitter-seli upbraisings,
.catbing but Intellectual, would follow;
but OF what avail are such feelings,
unless followed by reformation OF
action and a new and better life. He
was beginning to have an unen7iAble
reputation and his friends were one
by one forsaking him, despairing of q
favorable change. But Dacres stood
to him through it sll-counselling
him and trying to get him 10 forsake
his usual hzunts and vice., and By
acton striving to set him an example
OF tenn perance and irugality.
About this time the gold fields OF
California were discovered and wild,
wonderful and fabulous stories were IN
circulation about the new FL Dorado.
Men could go there and with only a
spade could turn up the yellow ore
and make fortunes in the shortest
possible order. Stories we're going
the rounds OF the press OF men who
had gone there and in few short
months had returned, rendered in
dependent for life by the fortunes
they they bad made. Society Was
gone mad. Young men, before en-
gagged in honorable and remunerstive
employment. forsook all TO follow
after this delusion. By hundreds, by
thousands, aye, by scores OF thous-
apds, they left home and it's loving
ties--its endsarments and its protect
ing inAuence-to 90 after an uncer'
tain venture. Nothing ventured,
nothing woD." was their motto, and
the desire 10 obtain gold, bright, gilt
tering gold, took possession of many
heart before peaceful and satisfied
With its privileges and surroundings
Thus it ever is when fictitious want