The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-11
A HOMILY.
".

"HRbit is the deepest Law c
human nature. It is our supren
strength, and also in certain ci ,um
stances, our most miserable weak
ness"
The evil habits most prevalent
among young men are profanity
drinking, chewing and smoking TO-
bacco and opium and, possibly, the
most vicious Of all, gambling. L
would be positively horrifying tc
many business men, parents and
guardians, TO know the extent of the
gambling carried on b. young men
and old. 1t is q most alluring and
deceiviug habit Beginners gener
ally win at first, and that encourages
them to continue. Then they begin
to lose, and, thinking thst ''luck"
will change, keep on playing and
sinking money trying to "get even, "
until, led on by that igAis fatuus, the
gamblers dream OF better luck, they
commence borrowing from friends,
until they are financially ruined, and,
unable TO meet their debts OF
bonor," and with iorc d confidence
and inflated hopes-sbhing that silent
monitor, conscience - they are
tempted to surreplitiouly borrow ~
from the money-till OF their employ
ers, actually convincing themselves
that they will be able in some way to
replace the amount without discov-
cry.
The money thus obtained is stsked
and-lost. Then comes unutteIable
feelings of grief, shame. remorge and
hopeless despair. Not daring to face
the stern condemnation OF outraged
honor, but compelled to shoulder the
disgrace and infsmy OF q detected
ielop, the end is the criminals fate
the prison, or q suicides
grave. Too much cannot be said
against this unlawful And dangerous
habit. Were ! in business where it was
necessary to employ men in positions
Of pecuniary responsibility, l would
decidedly prefer to trust man given
to the use Of intoxicsnts than the
hsbitual gambler. Yet neither may
expect to be placed in lucrative and
situations until their
reformation is made patent
BY their behavior. Did you ever
notice how much easier it is to con-
ract an evil habit than q good onef
md how much more difficult it is to |
break oneself OF the evil habit when |
than to abandon the good |
or the badi Whether you have or
rave not, such is the fact. Every
lRbit which Injuries the health or re-
or is filthy, should be over
Iome and abandoned and there is no
ime better than the present moment
o effect the desired reformation. 1t
My needs q good resolution, a strong
Vill, and an unhinching determi-
nation, and it is accomplished. This
ife is one long battle against the evil
md for the good. The greater the
lictory the greater the reward.
Young man, stop throwing those
lice for "fOur bits 10 the pot; crop
hose cards and take up your quarter
n the corner" and leave the house.
DON'T you know tina. you are running h
lto q desd-fall2 Attend to your
usiness and stay away from "Club
.ooms." You will be much better
Il in the end, pecuniarily and
morally, for, to gamble you must
neglect your business and
lill certainly impair your credit.
wherever formed, habit act in
and without effort; and it
J only when you oppose it, that you
nd how powerful it has become.
What is done once and again, soon
ives facility and proneness. The
sbit at first may seem to have no
lore strength than q spiders web;
ut, once formed, it binds as with
hahn OF iron."
The Wisest habit of all Is the habit
care in the formation of good
abits."