The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-18
YOUTHFUL DISSIPATION.

ruins many life. It drives asundel
the very foundation of lite and en-
ergy, prostrating the most promis-
ing as well as the mediocre. In its
strictest sense the term implies
dissolute course of life, and in its ex-
empli6cation this is most certainly
the result. Looseness in little
things disarranges the whole ma
chinery Of life; for, from this spring
the greater, until ruin, physica
mental and moral, confronts US.
Those who desire may find exam
Piles everywhere. To the young and
thoughtless many lessons might
be taught personally. which
would avert the doom that
apparently forces Them to learn
certain things from that most Sc
we're teacher, experience. Teach
the child to be observant and con>
tinue the lessons until the benefits
are visible and this will materially
add to his knowledge without in
curing the effects Of experience.
There are many ways offer ed to
the youth by which they may gain
experience, but the loss is greater
than the gain. Mothers are anxious
to have their daughters 60 out to
parties that they may become az
customed to society, or, being in
different, let them go to enjoy them
selves as their young minds may
dictate. No. thoughtful mother
would allow her child to 60 to a
public ball without being aware
of the class of persons shel
would be liable to meet there.
Neither would she trust her with
person, as an escort, unless she had
the greatest confidence in him. Nor
would che consen. to her going with
out advising her of the injurious eff.
fects of overtaxing her strength and
of carelessness in regard to wraps.
Yet mothers do these things,
thoughtlessly perhaps, though none
the less ruinous in their
effect upon the physical health, be-
cause they are done heedlessly. The
association into which mothers and
fathers fling their children is st ,rt
ling to contemplate. Some are dead
to all interest in the matter. Daugh-
ters are allowed to go to places
where they are apt to meet the most
villainous aud unscrupulous men,
and that too without an escort. Here,
perchance, the first taint of poison
is poured into an innocent mind /;
here the first step in dissipation may
be taken by the unsuspecting child;l
1t has already been taken by the
parent. i'll allowing her to 60 there.
This is perilous thing for parents
to do, to place themselves in a posi-
tion that their children may say to-
them-Why did you not advise, eau
ton and restrain me? Why did
you not warn me of my danger in
stead of lending your consent or
Indifference as an encouragement
to me in that which you must have
known would prove my ruin?
Parents are not always to blame1
in this mater. Some fall, no mat
ter how much assistance they may
have had in the way Of admoniiion
and example. This class, a. rule.
includes young mon, who early in
life grow to know more than their
fathers. They are advised and
warned, and accept each caution as
N additional spur to urge them On
in that which they look upon IS
smartness. They drink, carouse and
lavish their time and money
in pupsuit Of a phantom called plea
sure which, like a will-o-the-wisp,
recedes as they advance, until
finally it disappears in the morass of
death and dishonor, q
life dissipated; no mark
left except that which their conduct
has SCARED into the hearts of those
who looked upon them in infancy
with the fondest hopes, and cared
for them with tenderest hands
through years of trouble, only to be
rewarded with blow from the one
in whom all hopes are centered.
How more bitter than gall must be
the sorrow with which q parent
gazes upon the ruined life of one
whom it was in his power to save
had he only used his authority
How much less the sorrow of him
who gazes on wreck caused rot
by any negligence on his part; and
yet how bitter in either case.
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