The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-13
The Down Grade.

Col. J. ]. Owen, editor ns the SAD
Jose Mercury, gives the following photo.
graph Of class of young men in that
California town, accompanied with some
wholesome advice to them. Possibly
there may be other places where simi.
lar class of young men may be found, to
the heart of some one of whom the o,les.
ton which closes Col. Owens article
may find entrance:
There are scores of young men in San
Jose--intelligent, active aud really in
dustrious young men-who arc on the
down grade. going straight to hell hy the
through Liquor Line. They are now
only moderate tipp,srs, though seldom
without the taint of liquor on their
breaths. They are social and convivial
young fellows. They do not like the
taste Of liquor particularly, but because
II Is the custom of young men Of their
kind to visit tho saloons and treat each
other; and when they go away OH pic
mic. excursion or get of together for au
evening, to get themselves full" as they
term it, aud have regular carousal, and
wake up next monrning with splitting
headache.
Many OF these young men arc clerks
aud mechanics, with good situations, who
should practice habits of economy and
thrift, and lay by something Of their
weekly earnings as u ncst.cgg for their
start in buslnes sometime or, if they
expect 10 marry, ns most OF them do, Ms
| something with which 10 procure home
But instead Of this they live up to their
last cent, and often incur debts besides
that they find very difficult TO pay. But
tho worst feature Of the business IL, they
are cultivating habits of thriitless OK.
travagance aud ssipation that will work
their utter ruin, and that in no distant
future.
These young men aro hale fellows
now, full Of that life and energy which
ii properly directed would nuke them
| i'll time, the foremost men Of business in
the community, and the best members OF
society. But tho demons of Evil Habit
and Ill Health sre toying with their
I morals and their vitals and few years
hence we shall find them bloated and
loatlsomo drunkards, broken down
gamblers or already dead and rotting in
their graves.
GOd pity The young woman who mar.
ries ono Of them There is before her O
life of such unutterable wretchedness as
no pen can describe. Her only ray OF
hope is i'll her possible strength of soul
that will enable her TO rise up in her
womanhood, ere il be too late, and cast
adriit the worthless vagabund who would
drive her and her children down to ever.
lasting despair.
"And yet there isn't ono of these
young men who might not. if lie would,
break loose from his evil associations,
throw off the straight jacket that the
demon of drink and dssi patton is weav-
ing around his limbs and go forth to q
noble and manly life.
If they only knew the misery in store
for them-the agony Of soul, the physi.
cal torture-if they could realize tho dc
graduation and shame they arc bringing
upon others, as we'll AS themselves the
scalding tears that will be shed in .heir
behalt-the breaking hearts, the blightcd
lives-and all because of their unwor.
thiness, it would seem that they would
sooner thrust their right hand into mol.
ten iron, aad hold it the-' .ntil only the
charred bones remain, til raise it 20
their lips bearing draught of that sub.
tie poison that mt last 'biteth like ser.
pent and stingeth like an adder
us there one of this class, who may
read these lines. who has enough man.
hood left to try?"