The Greenville times., 1884-06-07

tralized by emotional OF intellect I
ual exeitation; but the passion for
watching ehanees-the habitual /
suspensive poise Of the mind in
actual or imaginary play-nullifes
the susceptibility to other excita-
ton. In its final, imperious stage,
It seems the enjoyous dissipation
Of demons, seeking diversion on
the burning mart of perdition.p
And such is the harvest-home of
the seed of idleness. Whatsoever
q man soweth THAT shall he also !
reap. Ii he SOW to the wind, he |
shall reap the whirlwind; if he
SOW chance, which is but another
name for uncertainty and confu.
sion, uncertainty aud confusion
shall come into his life; wild are
the seed, wild with woe shall be
the harvest.
Another crop of wild oats worse
even than gambling is drunken
ness. 1t, too, is sown in idle fun.
The youth never sets out to DO Il
drunkard. The first spree is sim
ply a social frolic, ~ friendly
lark" without dream of repeti-
tion, much less that frequent rep
etition which will convert his
sprees into an incurable epilepsy
of character. But the second
spree is always easier than the
first and followed by fewer CON-
FUNCTIONS, aud the third is frecr
from seruple and regret than the
second. and the thirtieth Is inyol-
untary-an act OF habit which
drives mere irrcsistibly than than
inclination leads. BY this time
conscience has become familiar
with the vice il once loathed, and
familiarity makes 1t endurable, If
not attractive. Vice familiar in
one aspect, becomes less loath-
some In all. Nothing now looks
quite so bad as it did formerly.
Deeds done in the time of stupor
Of intoxication must be extcnua-
ted in sanor moods for the prescr-
vation of sclf-rcspect, which 10 the
life of life. Low creatures con.
sorted with, when debased to
their level by drink. can never be
regarded aftcrward with the same
contempt, nor their sins with the
same abhorrehce. Sensitiveness
to sin and robust wrath at its ap-
proach, which should stand guard
at the door Of conscience, have
been overcome with wassail, and
II that royal faculty still reign, II
reigns as temptations gucst--Dun'
can asleep in the castle Of Mac.
beth.
Meanwhile the will has surren
dered and follows habit like q cap
tive in chains. 1t has resisted, sc
often and 80 often been beaten
that 1t is henceforth coward
Family and friends beseech tn,
poor inebriate to reform, but f.on
every effort he falls back further
into impotence and despair. ii,
has lost faith in himself. lie can
not like q man determine his owl
conduct. He has become a thing
the butt and fng Of forces whicl
) he cannot control or resist. Help
less as a charmed bird, yet help
less through his own waste o
moral power, he trembles near tn
: death which holds him with snake
like eye, and with jaws open Il
| close upon his pitiful remnant sell
: Society has cast him out as of N
t use In its work and of no decenc,
J for its regard. One good position
/ after another lost by sprees tha
. grew more frequent and prolone
: ed, he can now get employment
+ no moro, and is a loafer, a tramp,
!. nuisance to his neighbors, a fes
!. tering carbuncle on the neck Q
, society. There he goes - 30
Q know him yesterday a Law
: yer whose maiden speech surpril
y ed the court and excited expects
b tion of a brilliant career, or an et
Z itor whose articles seemed write
0 with o scalpel, SO keen was the
r vivisection of public men and pa
Q ties, or a preacher whose el,
. quence stirred multitudes to Ion,
y ing for a heavenly life to-day thl
d ragged, greasy, nnkept, bloate
r and palsy-stricken sot. What dl
y iti Wild oats sown as college C
t capades. Who would have belle
r ed that hopeful youth could eve
9 come to such q manhood or hie
It manhood sink to such sub.brut
d degradation. Yet how many 4
o down in like disaster. l see
y memory my college mates, Il
i. young men set out with, q q
it regatta spreading sail under Il
,f morning light Of life. Life h
II scarcely reached its noon but Il
g. sails few that whiten its beam
n The rest were caught in q eyclon