The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1893-10-07
For The SENTINEL.l 1a..
SOWING WILD OATS"

There are a great many young men,
and every town has its share Of them,
who think it II very delightful period
of their lives when they are Sowing
their wild oats.'' While we are will
ing to be lenient towards such, making
due allowance for youth, young blood
and all that, we most emphatically
enter our protest against the mischief,
dissipation, evil habits and cussedness
which is so often engendered from this
wild oats sowing. The trouble is with
very many, they never get through
sowing. The companions they asso-
ciate with, the wild devil-may-care
dissipation which flows from this sort
Of indulgence, is apt to cling, and the
time when it is expected the sowing is
over, finds the youth unfit for life's
active duties. He don't want to quit,
and there he is, in far too many in
stances wreck, lost to shame, to hon
or, and in many instances to the decen-
cies of life, u disappointment to his
parents and friends, and another is
added to the long list of the pests Of
society, the spongers, dead-beats and
lcafers. Some Of the brightest lads We
know of, those who babe fair to easily
win life's honors, of marked ability,
pleasing manners, with everything to
encourage them, were lost in the
stream of wild oats sowing" 1t
seems almost incredible how soon they
get beyond the control and advice OF
parents, how quickly the home intlu-
ence, With the mothers gentle adm O.
nitions, the fathers commands and
protests, the sisters gentle pleadings,
were forgotten; how soon the Sabbath
and school day training, with all the
pleasant associations connected there
with lost their power for good, and the
face once SO frank. bearing its marks
Of young munliness, became changed,
and the stamp OF evil made its terrible
mark. 1t is u sad sight to see d young
man get into the current which leads
to ruin. 'Theres something in such a
spectacle which appeals to the heart,
for we know that in his ruin others are
involved. and the blow strikes many
hearts,, The commcn saying, "Oh
wait till he sows his viii oats: he will
como out all right is Il most rernic'
ious one. There's no truth in it, for
while we admit that now and then one
turns about in the midst of this sowing
and is saved, yet the memory OF the
evil then wrought clings like an incu'
bus. And what becomes OF the others
who do not turn about? Where arc
they: The Police Court records, the
prison cells. the slums of the cities, the
potters' field will give you IN answer
which. will take all the sophistry out
of this wild oats sowing. There is no
compromising with the Evil One; he s
bound to have the lions share, If you
enter upon his domain; make up your
mind you ure to suffer for it. No mat
ter how pleasant the invitation to SOW
a few wild oats, there's danger IN It;
the pill may be sugar coated, but you u
puy the penalty sooner or later. It's
the experience of all who have ever
ventured. and there is no dodging, 1T:
LAS We SOW. so shall ye reap" and il
YOU spend your time among those OF i'll
repute, the impress will be made upon
YOU. and you must take the consequen,,
ces. The hopes Of the future depend
upcn pure minded young men and
women with sound minds and healthy
bodies. with which to enter upon the
places to be made vacant by death and
The retircmeht Of those now actively
engaged in business and other useful
pursuits. Young healthy blood, witt
It's energies will find opportunities Il
make itself felt. The various fields O.
enterprise are open to those who are
willing to do and to dare; afford ample
opportunity, and in this sort of sowing
the world will be benefited, as tht
crop will prove of the right sort.
JAMES H. MoHE1ssEN,
G,,ttis Mill. Miss. Sept. 10th, 1893. ..
80 OrN TIyTTvTNn