The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1895-06-07
The 9etlturrat.
A Candid Confession.

The following communication from
.Shelburn should be read by every read
er of the DEMOCRAT, not only by young
men, but by old men. 1t is suggestive
from beginning to end. The young
man who writes it displays the snap
that will make him good citizen:
Please give one of the boys small
space in your paper in which to speak
his mind to his friends and associates.
am now in the pride of manhood and
have had all the advantages which a
grsat and free country can offer. have
been in school from my infancy till
reached my 2lst year. Have attended
Sunday school, singing school and church
at will; but my greatest pleasure has
been in taking in dancing and play part
les, drinking, smoking, chewing, play
ing cards. etc. etc. have always con-
sidered myself as good as the best and
a3out on par with all my male associ-
ates and prlded myself on being good
looking.
Recently when in the midst Of my pals
engaged in game of Boston," l began
to listen to the profanity, vulgarity and
slang we were all using, when the
thought occurred to me, that We were
all a band of hoodlums and fast leading
our smaller brothers and friends to the
same point. I began to think whittier
We were drifting and to what we were
coming to.
There is scarcely one of us from Is
years old up to %, who have dollar We
can call cur own; many of US are indebt-
ed to the merchants livery stables and
BARRIERS; our bills due and nothing to
pay them With. None of US have pro-
fession or trade, and the only way we
can earn a dollar is by hard work and no
one 10 hire Us. Is it because we are no
good and spend car money foolishly or
are the times SO hard that men cannot
hire us? Ia either case thought it
time to stop and think awhile. While
rejecting, it occurred TO me that men
may become great and respected, or low
and degraded. 1t all depends on the
company we keep and the manner in
which we apply ourselves. Here let me
say, that there is more profanity used in
our ordinary conversation than would
shame the devil. | have frequently
heard small boys, young men and old
men too for that matter, use some Of the
wickedest oaths, and that, too, in the
presence of old gray haired ladies, our
mothers, our sisters aud lady friends. Is
it not time TO stop and think? Is there
anything gained by sucn conduct? Do
our friends. CTR neighbors, cur families
or strangers think any more of Us on ae-
count of it? Do We, even, think any
more of ourselves? Stop and think.
Now, bows, for my part, have this to
say: While l aave been as bad as any
of you and much worse than some, l
have set firm resolve TO reform Why
there are some OF US that ought to be
Stunned by every one who tries 10 be
stage in life, when none will respect us
and we are the sole cause OF it Who
wants such hoodlum as I am miDgling
amongst his family? l know-if was
married and had family of girls, OF
even hoys. would want to select better
associates for them than i have been.
And now with this knowledge glaring
::i- IN the face, is it any wonder have
Eei,'' m, d /? want every one CT my as
eoriairs 10 do likewise. Let us drop pro-
faoii,, vuigaTity and slang. II we smoke
and chew, let us be decent about it and
respect the feelings OF our mothers and
sisters, our sweethearts and ourselves
There is a Mich IN the world for few
more good men; let US try to fill it Lei
US resolve from now on TO be men, and
zee what change We will mako in oul
families. In order 10 get a right start
let as take ene hour to study ourselves
LOOK at ourselves az others see US. What
have we done to deserve place in refined
society? What are our claims on the oldel
citizens of cur neighborhood- What i
our proper position In the community and
where can We fnd such another as cur
selves? Lei Us organize reform club
Who vii be The irst to join? But lest
go into the waste basket, had better Close
this article in haste. Your friend and re
formed associate,