Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-05-16

disease as n good man would bo apt to DO
smitton with moral distcinpcr II shut up
with Ubiquitous companions. In Oldon
times prisoners were hcrdcd together In
the Same coll. but each ono learned tho
vices Of all tho culprits, so that instead Of
being reformed by incarceration tho day OF
liberation turned them out upon society
beasts, not mon.
Beware of the Vicious.
We may, In our places Of business, DO
compelled TO Talk to and minRlo with bad
mon, but no who deliberately chooses to
associate himself with vicious people Is on
gagged In carrying on "a courtship with u
Dcilah whose shears Will clip of MI tho
locks Of his strength, and hc will he trlppcd
into pcrdItion. Sin Is catching, Is infcC-
tious, Is epidemic. will let you look over
the millions Of people now inhabiting tho
earth, and I challenge you To show mo n
good man who, after one year, has mndo
choice and consortcd with the wicked. a
thousand dollars reward for ono such In
stance caro- not how strong your char
meter may be. Go with the corrupt, and
you will become corrupt clan with bur
glars, and you will become u burglar; go
among tho unclcan. md you will become
unclcan. Many "a young man has been
destroyed by not approaching this. Ho
wakes up some morning In the great city
and knows no ono except the persons into
whose employ he has entered As he goes
into tho store NIL the clerks mark him,
measure him and discuss him. The up
right young men Of tho store wish him
we'll, but perhaps wait for formal intro.
duction, and even then have some dclicncy
about inviting him into their associations.
But the bad young men Of tho store ut the
first opportunity approach and offer their
services. They pntroni1c him: they pro-
Tess To- know all about the town they will
take him anywhere he wishes To go--if no
will pay thocxpcnscs-fOr II n good young
man and a lad young man go to some
place where they ought not the good young
man has invariably 10 pay tho charges.
At tho moment tho ticket Is paid for, or
tho champagne settled for. tho bnd young
man feels around In his pockets and says,
II have forgotten my pockctbook.
In as hours after tho young man has
entered tho storc tho bad fellows Of tho cs-
Establishment slap him ON the shoulder IA
military and mt his stupidity In taking
certain illusions say, My young friend,
YOU will havo To bo broken In. and they
Immediately proceed 10 break him In.
Young man, in tho namo OF God | warn
you to beware how you let u bad mnn talk
Familiarity with you. II such ono slap
you ON the shoulder familiarly, turn round
and give him whitening look until the
wretch crouchcs In your presence. There Is
no monstrosity Of wickcdncss that can
stand unahashcd under the glance Of pu-
rity and honor God keeps the lightninRs
Of heaven In his own scnbbard, and no
human arm can WELD them. but God
gives to every young man lightning that
lac may usr. and that Is the lightning Of
an honest eye Those who have been close
observers of city life will not wonder why
give warming to young men and say,
beware Of evil companions.
Shun the Skcptic and Inndci.
warn you Ia shun the skcptic--tho
young man who puts his fingers In his
vest and laughs a, yonr old fashioned ro-
ligion and turns over Ia sumr mystery Of
the Bible aud says, Explain that, my
pious friend; explain that. And who
says: "\obody shall scare me. am not
afraid of tho future. used To believe In
such things. and So did my father and
mother, hut have got over It. !" Yes, he
has got over 1t, and II you sit In his COM
many n litflr LONGER Won will yet over IL