Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-09

"The Perils of Youth" was the sub
ject OF thoughtful and instructive
sermon delivered by the Rev. w. ].
Hardness, Phi. D., at the Chapline
Street M. E. Church last evening. His
text was taken from I'd King 4:40,
There is Death in the Pot" His re-
marks, which were listened to with
| much interest by the congregation,
were as follows:
ITO the careless and Indifferent,
Satan always suggests fair play. He
presents to their eyes the fair side of
everything that he might deceive them
| in regard to the future. man may
say I'll reform, I'll mend my ways,
I'll give up drink, I'll be better" "All
right" says Satan, and he stands aside
to give fair play while at the same
time some unseen imp is working
against him. The breaking off of one
sin only opens the doorway for an
| other. Things are seldom what they
| seem to be, fair and beautiful without,
yet death and corruption are hidden
| within.
MAN is ready to grasp any new
theory that may be presented. He
| plunges into metaphysics, ploughs
through the fields of philosophy, scars
through the unbounded space of SCI
ence, loiters in the groves of Incidence
and gathers many bright flowers in the
| gardens of Imagination, but when the
fires Of life are fading he finds only
bitterness and the sparks of his
thoughts are soon covered by the ashes
of life. We may gather together the
herbs of life, place them over the fires
Of our ambitious thoughts, but when
we drink of the results of our achieve
ments we find there is death in the
pot" Let us consider the many pit
falls that obstruct the path of the
young.
| A Bad Habit in Life.
| Man. says Farley, is a bundle of
habits and habits according to the
proverb is a second nature. Habit is
an eternal principle which leads us to
do easily, naturally and with growing
certainty what we do often Every
thing depends upon the starting point.
If one starts right, then our future
will be crowned with success, but if
we are led astray at the Threshold
then our pathway will be filled with
mistakes. AS the snow gathers togeth-
er, so are our habits Joined; no single
flake that is added to the pile produces
a sensible change, no simple action
creates, however it may exhibit, a
mans character, but as the tempest
hurls the avalanche down the mount
ain and overwhelms the inhabitants
so passion acting upon the elements OF
mischief which pernicious habits have
brought together by unperceptible ac-
emulation, may overthrow the edif1ce
Of truth and virtue. The first cup may
not destroy, the first game may not
overthrow, but the unconscious appli-
cation opens the door of He'll and de-
struction. Montaigne has we'll said
| Custom is violent and treacherous
schoolmistress. She, by little and
little, slyly and unperceived, steps on
the foot of her authority, but having
by this gentle and humble beginning
with the aid of time, she then unmasks
a furious and tyrannic countenance
against which we have no more the
courage nor the power so much as to
lift up our eyes
a Bad Trait I'm Character.
MANS life is 'centered in the sphere
of common duties Our characters are
shown in our most trivial acts and
words. A man may be wise, learned
and eloquent, but selishness, temper
and stubbornness will hurt his infiu-
ence. The rose bud may be beautiful
to look upon, but the little thorn hid
den beneath will mar the pleasure
The child may be kind and gentle in
disposition, but one slovenly trait viii
be detrimental TO his usefulness. The
young men may be active and earnest
in business, but late hours and dissi.
patton will ruin his career. Without
principle man is like a ship without
rudder or compass, left to drift hithel
and thither with every wind thai
blows. One bad trait will undermine
the strongest character. We may try
to disguise our character, but it viii
always speak out, either in our walk
manner or writing. "A man must have
He'll taken out of him If he is to escape
He'll
Wrong Customs I'm Society.
Custom is the God Of the universe
an idol at whose feet human nature
falls. 1t dictates our amusements, ths
furniture of our houses, our modes Of
living, the style of our garments and
the education of our children. 1t telli
US what to eat, drink and even think
James Lowell says that the code Of
society is stronger with most persons
than that of Sinai. If we do not live