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3. S. EAKEII, E Aitov ScEiAAiihev.^
2*lte Slurtottou Kntrcp
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©rifftuiil.
[For the Christian Index.]
CIIA L K LIN E S No. 1.
Object Explained — [nf.u :nce of the. Newspaper Press —
Corrupt Tendency of Cheap Literature of the
Day —. 4 Change for the Better Predicted—An
Encouraging Circumstance.
Brother “Index:” —lt is my design to devote a
small portion of every week, unless unavoidable cir
cumstances prevent, to filling out your good columns
with miscellaneous hints and facts, which will, I hope,
add to the entertainment of your readers. I know the
condition in which you are placed, having several
thousand different tastes to gratify; and, therefore, I
presume my little disconnected thoughts will please
some, wh le I shall endeavor to make them of such a na
ture as to offend none. There are a vast number of
good ideas, practical observations, instructive scenes
&c., constantly appearing around us, which are too
”■ .. and p'.ai.’ obe e. o. -'Vi’- ■—* ‘ ■ v~* - 1
which are yet often calculated to a film! comfort, or re
lief, or instruction, or amusement to the ir ind. To col
lect and embody these, and to contribute, now and
theft, a thought of my own, to be added to the general
fund, is the object of my “Chalk Lines.”
And I am aware of the important duty which de
volves upon one who undertakes to write for the pub
lic eye, whether as a professional business, or a source
of amusement; and, although little appears to be said
or thought on the subject by those who are most deep
ly interested, I am persuaded that the common News
paper Press wields more power over the minds and
actions of the people generally, than any thing else, or
even all things else combined. The character of our
literature, the purity or corruption of our national poli
tics, the quality of our religious sentiments —and, in
deed, almost every thing connected with us, whether
public, social or domestic —receive tone and action, in
a greater or less degree, from the periodicals that pour
from the press over the land. Hence, the great neces
sity of the public giving its countenance and support to
such journals as are conducted by competent, well
mean ng men, whose writings are designed and calcu
lated to instructand benefit the reader, rather than to
rouse his passions, or pervert his judgment. It is a
truth, not to bo denied, tiiat our country is suffering un
der the influence exerted by some of her iiterary men,
so called, who are but public teachers of vice.
Literature, like every thing else, has its ages and
changes, and is at one time wholesome, atanother cor
rupting, according as public sentiment is governed by
good or evil fashions. It is a humiliating fact, that the
thousands and tens of thousands of works, that have
made their way to every nook and corner of our land
for a few years past,have been, with a few exceptions,
of the most licentious and demoralizing character, and
have exerted a great influence for evil among the peo
ple. Under the erroneous title of *• Cheap Publica
tion#,” a host of empty works have been exchanged
for the people’s money, which, on examination, were
found to contain the most trivial chit-chat and non
sense, the worst of all codes of morals, ribald jests,
bacchanalian songs, shameful scenes, and not unfre
quently obscene and revolting pictorial illustrations.—
SucV vile trash and great impositions have stamped the
present ageof our country’s literature wilh eternal infa
my, and placed a blct upon the public press, which will
not be easily wiped away.
I am infinitely pleased at reading in several eminent
journals, the opinions cf good judges, who predict a
speedy change in the character of our literature. The
minds of tho peop’e, say they, have been gorged with.
TII E TRU T H I LOVE.
VENFIELD, Eii., FEBBEAIIY \W.
filth, and must seek more wholesome food for relief.
(This change, they farther pred ct, will introduce truth
and fiction, history and romance, so Blended as both to
instruct and amuse the reader, without injuring his
morals, or misguiding his judgment. The man who
leads the way in such a noble work as this, will be
hailed a benefactor of h s race, and receive the love and
approbation of all good men.
In order to effect so important a change in our liter
ature, it is fortunate that a portion of the press has all
[along clung to the good motto, “fro bono publico.”
[for the general good, and sent forth its productions to
comfort and improve the homes and hearts of the peo
p'e. To this source the wse look for the r mental
[food, anil always find themselves well replen shed with
(the repast. They have found the diet wholesome and
refreshing, and neither w.sh nor dare to change it.
But enough now. MARTIN.
[For the Christian Index. ]
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS ESSAYS.—No. 1.
On the Dangers of Procrastination.
Man is the creature of c : rcumstances, actmg and
moving as he is urged by propelling causes. Ho is a
| free agent, in the common afuirs of life, only so far as
he is untrammelled with the b'ndranees and difficulties
\vh ch beset the great thoroughfare of human travel,
and unmolested by the frequent visits and troublesome
ntermeddling of those imag nary evils which haunt
the mind. And, while he is the creature of circum
stances, the slave of surround ng concerns, he is like
wise generally the author of those ‘ ircumstances, and.
consequently, the maker of his own roubles. At some
period of b s existence, he has negh eted the legitimate
objects ot his attention; and this ; eglcct has thrown
around him many cares and difl !t which have
increased and mplfinileduu.- y- x-riiem fra* been
cause, and the effect ceases, is as true in morals us in sur
gery ; and a thousand efforts to remove the effects,
■ while the cause rema ns, will prove an ineffectual as
[tile attempt to drain a stream of water, while the foun
jta:n continues to send forth its supply. Farther: if
[the effect is increased in power, the causes will multi- !
I ply in number, and strengthen their grasp, till every i
[thing is reduced under their control, and the creature i
rendered completely self-powerless—a slave to the
circumstances which he has created.
Again: were there no cause of evil, there would he !
no evil. If a guard were kept over the passions, the i
thoughts, the tongue, and the actions, and they reined j
in with the bridle of prudence and forecast, there would I
be no bad effects to follow alter a wrong use of them,
and, consequently, no dependence upon surround ng i
concerns, Man would be himself-—free from troubles, |
[cares and difficulties ; high in the enjoyment and use ;
of all his mental, moral and physical powers, and per- i
feet in the scale of human dignity. As the shrub of the 1
iforest shoots up, and grows without hindrance from its j
[fellows, or rift, bend, or depression from the winds and |
storms, till it reaches the tall, full, elegant form of the
noble oak ; so man, reared and guided clear from the
!snares of the world, the inducements of vice, and the 1
j follies of his fellow-men, would become fully grown to j
the perfect stature of human honor and moral worth. ,
Like begets its like in every thing, and preserves the :
[features, form, and character of itsoriginal, through all !
:the departments of natnre. Bad conduct, at one time, i
will be followed by bad consequences at another; and !,
[morality and virtue, in the beginning, will ensure mo- |
ral worth, virtuous acts, peaceful days, and consoling ,
1 reflections in the end. As any tiling is begun, so it
| will end, just as a tree remains as it fails ; and as the ‘
mature ot this beginning remain; in the farther pro
gress of the creature’s existence, so will the nature of!j
ithe ending be confirmed and strengthened. Ilcnce. |
man will be subject to care and be eluants in any affair]!
iof hfe, or tree from trouble and difficulties in his ac-f
Icornplishments, according as lie exercises prudence!}
and forethought in the outset. A delay in these impor-jj
(pint duties will prove injur,ous or fatal in almost evervj!
[ nstance ; and so the history of oar race, in all ages of
the world, has proved. There must be something right i
in the outset, or something wrong in the conclusion. i
It, follows, then, that he who puts off the prudent ;
consideration of hs affairs until the time for executing j
them arrives, destroys all prospect of success in the j
[conclusion, and brings about circumstances which con
trol his actions and letter lus thoughts, but which he
!himself might have foreseen and pret ented. It fol-1
iN EW SERIES.—\ Olj. W .—NO. 6.
lows, also, that he who neglects, in the proper time, the
suppress.on ofh s wild nature, and the subjection of his
high passions, puts himself finally under their firm con
tiol, and becomes a slave to the effects of his own im
prudent delays : and so firm is their hold, in hundreds
.Os instances, thdt the poor creature husno power to re
s st then dictates, and therefore has, in a certain Bense,
ceased to be a free agent. Moral worth and moral
power are gone ; scarcely a vestige of human honor
or human dignity remains. Such are the dancers of
procrastination in thought, intention, and self-govern
ment ; and such are the men who have allowed them
selves to be deceived by its soft whispers. Their con
dition is by no means enviable, and their actions are
fur from being worthy of general confidence. Exam
ples are innumerable among the hosts of drunkards
I swearers, gamblers, &c., who have delayed the sup-’
press on of these enormous vices, and suffered them to
fix their fatal grasp so firmly upon them, that no self
power,can now set them at freedom. They are prison
ers, bound With the cords of guilt, in the dungeon of
shame, and silently yielding to their dark fate.”
Again : as has been said, good order, in clue time, in
the arrangements and plans of the affairs of life, is alto
gether essential to success in the execution of those
’ affairs ; and next to this comes action, instant and con
stant, till the undertaking is completed. No delay is
sale here; for, while it is indulged, the bus ness ceases,
time flies, and the love of ease fastens upon the mind!
till the danger becomes iminent that the work will nev
er be accomplished, and, consequently, none of the
good realized which its completion promised. Hun
dreds of people are so much accustomed to putting off
[the concerns that demand their immediate attention,
■ and suffering them to remain untouched, while ease or
, convenience is consulted, thp their lives puss off in
l t?iC Har. ...• f b yd*4fi4iw at a U, M
TJ£. drover any good tney nave ever accomplished,
i Ins is a shameful consideration for a man, who has
;been permitted to live in the world, with all the moral,
mental, and physical powers at his command, to prompt
and urge him along in his sphere of usefulness, and with
a full knowledge of human duties and wants, and a con
viction of the dignity and moral worth of labor. It is
a shameful cons deration for one who has learned, from
observation, experience, and stern necessity, that eve
ry pleasure and comfort of life, and life itself, depend
[upon the prompt accomplishment of whatever con
;ceins demand his attention and action; and who is
aware, beforehand, that an indulgence in case and in
activ.ty never fails to produce inconveniences, wants
ami privations. It is matter of astonishment that man,
the only rational creature of the broad universe, should
continue to act so foolishly, with his eyes fully open to
consequences, and every day lashing his conscience
lor lus simplicity and folly. It is truly a want of self
core that is ruinous in its effects, and found in no crea
ture except the “ lord of creation P
j If a neglect of the affairs of life evinces so much fol
ly and simplicity in man, how much greater folly and
[simplicity —aye, guilt arid shame—are evinced by his
I constant neglect to perforin those duties which relate
j l ° flls happiness in another state of existence 1 lie
; readies the summit of wickedness, where the eye of
! offended Deity rests upon him ; and even there he re
jioses in carelessness and ease, feeling secure and
ptalm, while the bottomless pit of eternal woe yawns
[just beneath h*m. Urge him, when you see him in this
■ awful s.tuation.to delay no longer his descent from the
] frightful summit, ami escape from the devourin'’ pit
p.ead with him in all the eloquence and pathos Unit you
are possessed of, and entreat him, for the love of self,
[. mercy ol God, and the bliss of heaven, to fly from
, Us condition, and begin the necessary work to ensure
: hiS B! "ety; and his reply, like that of Felix, will put
iyou oil till a more convenient season, and show that an
mnagnaiy fee! ng ol carnal security is to be tlic cause
i “is eternal ruin. Return again, in a short time, to
[repeat the warning, and he is gone forever ! hi tho
j midst of nis criminal delay, he was hurled from the
[summit into the pit, and the place which once knew
[him knows him no more! Oh! when will man learn
l to hno.w and to value his true interests—to seize upon
land perform his great duties? When will he occupy
I the sphere suited to his nature, and be what God de
signed hnn ?
| I’hese are the dangers of procrastination, in the con
i’ crus ot i nne and Eternity! Beware—beware of
I their influence I