Show i I IS IT rr DECADENCE With what ni ardor dor a young oung man enters the career which opens before him with what eagerness he hastens to taste the golden fruits of life as if fearful th that t they might be snatched away from him himin himin in some way vay but at the ame same time with what care caie h he develops de his mind following the precepts of his mas- mas teis All this to the end that he may take an honorable and successful part pait in inthe inthe inthe the battle of life and not present himself disarmed and vanquished before having having- fought y Youth is the happy season of naive illusions and generous errors of hopes often disappointed and always alway re- re It seems that the young oung man sees the exterior world in iri some magic mirror minor more beautiful more moie poetic than than- the the reality and thus for foi a time the ye years years' rs' rs I I I I 0 flew v and a d his nature becomes tempered fine fineas as steel and enjoying life himself he brings bring joy to others thus contributing contributing- to the happiness of all The above is a scrap of French love written we know not how many many years ago i we wonder how many young men of to-day to would recognize themselves in inthis this glowing portrait Did this ardent aident joyous spirit it of youth an and hope exist in inthe inthe inthe the older days or 01 did the writer find this this' in his Lis picture own bright blight imagination However i it was wa we j lear ear that such a spirit in the of buoyancy and hopefulness does not exist at the present time Is there something blighting about modern modem civilization that the liven heart of if y youth uth should cease to beat with its old I time vigor How should we account f forthe for forthe or orthe the pale cheeks the sallow skin the dull sunken eyes of modern modem youth The modern modem young man of twenty in almost a majority of cases is but the tile pale sha shadow of the stalwart man we have a alight aright aright right light to expect from the that have passed in his development Nor does the mind belie its outside shell it is dull and torpid as the eyes which it peers out upon the surrounding world telling a most pitiful tale talc talc of bf a deceased soul dwelling in a decaying temple It It lacks the power even of enjoyment except of that of-that that which is most gross nat- nat nature uie ure ure pi presents no charms chaims beauty no allurements allurements allure allure- ments sensuality alone gives a few years of uncertain feverish pleasure then there is left a jaded body and an irritable I 1 I r b mind knowing I only misery itself and bringing ringing only misery and sorrow sorrow sor sor- row row- to others No matter what is undertaken taken it is al always always always al- al ways the same There are aie lacking the elements of f true courage and honest self- self reliance There is rarely ever any sustained sustained sustained sus sus- effort The modern youth must solve every mystery of life must surmount surmount sur sur- mount all its obstacles overcome all aU its di difficulties inside of ten years after he attains manhood at most or else failure discouragement despair dishonor No o one is content to be a draft horse hoise he must be a blooded cour courser courier er for a few years at least even at the expense of Jiving living liv- liv ing ino- O the rest of his life a knock kneed spavined old hack Hence we are aie becoming becoming becoming be be- coming slaves of gross appetites both cf body and of mind The alarming growth of the desire for unnatural excitement in increases increases increases in- in creases terribly the number votaries at atthe atthe atthe the shrine of sensuality Is this the period of decadence of our modern Rome One might think so judging from the exploits of the upper ten thousand in New York City their lavished y their gross and shameless disregard for all rules of decency and morality With such an example from the leaders of society what else can we expect from those who move on society's lowest plane than they should succumb to the lowest of hu human an appetites and desires desires- These symptoms can easily be distinguished distinguished distin distin- by anyone But the The cure Where is the wise physician can locate the roots of the terrible cancer that is fastening itself upon the heart of our civilization Moralist philanthropist scientist we appeal to you oh for some in inspired one to bring down the sacred fire f from heaven that could reanimate the sinking heart of youth to fill fili the souls of men with pure desires with pure love and true sympathy Such is the human v- v Ji I t j 1 K L. L h i a f I cry and even that cry ascends to heavens heaven's vast dome whence comes comes no answering answering- sound Man too vain to o acknowledge dge his humble origin yet confesses himself too weak to work out his own career and claims the especial guardianship of the the- unknown ruler of the universe displaying displaying display ing as ever the ame same perverse e impatience of natures s slow processes the same stubborn stubborn stubborn stub stub- born disregard for natures laws He He- would not climb to the heaven even though he found the path all prepared I for his feet Oh no God himself must come clown do and waft him away in a a. a cloud of glory prepared for his special benefit It is our pei perverse verse impatience which makes desire for ourselves a special d dispensation dis dispensation dis- dis s- s of the Divine Spirit which makes us deaf to the voice of which is the voice voke of God or else God speaks not at all for it must be that when God speaks H He e should reveal leveal not one thing but all things should fill the universe with his voice and that voice should resound throughout all eternity as long as suns shine or planets roll The law of God has not been een written in a sealed scaled book and hidden away in in some dark tomb but the volume illumined by bya a million suns is open to every everyone one who will but turn its leaves We vVe wish there here were more regard for natures nature's plainly written laws for to their violation may be traced all the evils evils- which beset us Why not leave the the- f mysteries of the life to come until we have solved the problems of the present j life especially as herein may lie the key to those mysteries 1 |