Morning Star

MISCELLANY.

For the Morning Star.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ia., July 28, 1846.

Bro. Burr:-Prompted by your very polite invitation to write, I am induced so to do thus early after arriving at the place of my destination.

The feelings of a young man upon leaving home are anything but pleasant. The parting with parents, from whom we have received "line upon line and precept upon precept," and whose prayers have oft been heard for our salvation, now to be heard no more perhaps forever; the parting with brothers and sisters with whom in youth we played, and chased the butterfly, as we wound our way to the school-house beside the wood on yonder hill, and in more mature years held sweet counsel together ; the parting with friends, made so by the reciprocation of feeling and similarity of sentiments, all combine to make the soul feel dark.

Then to leave New England! Who that has the honor of being called a yankee can leave her without giving one long, long, lingering look, without blessing the land of his nativity? Truly the injunction of a certain friend should be remembered, " Dinna forget New England." Forget New England! No, never. Long may this motto be engraven upon my mind, and the virtues of its author as well as those of New England never cease to stimulate me on in the path of rectitude.

The time I spent in your beautiful village (city it ought to be) will be recorded as among my happiest days. It is sweet to be among those of similar sentiments, feelings and taste; to be among those the poetess calls " kindred spirits."

I left Dover on the 7th inst., for Providence, R. I. Here is a very desirable place of residence. While men are eagerly engaged in business, they do not, as far as we can judge by appearances, forget what will tend to promote the happiness of themselves and family. I saw many things that led to this conclusion, one or two of which I will mention.

Schools of the finest order are established throughout the city, where children commence with the elementary principles of education, go on from one division to another, from one school to another, until they are fitted for college. Such perfect order as here reigns, such a systematic course, all tending to promote the scholars' advancement in the fastest way, is not equalled in any part of the United States, not even excepting the public schools of Boston. This is acknowledged by competent judges. It seems almost impossible that such large companies of children could be trained to obey and observe the regulations with such respectful deference. To see them go through with their exercises, seems more like the operations of machinery than that of young immortals. I would say to every one that takes pleasure in visiting schools, or in the company of children, if you are ever in Providence, don't fail of visiting the Public Schools, for you certainly will receive a "feast of fat things."

Another happy feature in the appearance of the city is, that nearly every man that is able to own a house, has with it a garden in which he cultivates a great variety of fruit and flowers. This in my humble opinion greatly augments the happiness of the domestic circle, while it is of comparatively small pecuniary disadvantage. How pleasant it must be for a man when tired and perplexed with business, to sit down, at evening, under his own vine and fig tree, and there with his family enjoy the fruits and flowers, mingled with pleasant conversation. His cares are soon forgotten; and when he goes to his business again his perplexity is gone, and perhaps by the influence of one bunch of flowers, he makes enough in one trade to pay for the culture of his garden a whole year. But such enjoyment as this would be misery to the miserly Bostonian, who seems not to count his or his family's happiness, but the dollars. It is his delight to see his long brick or granite slate covered blocks facing square to the street, with a narrow court yard snugly paved, without a tree or shrub to cast its lonely shadow upon the smoky walls. Boston is a dense, business and money-making city, and if the truth were known, methinks as many prayers are offered to the "almighty dollar," as to the Almighty Maker.

On the morn of the 14th, I found myself in New York city-the London of America. A few hours' walk with a friend showed us many of its fine buildings and streets. But as we had time to barely glance at them, we should perhaps conclude as the boy did, who visited the city and saw many new buildings going up. When asked what he thought of the city, he replied, " Well, I should think it would be quite a pretty place when they get it finished."

Here we behold much wealth and splendor, many costly public buildings, churches, and fine yards While the mind is admiring these, and rejoicing in the happiness derived from a proper use of them, we turn the leaf, and upon the opposite page we see poverty, degradation and vice. When we consider that twenty-five thousand are inmates of those houses where the corruptions of hell collect, and from which virtue goes weeping away, and that these houses are visited by two or three times that number of men, our admiration is turned to disgust; and our smiles to tears. Licentiousness is a sin of our land, and is fast growing upon us. If its progress is not stopped, it will prove, as it has in other countries, a great means of our final downfall. It takes every particle of virtue and morality from an individual, and when these qualifications are wanting, what individuals or nations can long sustain themselves? The question naturally arises, how shall this sin be abrogated? Eld. A. and bro B. sigh over the depravity of mankind, and say, "I know licentiousness is a great sin, but it is a delicate subject to speak upon. I don't like to do it and the people don't like to hear anything said about it " We acknowledge the truth of this statement. People never like to hear any sin denounced, that they are guilty of. But can it be remedied by silence? Experience proves to the contrary. It is a sin strongly and frequently denounced in the Bible ; but how unfrequently do we hear anything said against it, either from the pulpit, or in any other place. It seems to me that if the prevalence of the evil was more generally known, more would be said and done for its suppression. The idea that some have advanced, that saying anything upon the subject only increases the evil, is all moonshine. You might as well say that denouncing intemperance increases drunkenness. If we wish to reform society in any respect, you must let the people know they are committing sin, and the consequences which will follow, if they do not reform. Let us see to it that the skirts of our garments are clear, and let us not be deterred from duty by delicacy of feelings or false modesty.

G. H. KEITH.

(To be continued.)