that his immoral writings
have done far more harm than his purer writings have done good; and
it would be better that all his writings should be destroyed and
forgotten, provided his indecent songs could be destroyed with them.

13. MORAL PRINCIPLE.--Many of our young men lack moral principle. They
cannot look upon a beautiful girl with a pure heart and pure thoughts.
They have not manifested or practiced that self-control which develops
true manhood and brings into subordination evil thoughts, evil
passions, and evil practices. Men who have no self-control will find
life a failure, both in a social and in a business sense. The world
despises an insignificant person who lacks backbone and character.
Stand upon your manhood and womanhood; honor your convictions, and
dare to do right.

14. STRONG DRINK.--There is the habit of strong drink. It is only the
lack of self-control that brings men into the depths of degradation;
on account of the cup, the habit of taking drink occasionally in
its milder forms--of playing with a small appetite that only needs
sufficient playing with to make you a demon or a dolt. You think you
are safe; I know you are not safe, if you drink at all; and when you
get offended with the good friends that warn you of your danger,
you are a fool. I know that the grave swallows daily, by scores,
drunkards, every one of whom thought he was safe while he was forming
his appetite. But this is old talk. A young man in this age who forms
the habit of drinking, or puts himself in danger of forming the habit,
is usually so weak that he does not realize the consequences.

[Illustration: LOST SELF-CONTROL.]

* * * * *

HABIT.

It is almost as difficult to make a man unlearn his Errors as his
Knowledge.--COLTON.

There are habits contracted by bad example, or bad management, before
we have judgment to discern their approaches, or because the eye of
Reason is laid asleep, or has not compass of view sufficient to look
around on every quarter.--TUCKER.

1. HABIT.--Our real strength in life depends upon habits formed in
early life. The young man who sows his wild oats and indulges in the
social cup, is fastening chains upon himself that never can be broken.
The innocent youth by solitary practice of self-abuse will fasten upon
himself a habit which will wreck his physical constitution and bring
suffering and misery and ruin. Young man and young woman, beware of
bad habi