Five lessons for young men

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837. Excerpt: ... LESSON I. THE THEATRE. "The Theatre was from the very first, The favorite haunt of sin; though honest men. Some very honest, wise and worthy men, Maintained it might be turned to good account: And so perhaps it might; but never was. From first to last it was an evil place; And now such things are acted there, as make The devils blush; and from the neighbourhood Angels and holy men, trembling retire." Poliok. In the old European empires, from the days of ancient Greece and Rome, down to this day, it has been the policy of their governments to keep the people in ignorance: And why? Because if enlightened, in the true sense of the term, and on a broad scale, the reign of those t'rannical and despotic governments would cease; and the people would resort to self-government, as a rational consequence of their liberation from the chains and fetters of ignorance. But how have the tyrants of Europe succeeded in keeping the people in ignorance? I answer, in yarious ways; but principally by systematically diverting their attention from serious literary, scientific, religious and useful studies, by means of numerous idle and useless holidays, more or less, in every year; and by all sorts of vicious? as well as idle and worthless shows and exhibitions; such as chariot races, gladiatorial combats, bull-baitings, theatres, circusses; and, in short, perhaps a hundred other devices, calculated and intended to retard mental improvement, and thus to render the populace, the many, through their own heedlessness and ignorance, the dupes and slaves of the few. If, indeed, in a free government like ours, where rulers are responsible to the people, corruption and tyranny, or usurpation, begin, the moment that vigilance on the part of the people ceases; how much worse must be the...