86 EPISTLES TO STUDENTS. 



should abstain from fictitious writings as being an antidote — fearful an- 

 tidote to the full development of his mental faculties ; in their study- 

 he hazards the purity of his moral nature, and insensibly nourishes 

 within himself a toleration of vice and ignominy, which in the end will 

 ' bite like a serpent and sting like an adder ! ' And the purest, the best 

 of fiction, with the most cautious of readers, we should even be disposed 

 to view only as pleasant by-paths, whereat the traveller in the world of 

 letters may turn aside to regale himself with healthful shades, but by no 

 means essential to a proud and noble stand in the drama of life. " 



epistles to students. no, v. 

 Young Gentlemen : 



There remains to be considered the solemn promise that you make 

 when introduced into the college, that you will abstain from all inde- 

 cent, disorderly behaviour. If left to your option in regard to this, it is 

 reasonable to suppose that you would be inclined to avoid what is in- 

 decent, and to regulate your conduct by the rules of order. It is ex- 

 pected of you, that you have been so trained at home and have come to 

 us so charged with the advice of those who take the deepest interest in 

 your w'elfare, as to be fully prepared to conform to the laws of de- 

 cency and order. This is required of you, is laid down as the course 

 wliich you must pursue, if you would stand well in the estimation of 

 the authorities of the institution and retain your membership. But what, 

 you may ask, is more particularly designed by this portion of the vow. 

 It may be thought that the requisition is not very definite and that it 

 may cover a great deal of ground. 



It cannot be denied that it may be charged with want of definite- 

 ness, if we are to suppose that some single act is referred to. It must, 

 too, be conceded that it is very comprehensive, and yet the presumption 

 is entirely in favor of the opinion that there can be no dilFiculty in de- 

 termining in any specific case, whether it pertains to the category of in- 

 decency, or disorder, or not. Amongst the numerous illustrations which 

 might be given, your attention is .called to the following. Under the 

 head of indecency, the first tiling to be mentioned is unbecoming dress. 

 The reference is not to extravagance in dress, expense beyond oui means, 

 — this we consider dishonest pride, and though most severely to be con- 

 demned, not presented for consideration at this time — but dress that is 

 outre^ singular, calculated to arrest attention and elicit censure. In ad- 

 dition to this, negligence in dress and in our personal appeaiance, either 

 in the presence of the instructors or the public, and want of cleanliness. 



