A CHAPTER FOR BOYS 395 



At this time the once bright and intelligent youth 

 had become so obtuse and stupid that he appeared 

 almost senseless. His face wore an idiotic expression, 

 and was rarely lighted up by a look of intelligence. 

 It was only by the greatest exertion that he could be 

 made to understand or to respond when spoken to. In 

 whatever position he was placed, whether lying, sit- 

 ting, or standing, no matter how constrained or pain- 

 ful, he would remain for hours, staring vacantly, as 

 fixed and immovable as a statue. His countenance was 

 blank and expressionless, except at rare intervals. His 

 lips were always parted, and the saliva ran from the 

 corners of his mouth down upon his clothing. The 

 calls of nature were responded to involuntarily, con- 

 stantly soiling his clothing and bedding in a most 

 disgusting manner, and requiring the constant atten- 

 tion of a nurse to keep him in anything like a whole- 

 some condition. 



We did what we could to relieve this poor victim 

 of unhallowed lust, but soon became convinced that 

 no human arm could save from utter ruin this self- 

 destroyed soul. At our suggestion the young man was 

 removed, to be placed in an institution devoted to the 

 care of imbeciles and lunatics. The last we heard of 

 the poor fellow he was still sinking into lower depths 

 of physical and mental degradation,— a soul utterly 

 lost and ruined. 



How many thousands of young men who might 

 have been useful members of society,— lawyers, cler- 

 gymen, statesmen, scientists,— have thus sunk into the 

 foul depths of the quagmire of vice, to rise no more 

 forever ! Oh, awful fate ! The human eye never rests 

 upon a sadder sight than a ruined soul, a mind shat- 

 tered and debased by vice. 



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