A Solemn Appeal - James White

and the habit once formed, like that of
intemperance, becomes almost unconquerable. In
boarding schools and colleges, it obtains oftentimes
without an exception. Hence the many sickly
students, and the many young men of the most
brilliant and promising talents, who have broken
their constitution and ruined their health, as it is
said, "by hard study!" '
"Nor, in my humble judgment, do any of these
statements overrate the evil; but far underrate it, as
regards its prevalence in this country. English
authors speak almost as freely regarding its
prevalence there. If it is less extensively practiced
in France, it is probably because licentiousness
proper takes its place.
" 'But our females, at least, are safe,' exclaims
the fond mother. 'My daughter's native modesty is
her shield of protection.' Would to God this were
so! but facts wrest even this consolation from us.
They may be less infected, yet woman, young and
modest, is dying by thousand, of consumption, of
female complaints, of nervous or spinal affections,
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