planter is ever ready to indulge his sons with some profession they
seldom practise, and which too often results in idleness and its
attendants. This, coupled to a want of proper society with which the
young may mix for social elevation, finds gratification in drinking
saloons, fashionable billiard rooms, and at the card table. In the
first, gentlemen of all professions meet and revel away the night in
suppers and wine. They must keep up appearances, or fall doubtful
visitors of these fashionable stepping-stones to ruin. Like a
furnace to devour its victims, the drinking saloon first opens its
gorgeous doors, and when the burning liquid has inflamed the mental
and physical man, soon hurries him onward into those fascinating
habitations where vice and voluptuousness mingle their degrading
powers. Once in these whirlpools of sin, the young man finds himself
borne away by every species of vicious allurement-his feelings
become unrestrained, until at length that last spark of filial
advice which had hovered round his consciousness dies out. When this
is gone, vice becomes the great charmer, and with its thousand
snares and resplendent workers never fails to hold out a hope with
each temptation; but while the victim now and then asks hope to be
his guardian, he seldom thinks how surely he is sinking faster and
faster to an irretrievable depth.

Through this combination of snares-all having their life-springs in
slavery-Lorenzo brought ruin upon his father, and involved his
uncle. With an excellent education, a fine person, frank and gentle
demeanour, he made his way into the city, and soon attracted the
attention of those who affect to grace polished society. Had society
laid its restraints upon character and personal worth, it would have
been well for Lorenzo; but the neglect to found this moral
conservator only serves to increase the avenues to vice, and to