The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-18

tuIcC tltllCS dllu DC plOtlClCllt, paying tiS
most part, while the dull boy will plod over
warded with censure and oftentimes blows,
whereas he really deserves more praise for his
industry and perseverance.
1t would be foolish to condemn men who
could not comprehend the beauty Of tone in
music, and to blame persons who could not
detect difference in colors. 1t would be equal
absurd to blame mankind for his natural fail
ings, or to discredit things which our senses
could not discern. Some people believed in
spiritualism-I dont't; but am not prepared
to say that it has no existence, because if |
have not the sense 10 discern one thing | may
not have the faculty to discern another. Natu-
raj instincts, when apparently dead, are often
only dormant. l had a cat once, which
trained to be Gagged with bird. For time
all went we'll, but one day its natural instinct
prevailed, and it ate the bird.
People of equally balanced minds were in
huenced for good or evil by their associations.
One associate could make them good and
raise them to the pinnacle of honor; another
would only breathe pollution around and cast
them into perditon. Who has not watched
young man 60 forward with good resolutions
and fall away, not from the influence Of drink,
but of association. They visit the saloon, not
from the love of drink, but for the society it
furnishes. Temperance men, beware Of this
when you put down saloon; furnish the young
with good company. If one thing be assured
if they are not raised by good company, they
will fall by bad.
The circumstance we are placed in have great
influence over our lives. never see a child Jul
in scorn from beggar, a pharisee in pious
exsltaton from his fallen brothe-, or lady OF
fashion from her erring sister, but what think
they might be bad equally under similar circum-
stances. We don't know how pure or weak we
are until we are tried. Its no use talking to a
starving man of honesty, and to say all who
will can find work, is an absurdity. l have
known women who have made shirts for
dollar a dozen, what wonder if they fall away
like deer hunted to death. We open our
purse for the Garfield fund, for the land league,
but We seldom pause to consider the necessity
existing around our doors. (Cheers.)
Men, you who have not been tempted,
whose paths lay in pleasant places, whose
taste has not been naturally corrupted by de-
bauchery, what can you know of temptation :?
Women surrounded by comfort and by love,
what do you know of the trials of the erring
sisters that fall? You have never lived in an
attic, you have never heard your child cry for
bread and had none to give it. You have
never seen your children die for want of sus-
tenance. You have never had hunger gnawjng
your vitals. You have never stood with death
on the one hand and sin on the other, and
how then can you Judge your erring sister.
Woman's love of dress is fruitful source
of sin. She is brave woman who can face
the word in shabby dress and bear its ridi-
Guile.
Poverty leads many women stray. She has
seen her home where all around is plain, poor
and hard, and contrasts it with the mansion
near it. where all is apparently refinement,
love, and life passes in sweet harmony. What
wonder if she covets this change. Man knows
this failing. If the son of the squire speaks
to her, calls her beauty, and gives her the
hope of enjoying these things, what wonder
she gfasps at the shadow! All, we'll does he
succeed. There is soon a day of mourning
The child they love is to the parents worse than
dead. She returns finding the bitter t,u,h
that rich robe may conceal an aching heart,
and she finds perhaps her old parents dead
and her future dark. She is received every
where with soon, whilst he takes some fair
lady as his fiancee, who takes him to her
heart, whilst she scorns the victim of his lust.
What wonder if she tulns in the downward
path and falls into the quagmire of sin.
The influence FOR good and evil of the posi-
tive over the negative is not generally regarded
with due attention. Many of us have seen
psychologist choose their subjects and make
them do absurd things, but did it ever
occur that persons having that power
could use 1t in private for good or
evil? Many persons possess this power,
and every one has more or less in
fluence. Did we understand this question we
shor'd have more charity. This is the true
reason why youth will cling to pernicious
tempters, and in spite of all warning are drag
ged down. Which, then, should be punished,
the workmen or the tool!
had at school companion, the daughter
of psychologist, who controlled the whole
school by her strong positive power, and had
at last to be elected by the school board for
the evils resulting from that power. A physi
clan knew had the power so great that he
could use it on all who came, and Aaron
Burr boosted that by its use he made all men
his slaves, and woman the creature ofhis will
We often hear words from an orator which
impress us forcibly, and YET in reading those
so TO effect US. 1t is nothing more than the
positive influence of the speaker.
| once was in company and heard this ques-
ton discussed by Young man who pointed
out this as being one of the evils to women
A young lady denied this, and he then said
we have more physical strength than you,
took her by the arm, and in few moments
could see she was under the psychological in
huence. He motioned her to sleep and she
was completely powerless. When restored he
told her that he had simply done it to show
the error Of her opinion and cautioned her to
keen the event before her as she might moi