Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-24

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Way back yonder before the an
gelic song trembled over the plain
of Bethlehem, seven oreight centurie
before the shepherds shouted tn
advent of the promised one
we find royal man upon roya
throne, after having slipped at ever.
cup of vice taking up his pen AM
writing these mournful words
"Vanity Of vanities all Is vanity.
"Rejoice young maniin thy youth etc
And again as lie closes his historl
and his life he utters those word
that seem to come to us as the wall
ing echo of mournful dirge. "llea
the conclusion ofthe whole natter
fear God and keep his commandment
for this is the whole duty of man.
Eighteen hundred years ago we fine
one greater than Solomon sitting il
his study at Ephesus taking up his
pen and inscribing these words to the
church at Galatia, "Be not deceived
God is not Knocked, for whatsoever 9
man soweth that shall he also reap
Many young man TO day all ovcl
the land and especially in our towns
and cities who is now moral wreck
can trace his fall and his ruin
to what he considered at the
time little innocent sport
Sowing wild oats but ah Ditat a hdr-
estl A young man enters faro, gen.
teel game, elegant surroundings, well
dressed company, chances nearly
even between player and bank, why
not try fortune in business like
game? The Bengal tiger may be
tanned. To the tigers den The young
man is there, he bets aud wins.
Beautiful tiger, velvet fur, gor-
geous stripes and head bowed on fore
paws as ifhalf asleep! Another night,
luck runs fair, the tiger opens his
eyes with dreamy look asif he rath-
CT liked the stroke OH his velvet fur.
Another night, luck varies, losses al
ternate with gains, now hope, now
fear is uppermost, the excitement
fascinates, the tiger seems more rest
less aud changes posture. So night
follows night and game follows game,
until the excitement becomes a pas
sion and the passion fixes itself into
a habit. The time so cunningly
awaited has come at last, the tigers
eyes flash with sudden fire; his lips
quiver and show the teeth of terri
BILE intent a moment more and soul
falls heavily under his leap and
feels his teeth and claws in
its victals. Fighting the
tiger! Insane conflict! Who can
loosen that clutch or hold those jaws
apart? Let the limbs rrithel They
only tear the gashes wider, let the
muscles strain, they only send the
blood in freor spurts through the
thirsting throat! Fighting the tiger!
Horrible irony, better call it feeding
the tiger. Look at the bones that by
hundreds and thousands strew his
den, for the tiger is not only faro, but
every other species of gambling,
where every noble purpose of life,
peace Of mind, is eaten up and moth
ing left but the ghastly skeletons of
devoured manhood. No wonder
Geo. Eliot says, and what she says is
worth needing here, "That the gam
bling appetite is more absolutely
dominant than bodily hunger, which
may be neutralized by emotional or
intellectual excitation, but the pas
sion for watching chances nullifies
the susceptibility TO other excitation.
In its final imperious stage it seems
the unjoyous dissipation Of demons,
seeking aversion on the burning
mari of perdition."
Another species of dissipation or
wild-out-sowing is perhaps more
fearfully fatal than gambling; and
thai is drunkenness, the two howev-
er are generally intimately associat-
ed. How many noble bark has
gone down in this fearful maelstrom !?
See that young man as he stands
in the elegant saloon, look at that
beautiful solitaire as it flashes in the
gas light when he lifts the magnifi-
cent cut-glass to his mouth and swal-
lows its frOthing contents; he spends
his money with a dash which be-
speaks elegant leisure, fast living in
high life. Don't insult him by warn
ing him against the possible end of
such beginning. His superior
manhood is a sufficient guarantee
against all such contingencies. He
is betrothed to the fairest and most
accomplished lady in town, the day
appointed for their nuptials arrives.
They enter the church, handsome,
couple; they stand at the altar or
dained and sanctioned by Heaven.
He places gold ring upon her
finger, simple band of gold but
symbolizing to them both band
which nothing but the hand of death
can sever. How happy she is to lean
upon the arm of such a noble, chiv-
alrous man and to look up in his
face and remember that she has ell
trusted her life and happiness to his
keeping and protection ! Every body
is saying, "May the radiant sun-ht
morning that witnesses the mutual
vow only prove a faithful adum-
bration of their married life." She
goes with proud elastic step and
thrilling heart to adorn and grace his
splendid home. What perfect bliss
Can the demon of discord ever rip
pie the surface of a life so happy?
Shall cloud of sorrow ever shadow
a sky so serene? Months have pass
ed, it is night, the single stroke Of
the handsome clock on the mantle
indicates the hour to be one in the
morning, her eyes are red with watch
ing. She lis tens in vain for his football |;
if the thought other girlhood's home,
the peace and happiness that were
hers in her fathers splendid home,
flashes upon her it is only for q mo-
ment and she dismisses the thought
as unworthy her and disloyal to him ;
she kisses the ring because it is his
and so renews her pledge of fidelity.
Years roll by, it is night again, mid
night in mid-winter, lonely, hag-
gard woman is shivering before an
empty CRATE in a poorly furnished
garret. She presses her sick child to
her bosom to shield its little form from
the rigors of winters night. Is
this the beauty who stood amid light
and music and perfume and received
as queen might from ,courtier the