The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-05-11

TO our emotional nature. Preachers can't
preach without it.; soldiers can't fight
without it; lovers can't court without T..
1t Is alike Incoming ut marriage and at
death, and g:aces all the grand ceremo-
malls OF nations, whether civilized or
rude; but above all it is the chsrm and
comfort Of our homes and fresidos.
"Sing 10 me, mother, sing TO me-" was
the first request OF our sick boy when
he returned TO consciousness from his
long and feverish dream. "Oh, music J!
VIVA! is t, and where does 1t dwell 2"
If ! can't make ii, I love 1t, and it seems
to me that can pass away more sweetly.
when my time comes if my last hours
are blessed With its hsrmonies.
The preachers tell us that all these
shows are sinful, aud We should not at
tend them or give them encouragement.
Well, they do lead US into temptation
and vitiste the appetite for better things
and 80 does rich food an fine clothes
and too much company There sre msny
things that lead our frsil hodies into
temptations that are not within them
selves sinful. The time was, remember,
when cards were under the ban, and SO
we're the fiddle and gold watch, and 8
ring, or breast-pin, or flowers in the
hair or upon the honnet. when preacher
could not dress as Sam Jones does now,
or own phseton or let his boy sport
on Shetland pony. It's not the use but
the abuse of privileges and pleasures
that makes them sinful. and am not
philsnthropist enough to torego sill
worldly pleasures to the preachers. II
others choose to make sacrifice, say,
May the Lord bless and comfort you
The opera or the play Of "Hamlet", or
"She S,oops to Conquer" may shock the
piey and devotion Of some, but they
are refining and grateful pleasures to me.
| have heard preachers tell nimitahle
anecdotes, and have enjoYed the Wit
Of the eudman 10 q negro mi strel show
But now comes the lesson Of life, for
there is lesson 10 every thing. The
youth of this sge indulge too much 10
such things. In our cities they want 10
60 every night, and most all who can do
go. overheard a gentleman Say the
other night: Il see ladies here who have
not paid their washing bills in month. "
The truth ie that people get into habit
of going and they can t stay away. With
many It is their chief Joy, for they are
miserable at home. Let homo be made
happy and neither parents nor children
will leave it often for any kind Of show.
1t Is not the theater that is the sin, but
it IL some other sin that takes them there
to escape from misery or ennui for q
time. Too much pie, or too much to-
bacco or too much fire dressing, or too
much scolding or fret,ing at home are
all sins, AMI just SO is too much decors-
ton at elbows sod The theater. The sin
comes in just where we abuse the gifts
OF God, whether it be vine or tobacco
or cards or the dance, ] see that man
had denounced Sam Small with exceed
ing bitterness for smoking, snd Sam re-
piled that il any body could show him
that smoking cigarettes bad ever kept q
soul ont OF heaven he would quit That
was q very poor reply to very malig-
nant attack Nobody can know who has
been or will he kept out of heaven, and
nobody csn measure his influence over
others. But We do know that the use oil
tobacco by boys is on the increase, and
that it Is very injurious to them !; and we
do know that boys smoke and chew be.
cause men do. use the weed myself
but ! do net wish my boys to follow my
example, and ,hst is a confession o
judgment that everv father makes. The
example Of one great and good man lasts
a long time, snd in my opinion there is
many Methodist preacher chewing and
smoking TO day because old Levick
Pesrce did. Tue old man used wine snd
tobacco. Labilually, hut be never abused
them He lived for near centory, aud
ebored in season aud out OF season, anC
nobody doubts his blessed Immortality