Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-10
The Saloons and Youn. Men.

Joshua J.. Baily, Esq, in an address ~,
the thirty-frst anniversary of the Pb;)ads.
phia Young Mems Christian Association
referred to the saloon peril for younr man
in that city as follows:
eco with me along these streets AMI soo
other Young Mems Association buildinre
| do rot think they are Christian Assor;.'
ton buildings. ! will not invite YOU TO en-
ter, but as you pass by you may see tbronnb
their many windows the mirrored walls
and the frescoed ceilings, and the crystal
! spangled chandeliers, almost .veiyhnp
that art can suggest, to allure and attract
See how the young men ore throneing those
broad doorways. And many there be fiat
| go III thereat, to the destruction of their
bodies and the ruin of their souls.
Almost under the shadow OF this build.
ing, as though in moclSery of our work,
may be found these vestibules of the nit
hited up IN the most costly manner, with
cut and stained glass windows, and mic.
tured walls, and other artistic decorations
to allure the steps of the passers-by. In
the name OF art and architecture, protest
against the perversion of these valuable in.
strumentalities to the sole use of Satan and
his instruments.
"One word more: While we sit here in
this hall to- night, considering what can be
done to save young men, there are six
thousand open saloons in this city, besides
hundreds of other immoral places of resort,
each throwing out its cnticements. SUP
posing ten to be tho average number enter !
ing each OF these places this evening land
you will not think this too large an esti- |
lnate), the number would be sixty thousand.
is it not an appalling thought Sixty thou
sand young men subjected to such inHu.
ences-to the vile contamination of these
body and soul destroying agencies. Great
| numbers of these young men come from the
rural portions OF our Stale. They have left
driving the COWS and following the pillow to
seek the more stirring life of the city. They
have here no settled homes, no paternal
roof to shelter them, no freside, as they
had up yonder, with its cheerful welcome,
whcra mother and sisters gathered and
helped TO while away the evening hours.
so they go out upon the street for society,
Tor entertainment, for compauionship; and
too soon are they entrapped by these mersi-
less vampires, wLo are ever lying in wait
for ti:e'n. Fellow citizens, hundreds OF
such men are on our streets at this very
hour.
SP .onueI. among the Nils. L see u
quiet cottage; there is light in the win
dow, and the glow from the open fire rests
upon the faces of each member Of that
family group. Evening prayer has just
been offered. i'll which the absent one was
not forgotten, and as the last words are
spoken SEE rising from her seat in the
corner one whose thoughts have carried her
! to the far-of city. Her eyes are sufused
with teas. and her heart is beating with
emotions she can suppress no longer, rs
with clasped hands she cries, where, oh!
where, is my boy tonight
That mothers cry comes to you and
me. We cannot answer it with the ques-
ton: Am l my brothers keeper But We
can answer it by assuming the responsible
1ty which God has placed upon Us, and 60
ing forth in the strength which He gives to
lend hand"