The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-05
THE BOARDING HOUSE.
pR. vENABLE'S INTERESTING SER
MON ON THE SUBJECT.
The Place Whore Young Man Eats
and sleeps Has Much to Do With
His Status and Success in
Life.

Venablc. The topic discussed by the pop
ular and learned divine was, Boarding
Houses and Young Mem" The choir sang
some excellent and inspiring selections,
and after reading from the first chapter Of
st. John, commencing at the forty third
verse, he selected as bis text the forty
sixth verse Of that chapter, which asks the
question propounded by Nathaniel to Phil
lip, "Can any good thing come out Of
Nazareth ?" After briefly roverting to the
fact that there were a great many things
in the Jewish life in the early his
tory Of Christianity that rcscmbled
our own, and the Jews who lived
in the grcatscity OF Jerusalem looked
contemptuously upon the inhabitants OF
the small and then undistingushed village
Of Nazareth, regarding the people of that
village inferior 20 them in the social con-
ditions Of life. When Phillip had gone in
search Of the Messiah, found him and
been convinced of his superiority and
greatness over ali the wise men in the
country, he returned and told Nathaniel
about Christ. Nathaniel, In his astonish-
iurnt, then asked the historic question
embodied in the text The same bigoted
spirit existed in Memphis today. People
who live in the fashionable quarters Of the
city look down with a ccrInin contempt
upon those who live in "Pinch." There
are people in South Memphis who would
consider II disgrace to live IN Goat hill
and vice versa. This is characteristic
OF human nature, which exists in all
countries and localities. IL is mentioned
20 illustrate fact, where man lives do
terpuics largely what he win, where you
eat AMI sleep has great deal 10 do with
your lifr, your standing in the community,
your success, etc. at is my purpose"
continued the minister, ito speak TO you
on the subject OF boardng-houscs and
their influence on young men. ! have
nothing. particular against boarding houses;
they are a very necessary institution. ]
never saw onein my lie that was not abused
10y the boarders; n great many OF them de-
serve II. One Of the most important ques-
,ions which can possibly present itself TO
the young man who comes 10 the city 10
live Is, Where shall boari? On the Sc
lection OF the place at which he shall take
his meals and sleep depends most largely
upon the position he will occupy in
society, and TO a large extent the success
lac will have In business. ] undertake TO
say that there il but little thought given
10 this subject but | hope to show how
very important II is. As said moment
ago | never knew a boariing-house that
WAS not abused the best OF them cannot
please every onc-men tire vi a place. and
easily find objections TO II. Some board
lighthouses not only deserve the abuse they
get, but the earth beneath them ought 10
open aud swallow them up, the cook, the
dishes the fare and all. i will cite you
10 an illustration Of what mean. A few
years ago there came 20 my Sunday school
in this city one morning q young man, an
entire stranger, / never saw brighter or
handsoguer lace; he was perfect in form,
bright in intellect, pleasing in address.
cultured and refined. In q word, he was q
gentleman. lie told me that his father
city. inquired and found that
cially he WIS all that could be
asked. asked the young man where
he boarded. lie told me at q certain place
on Main street. knew the locality.
asked him II there was not n cigar stand in
trout, and further back II there was not
saloon, and still further back n there was
not room where people gathered
around tables, cat oystsS, or play cards.
To all these questions he answered affirm
aiiycly. advised him TO leave tho place
nj once. lie replied that 1T was cheap
place." and that his salary was limited.
Ono day he asked II would not introduce
him TO some OF the young people Of my
congregation. There had been no change
in his appearance or manner up TO that
time. lie was away from home aud want
81 to mingle in society, for which he was
well fitted. ftsked n young lady II she
would h. introduced 10 him, and then iii-
troducc him 10 others In her circle. She
asked me about the young man and ] told
her what knew about him. She WIS sat.
isficd, but before left her she thought
fully Rskcd me where the young man
boarded. | told her, and she irankly told
me that she would not acccpt an introduc-
ton ~ any one who boarded M that
place. Going along the street one night
soon aficrward, met this same young
man. he was Keeling, staggering drunk.
lie seemed Inundated, and told me that
II was his frsi drunk, and then went on 10
eny that at the place he boarded the asso-
Citations were such that one could not help
drinking. lie went rapidly downward,
andsunk forever In the puriieus of physical,
social aud moral degradation. That board
ing.housc ruined that young man, who
lad been reared Tor a nobler and better
life. lie IN not the only young man In
this city whose lives had been ru-
incd by boarling-housc associations.
Most OF thcsc Young men come from the
country. I would advise them b. stay
there and WOO nature. They como here
and get positions which pay small salaries,
not enough In many instances 10 pay
hoard. They seek some cheap place 10
eat and sleep in. II Is q place Of sqnalor,
infested by low and degraded characters,
who drink anil swear, even at the table.
The meals which are set before them II
enough 10 make them swear, II thcrc be-
any occasion M all for swearing. There
aro not ~ per cent. Of the boys who
come here from the country who 20
away, II they ever get away, M strong
physically and morally as when they
came. Twill lay down another PROPOSE
ton: You never saw n gentleman IN your
life who had been a stranger 10 ladies'
society for half dozen years. In these
low, cheap clearinghouse ono never
ices lady. There may DO and generally
are women about the house, but they are
not ladies. Ono loses all the refining In
fucnce Of woman, and without Il he can.
not be gentleman. II is not q question
IL dollars and cents y 10 where q man
shall board, hni Il u n question whether
lac has the moral courage 10 Withstand the
influences which surround him In his
n a