The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-21
CROOKED ADJUSTMENTS
They Cannot Be Made
Straight, Says the Rev.
Pastor HallerO1l.

on Questionable Amusement The
text was as follows:-.'That which is
crooked cannot be made straight.
Ecc., l.. To-"
what adds to our perplexfty in discus
preacher said, sis the fact that it seems
we naturally demand them, and still fur
ther that there has been a change in pub
lie and even Christian opinion upon the
general subject. Evidently the Creator
does not want US to wait for Heaven be-
fore we shall enjoy ourselves. That the
race track, or as it's votaries are pleased
to call it. the turf is popular anuse-
ment is admitted. When you take the
daily paper you lind there constant refer
ence to racing; sometimes columns are
devoted to it and are as eagerly sought as
the most important Intelligence.
"When our American horses run in q
race at EPSON or New Market we throw
up our caps; crowds gather around the
bulletin boards of the newspapers as if at
national election; crowds on the ave-
horseflesh within sight or smell of the
brandy bottle
lis this all? If so the danger is not
great, for no sane man will go where
scorpions are at play. But the well-to-do
farmer, the responsible citizen, the good
udIuE6Q CuuECH ul0ulptfy WHO at prayer
meeting will roll up his eyes and pray
fervently with well-oiled tongue, are
all there. The retired gentleman sits In
his carriage and refined ladies carry their
opera glasses and ring out their cheers on
the winning horse as loudly as their fash
ionable lungs will allow.
"The English Parliament adjourns for
three days to visit Epson Downs, to wit
ness the great national sport, and / be-
lieve that some of our States would do
the same. Certain it is that our State
fairs and county fairs are disgraced by
trotting courses which are made she oc-
casion of the vilest sins, and good men are
deferred from attending them.
IT DOES COST MONEY.
'.If we look at the race course from a
common sense stand point it is at once
condemned. There is vast outlay of
money. The cost of the course is great
1t must be iu the vicinity of large city.
No money is spared in the purchase OF
blooded stock, imported from the best
markets. The housing and feeding of
these animals calls for q large outlay
why all this outlay and care? Simply
to have the name of fast horse. While
panic is abroad in our land and stalks
with hungry looks through our streets,
while men and women are perishing,
while our asylums are crowded with
orphans and our pOerhouses with paupers,
while our towns and cities are bankrupt,
when missionaries reach out empty
palms for mites and the glorious gospel
stands still for want of funds, horse own
ers and drunken jockeys have holiday
times and the crowds empty their last
eoppers In the laps of these mountebanks
and swindlers because the rich man
patronizes it.
The race course he continued, sTs
the scene Of the boldest gambling. In
every State the law against gambling on
race courses Is avoided by some technl-
cality, or because of political influence it
becomes imperative. Look at our fair
grounds. They are generally owned by
corporation who conduct racing en-
terprise and must receive dividend for
their large outlay. Fees are charged for
entrance. The bookmakers post their
odds. Innocent youths see as they think
chance to make some money
and they gamble every cent they
between the jockeys and the professional
better. A certain horse, a favorite, fails to
win and there Is tall swearing. Men
make gambling their profession. They
advertise their calling. They have run
ners out. The most spurious offers are
made. and the unwary are drawn into
the water. The most dainty fellows at
the fair are gamblers. Thy have money
at every call Young men are entranced.
They must live fast lives. Every race is
visited, the probabilities are weighed.
The oily gambler comes along He treats
to drink. The boy is fascinated and
finally becomes q drunkard, and is fit for
any crime from the associations formed
at the race track"
THE WICKED DANCE.
The preacher then went for professional
walking matches. "The Dance was the
last form of amusement of which the
preacher treated.
"It cannot be too strenuously insisted, /"
said he, "that the human heart is a mag
azine as susceptible to ignite as powder
is to fire. especially so during the period
OF early manhood and womanhood. In
most there Is constant warfare going
on, temptations outside spur the appetite
within and the struggle grods hotter and
hotter. Sterner battles are fought in the
empire of the human heart than were
ever fought upon the fields Of this world.
"The modern dance stimulates evil
passions. The sexes are brought into
too close and indeed improper relations
which tend to break down self respect
and which stir up all the will that only
waits an outlet. For purity to exist there
need not be the seclusion of the convent
or monastery. These were enjoined un-
der mistaken notions of sanctity. The
promiscuous mixing of the sexes, the
amatory positions assumed, the signifi-
can posings of the persons, the sharp at
tenti0n TO attitude, the various fittings
and gestures all tend to strengthen
the already too powerful feelings
and to leave us to gnaw our
disappointment. There is shyness nat
ural to woman, an aversion TO promiscu-
GUS handling, a self respect which makes
her at first recoil from such enjoyments.
This is her only safeguard When she
loses that she loses the barrier of protec-
ton that nature has thrown around her.
In the mind of the man there is an awe,
an apprehension, dread Of taking liber-
ties, q deep sense of the power of weak
ness, for the protection of which all that
is manly within him is called into action
Remove this and you give him a passport
to unbridled wickedness, and he will
trample on the finer sensibilities. This is
dangerous. but what adds fuel to the
flames is the indecorous attire or costume
in dancing. The young women's arms
are bare, the bust is nude to great ex :
tent, and this in the presence of young
men. How can it be otherwise than the
provocation of the viler nature This at
tire will stir up the appetites. 1t will
linger in the memory and shadow us by
dav and night. BY constant thought the
mind is weakened till all restraint is re-
moved, and the Young man plunges into
the vortex of the most terrible ruin.
THE MUSIC HELPS IT ALONG.
"Then the character OF the music tends
to demoralize. In the dance the quick