The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-10-01
ABOUT SOME CHURCH-GOERS.


To the Editor of The Progress:
Mr. Progress: Will you allow me
to growl little about some things /
see at church. Next Sunday a good
many people will 60 to church. The
question is, will all behave exactly
like they ought to behave.
Now, in the first place, 1 want to
say that the habit of many young
men and boys in gathering about the
church doors prior to the services
smoking their cigarettes and keeping
up an unseemly racket, is not orderly,
and should be abandoned; and what
is more ill-mannered still is the Gus
tom OF this same element at the close
of service rushing out, and taking
position on either side of the portals
of exit, or ranging themselves along
the opposite curb-stone, like fifty
hungry buzzards on a rail fence, and
all the time a-staring like SO many
country ''yaps" at the ladies as they
emerge. 1t is ill-bred. Quit it. No
modest woman enjoys it, even if she
is young and pretty rs a pink"
Young man. if you are compelled to
wait for some friend, step to one side
aud cast glance over your shoulder,
if you must, but don't make yourself
SO glaringly and obnoxiously con-
splcuous as some of you do. There
are divers and mora fitting occasions
upon which you can show your dude
suits, and see the pretty girls also
When meeting breaks, retire quietly
to your homes, after the manner of
respectful and profted worshippers,
who are presumed to have been par
Elephants in a religious service. L
am not mad with the boys, nor espe-
cially exercised on this subject, but l
want to help them mend their ways a
little if 1 can
Next, I have something to say to
the young ladies. Now like to see
young gentlemen and young ladies
90 to church together, especially to
the evening service. 1t Is, III my
humble opinion, the very best way
for young people to spend Sabbath
evening. l would like to see more OF
these young couples in our churches
on such occasions. But, young ladies,
when you. make an arrangement OF
this kind, impress upon your escort
to be prompt in his call at your
house, and do you in turn be ready
when he comes. Do not keep him
waiting in the parlor while you spend
half hour celebrating your pretty
person in order to ''stun" him. Thus
tends to not only distract your own
thoughts from the gospel you expect
to hear. but / know from personal ex-
perience that the pro tenn" spiritual
ity of the young man is sadly ratified"
by such seductive environments. Do
not, therefore, try to look too pretty.
Dress yourself plainly and sweetly,
and get to church In time. Other
wise-and have often seen it So
YOU get into the church when the
preacher is we'll into his sermon; he
is disturbed, and everybody else is
disturbed by this unreasonable en-
tree. You come trailing down the
aisle in your magnihcence, and every
body looks at you. Ii you are mod
est land l am sure you are), you are
embarrassed-and finally fall blush
ingly into your seat, with a fit of the
sim pers" on you. Your beau, partly
from sympathy, partly from gallant
nv, and partly because he can't help
it, shippers too, and there you are,
looking like PAIR of -, we'll
looking like pair of young people
who had come to church too late, and
made themselves unduIy conspicuous
and are ashamed of it. l hope you
were, and that you won't do it again
Just one other thing and l Gloss
these grumbllng observations. 1t /:
in this same connection, however
When young couple come to church
let them of course sit together. This
| is proper and as it should be; but
don't sit too jam up. Two hearts
that beat as one" is a pretty sentl
ment, in fact, very poetic, but dom
give us practical illustration OF i
in a Westinghouse. 1t Is wee bi
too suggestive of lovers tete a-tete'
in moon-lit bowers. OF course yor
are not expected to stow yourselve