Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-01-19

nave pain lOuSlnS somewhere, DuI
they come to this club room to have
their chief enjoyment. One black ball
amid ten votes will defeat mans be-
coming a member. For rowdyism, for
drunkenness, for gambling, for any
kind Of misdemeanor, a member is
dropped out. Brilliant clubhouse
from top to bottom. The chandeliers,
the plate, the furniture, the compan-
ionship, the literature, the social pres
tige, complete enchantment.
But the evening is passing on, and
so we hasten through the hall and
down the steps and into the street, and
from block to block until we come to
another style Of clubhouse. Opening
the door, We find the fumes Of strong
drink and tobacco something almost
intolerable. These young men at this
table, 1t is easy to understand what
they are at, from the flushed cheek,
the intent look, the almost angry way
or tossing the dice, or of moving the
chips" They are gambling. At an
other table are men who are telling
'NNS oNoiACo. ACy
intoxicated, and. between twelve and
one o'clock they will go staggering,
hooting, swearing, shouting on their
way home. That is an only son. On
him all kindness, all care, all culture,
has been bestowed. He is paying his
parents in this way for their kindness.
That is young married man, who,
only a few months ago, at the altar,
made promises of kindness and fidel-
ity, every one of which he has broken.
Walk through and see for yourself.
Here are all the implements of dissi-
patton and Of quick death. AS the
hours of the night go away, the con-
versation becomes imbecile and more
debasing. Now it is time to shut up.
Those who are able to stand will get
out on the pavement and balance
themselves against the lamp-post, or
against the ratings of the fence. The
young man who is not able to stand
VIII have bed improvised for him in
the clubhouse, or two not quite so
overcome with liquor will conduct him
TO his fathers house, and they will
ring the door-bell, and the door will
open, and the two imbecile escorts
VIII Introduce into the hallway the
ghastliest and most hellish spectacle
that ever enters a front door-a drunk
en- son. If the dissipting club-houses
or this country would make a contract
with the Inferno to provide it ten
thousand men a year. and for twenty
years, on the condition that no more
should be asked of them, the club
houses could afford to make that con-
tract, for they would save homesteads,
save fortunes, save bodies, minds and
souls. The ten thousand men who
would be sacrificed by that contract
would be but a small part of the null
titude sacrificed without the contract.
But l make vast difference between
clubs. l have belonged to four clubs:
A theological club, ball club and two
literary clubs. / got from them phys
ical rejuvenation and moral health.
What shall be the principle? If God
will help me, / will lay down three
principles by which you may Judge
whether the club where you are a
member, or the club to which you have
been invited, is legitimate or an lille
Ultimate club house.
First Of all, l want you to test the
club by its influences on home, if you
have a home. have been told by a
prominent gentleman in club life that
three-fourths of the members of the
great clubs of these cities are married
men. That wife soon loses her infiu-
ence over her husband who nervously
and foolishly looks upon all evening
absence as an assault on domesticity.
How are the great enterprises of art
and literature and beneficence and
public veal to be carried on IL every
man is to have his world bounded on
one side by his front doorstep, and on
the other side by his back window,
knowing nothing higher than his own
attic, or nothing lower than his own
cellar? That wife who becomes jeal-
Gus of her husbands attention to art.
or literature, or religion, or charity. IS
breaking her own sceptre of conjugal
PO"Sis INV" AhoSanSc WueTc "a
wife thought that her husband was
giving too many nights to Christian
service, to charitable service, to pray-
err meetings, and to religious convoca-
ton. She Systematically decoyed him
away until now he attends no church.
and is on rapid way to destruction,
his morals gone, his money gone, and.
fear his soul gone. Let any Christian
wife rejoice when her husband conse-
crates evenings to the service of God,
or to charity, or to art, or to anything
elevated; but let not men sacrifice
home life to club life. / can point out
to you a great many names of
men who are guilty of this sac
rilege. They are as genial as
angels at the club house, and
as ugly as sin at home. They are gen.
erous on all subjects Of wine suppers.
yachts. and fast horses, but they are
stingy about the wife's dress and the
children's shoes. That man has made
that which might be a healthful recrea-
ton an usurper of his affections, and
he has married it, and he is guilty of
moral bigamy. Under this process the