The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-01-13

tossing the dice or Of moving the
'chips." They are gambling. At an
other table are men who are telling
vile stories. They are three fourths
intoxicated, and between IL and !
O'Clock they win 60 staggering. hott.'
ing, 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 par
ents 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 lie has brok-
en-. Walk through and see for your
self. Here are all the implements of
dissipation and of quick death. As the
hours of the night go away the conver-
satiOn becomes imbecile and more de-
basing. Now it is time to shut up.
Those who are able to stand will get
out on the pavement and balance them
selves against the lamppost or against
the railings Of the fence. The young
man who Is not able to stand will have
a bed improvised for him In the club
house, or two not quite so overcome
with liquor will conduct him 10 his
fathers house, and they will ring the
doorbell, and the door will open ard
the two imbecile escorts will inro-
duce into the hallway the ghastlcst
and most hellish spectacle that ever
enters front door-a drunken son. If
the dissipating clubhouses of this coun-
try would make a contract with the
inferno to provide it 10000 men year,
and for twenty years, on the condition
that no more should be asked of them,
the clubhOuses could afford to make
that contract, for they would save
hOmesteads, save fortunes, save bod
les, minds and souls. The 10000 men
who would be sacrificed by that con-
tract would be but a small part of the
multitude sacrificed without the con-
tract. But I make O vast difference
between clubs. have belonged to
four clubs-a theological club, a ball
club and two literary clubs. got from
them physical 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
illegitimate clubhouse.
First Of all I want you to test the
club by Its influences on home, If you
have a home. l have been told by a
prominent gentleman in the club life
that three-fOurths Of the members OF
the great clubs of these cities are mar.
ried men. That wife soon loses her in.
fuence over her husband who nervous
ly and foolishly hooks upon all even
ing absence as an assault on dOmes-
ticity. How are the great enterprises
Of art and literature and benencence
and public veal to be carried on IL
every man Is to have 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 Of 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 scepter Of cOnjugal
power. l know an instance where a
wife thought that her husband was
giving too many nights to Christian SER
vice, to charitable service, to prayer
meetings and to religious convOcation.
She systematically decOyed him away
until now he attends on church and is
on a rapid way to destruction. his NOR
ais gone, his money gone, and, fear.
his soul gone. Let any Christian wife
rejoice when her husband consecrates
evenings to the service of God, or to
charity or to art, or to anything ele-
waited, but let not men sacrifice home
life to club life. l can point out to
you great many names of men who
are guilty of this sacrilege. They are
as genial as angels at the clubhouse
and as ugly as sin ut home. They are
generous on all subjects Of wine sup
pers, yachts and fast horses, but they
are stingy about the wife's dress and
the children's shoes.
l tell you there are thousands Of
houses in the cities being clubbed to
death. There are ,clubhouses where
membership always involves domestic
shipwreck. Tell me that man has
joined a certain club, tell me nothing
more about him for ten years, and
will write his history If he be still
alive. The man Is wine guzzler, his
wife broken-hearted or prematurely
old, his fortune gone or reduced, and
his home more name in a directory
Here are six secular nights in the
week. "What shall do with them"
says the father and the husband. 81
will give four of those nights to the I'M
provement and entertainment OF my
family, either at home or in good
neighbOrhood. will devote one to
charitable institutions. | will devote
one to the club" congratulate you
Here is a man who says: II will make
n diffprant division of tho six NIGHTS