St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-02-12

ISdL u HAL ucCOtniuS q tucHhuSi. -
rowdyism, for drunkenness, for gam
bling. for any kind Of mislemeanor. n
member is dropped out. Brilliant club
house from top to bottom. The ciian-
daliers, the plate. the furniture. the
companionship. the literature, the
social prestige, a complete enchant-
ment.
But the evening is passing on.and so
we hasten through the hall AMI down
the steps and into the street. and from
clock to block until we come to an
mother style of club house. Opening
the door we find the fumes OF strong
drink and tobacco something almost
in,olerable. These young men Mt this
table, it is easy 10 understand what
they are at. from the flushed cheek,
the intent look, the almost angry way
Of tossing the dice or 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 l
o'clock they will go staggering, hoot-
ing, swearing, shouting on their way
home. That is an oaly son. On
him all kindness. all care. ell
culture has been bestowed. He
is paying his parents in this way for
their klndness. That. is n young mar
ried man, who. only few months ago.
at the altar, made promises of kindness
and fidelity, every one of which he has
broken. Walk through and see for
yourself. Here are all the implements
of dissipation and Of quick death. AS
the hours of the night so away the
conversation becomes imbeciie and
more debasing. Now it is time to shut
up. Those who are able to stand will
get out on the pavement and balance
the lamp post OF against the ratings oil
the fence. The young man who Is not
able to stand will have Il bed improyised
for him in the club house, or two not
quite 30 overcome with liquor will con-
duct him to his fathers house, and
they will ring the door bell. and the
door will open. and the two imbecii es-
corts will introduce into the hallway
the ghastliest and most hellish spec
tacle that ever enters front door-a
drunken son. If the dissipating club
houses Of this country would make q
contract with the inferno to provide it
10, 900 men year, and for % years, on
the condition that no more should be
asked of them. the club HOUSES could
afford to make that contract. for they
would save homesteads, save fortunes.
save bodies, minds and souls. The TO-
900 men who would be SACRIFICED by
| that contract would be but
small part of the multitude sacrificed
without the contract. But l make n
vast difference between clubs. l have
belonged to four clubs: a theological
club. a ball club and two literary
clubs. l got from them physical re-
| iuvenation and mo.al health. What
shall be the principle? If God will
help me l will Law down three princi-
pies by which you may judge whe ether
the club where you are member, or
the club to which you have been in
| vited, is a legitimate or an illegitimate
club house.
First of all want you to test the
club by its influences on home, If you
have home. l have been told by u
L
| three-fourths of the members OF the
great clubs ofthese cities are married
men. That wife soon loses her in
| fuence over 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 be-
comes Jealous of her husbands atten-
ton to art, or literature, or religion.
or charity, is breaking her own scept.r
Of coniugal power. | know an in
stance where wife thought that her
husband was giving too many nights
to Christian service, to charitable s.rv-
ice, to prayer meetings, aud to religion
convocation. She Systematically tie
coyed him away until now he attends
no church, and is on u rapid way to de-
Istruction, his morals gone, his money
gone, aud, fear, his soul gone. LIE,
any Christian wife rejoice when hel
husband consecrates evenings to the
service of God, or to charity, or to art,
or to any ything elevated; but let not
men sacrefice home life to club life.
can point out to You great many
names of men who are guilty of that
sacrilege. They are as genial angels
ut the club house, and as ugly rs sin
at home. They are generous on al
subjects Of wine suppers. yachts and
fast horses. but they are stingy
about the wife's dress and the chill
dren's shoes. That has made
that which might be . healthfu
recreation and usurper OF his affections
and he has married it, and he is guilt,
Of moral bigamy. Under this process:
the wife, whatever her features, be
comes uninteresting and homely. ii,
becomes critical of her. does not lilS,
the dress, does not like the way sh'
arranges her hair, is amazed that h,
was ever SO unromatic rs to offer he
hand and heart. She is always want
ing money, money, when she ought t,
be discussing eclipses, and Dexter ant
Derby day, and English drags with 81.
horses, all answering the pull OF ont
ribbon"
l tell you, there are thousands o
homes in the cities being clubbed t
death. There are club house wher'
membership always involves domestic
shlpwreck. Tell me that man ha
Joined 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. hi
wife brol1en-hearted or prematurel..
old, his fortune gone or reduced, an
his home q mere name in directory
Here are six secular nights in tn
week. what shall do with them?
says the father and the husband. -
will give four Of those nights to the i'm
provement and entertainment Of IN.