The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-02-17

where you find all the newspapers
and magazines. On that side there
is library, where you find all
books. from hermeneutics to the
fairy tale. Coming in and out
there are gentlemen, some of whom
stay ten minutes, others stay many
hours. Some of these are from luXu-
RANT homes, and they have excused
themselves for awhile from the domes-
tic circle that they may enjoy the
larger sociability of the club house.
These are from dsmembered house
holds and they have plain lodging
somewhere, but they come to this club
room to have their chief enjoyment.
One black ball amid ten votes will de-
feat mans becoming a member. For
rowdyism, for drunkenness, for gam
bling, for any kind of misdemeanor, a
member is dropped out. Brilliant club
house from top to bottom. The cham
daliers, the plate, the furniture, the
companionship, the literature, the
social prestige, complete enchant-
ment.
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 an
mother style of club house. Opening
the door we find the fumes of strong
drink and tobacco something almost
intolerable. These young men at this
table, it is easy to understand what
they are at. from the flushed cheek,
the intent look, tho 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, boot
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 parents in this way for
their kindness. That is 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 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
the lamp post Or against the ratings 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 con-
duct him to his fathers house, and
they will ring the door bell, and the
door will open. and the two imbecil 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 a
contract with the inferno to provide it
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 49,
600 men who would be sacrificed by
that contract would be but a
small part OF the multitude sacrificed
without the contract. But | make a
vast difference between clubs. have
belonged to four clubs: A theological
club. u ball club and two literary
clubs. l got from them physical re-
juvenation and moral health What
shall be the principle? If God will
help me will Law down three princi-
pies by which you may judge whether
the club where you are Il 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 a home. l have been told by q
prominent gentlemen in club life that
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 beneicence and
public veal to be carried on if 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 scepter
of conjugal power. l know an in
stance where wife thought that her
husband was giving too many nights
to Christian service, to charitable serv-
ice, to prayer meetings, and to religious
convocation. She systematically de-
coyed him away until now he attends
no church, and is on q rapid way to de
struction, his morals gone, his money
gone, and, fear, his soul gone.
tell you, there are thousands OF
homes in the cities being dubbed to
death! There are club houses where
membership always involves domestic
shlpwrecls. Tell me that man has
n ioi NJ, 81