The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-01-16

drunkenness, for gambling, for any
kind OF misdemeaLor, q member Is
dropped out Brilliant clubhouse
from top to bottom. The chandeliers,
the plate. the furniture, the eompan-
ionship. the literature, the social pres
tige, a 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 ard tobacco something almost
intolerable. These young men at this
table. il is easy to understand what
they are at. from the flushed cheek.
the intent look. the almost angry way
Of 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 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.
parents in this way for their kindness.
That is a young married man, who,
only l 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 OF the pavement and balance
themselves against the lamp-post, or
against the railings of the fence. The
young man who is not able to stand
will 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
4 Will introduce into the hallway the
ghastliest and most hellish spectacle
that ever enters a front door-a drunk
en- son. II the dissipting club-houses
of this Ct untry would make a contract
with the Inferno to provide it ten
thousand men 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 / make a vast difference between
clubs. / have belonged to four clubs:
A theological club, ball club and two
literary clubs. l got from them phys
ical rejuvenation and moral health.
What shall be the principle? IL God
viii help me. will lay down three
principles by which you may Juuge
whether the club where you are a
member, or the club to which you have
been invited. is a legitimate or an ille-
gitimate club house.
First OF all, l want you to test the
club by its influences on home, IL you
have home. 1 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 ari
and literature and benefcence and
public veal to be carried on IL ever,
man is to have his world bounded Oh
one side by his front doorstep. and OF
the other side by his back window
knowing nothing higher than his owr
attic, or nothing lower than his owl
cellar? That wife who becomes zeal
Gus of her husbands att antion to art
or literature. or religion. or charity. Il
breaking her own sceptro OF conjuga
power. | know an instance where
wife thought that her husband wa
giving too many nights 70 Christian
service. to charitable service. to pray
er meetings. and to religious convoca
ton. She Systematically decoyed hin
away until now he attends no church
and is on a rapid way to obstruction
his morals gone, his money gone, and
l 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 anythin
elevated; but let not men sacrific
home life to club life. l can point ou
: to you a great many ames q
men who are guilty OF this sac
rilege. They are as genial a
angels at the club house, an
as ugly as sin at home. They are gen
erous on all subjects OF wine supperi
yachts and fast horses. but they ar
stingy about the wife's dress and tn
: children's shoes That man has mad
that which might be healthful recrea
tion an usurper OF his affections. an
he has married 1t, and he is guilty {
moral bigamy. Under this process tn
wife. whatever her features. become
J unInteresting and homely. He becUmt