Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-01-22

During the day they arr comparatively
lazy places Here and there an aged man
reading newspaper. or an employee dust
Ing sofa, or clerk writing up the ac-
counts; but when the c9rtain OF the night
falls on the natural day. then the cur
tain ofthe clubhouse hofsfs for the enter
tainment. Let Us hasten M. now, the
marble stairs What so imperial hallway
On this side there are readinr-rooms.
where you iind all newspapers aud maya
vines. On that side there 4 n library.
where you and all books. from herroe-
neutics 20 the fairy tale. Coming in aud
cut there are men. some Of whom stay ten
minutes. others stay many hours. Some OF
these are from luxurious homes and they
have excused themselves for while from
the domestic circle that they NAV eniov
the larger socishiiitv OF the clubhouse.
These are from disme-nhe-cd households
and they have plain lodging somewhere.
hut they come 20 this cluh-roo-n 70 have
their chief endowment. One hiackAal
amid ten votes will defeSt a mans hecoun-
inc member. For rowdvisrn. for drunk
enness. for gambling. for any kind %
rnisiemcanor. a member Is dropped out.
Hrilliant clubhouse from ton 20 bottom.
Tho chandeliers. tho n'ate the furniture
the companionship. the literature the
serial rrcSticc. complete enchantment-
Int the evening 81 passing on. aud so
We hasten through the hail and down the
stems and into the street AMI from block
70 block until va come % another STYLE %
clubhouse. Opening the door. We end tho
fumes O. strong drink Rnl tobacco some
thing almost fntoleraNle. These vounr
men az this table. IL IL easy 90 understand
what they are a.. from the flushed cheek
tho intent look. the almost angry way %
tossing the dice. or Or moving the "chips."
They are gambling. AZ another table arc
men who are telling vile stories. They ara
thrce-fonrths Intoxicated. and between -
and l o'clock they viii 90 stage crinC.
hooting, swearing. shouting on their way
home.
A. the hours ~ the night GO away. the
conversations becomes imberile and more
dchRsinC. Now Il T. time % shut NJ Those
WHO are able - stand viii Get out on the
pavement ant balance Themselves against
the lamDuost. OF against tho raiiincs ~ the
fence. The young man who l. not able %
stand viii have q bed fwrroviscl Tor him
iu the clubhouse. or two not quite so
overcome WITH liquor viii con Ines him %
his fathers house. ana thcv VIII rs1c CHE
door bell. anisth door viii ouc1. and tho
two irrorIle escorts VIII introduce into the
hallway the chastiicst nri most hellish
spectacle thst ever enters o front door-u
drunken s0r.
Dat 7 make vast difference between
clubs. 7 have belonged - four clubs 4
theological club. a bail club. and two liter
AIRY clubs. 7 cot from them physical reiu.
velafion anl moral health. what shall h.
the urincipie3 II Cod will help me. vii
lay down three principles hv which yor
n member. or the club 20 which you havs
been invited. is q Legitimate OF an iLcgiti-
mate clubhouse
FIRST % All. I want vcu % test the clul
BY its influences on home. ~ you have
& home. ] have been told hv a prominent
man in club life that threc-fourths Of the
f members 90 the grea. clubs 81 these citic'
4 are married men. That wife soon loses hel
4 influence over hor husband who nervousil
and fooilshly looks upon all eveninl
i III
are the great enterprises ~ art and iitera
f ture and benefcence and public veal 20 o'
carried on II every man 4 20 have hi
+ world bounded on one side by his from
/ Doorstep. and on the other side bv hi
f back window. knowing nothing hlche
than his own attic or nothing lower tina
his own cclinrs Tnat wife who become
jealous Of her husbands attention 90 art %
literature. or religion. or charity. Is break
ing her own seepter a coniugal power
Let anv Christian wife rejoice when De
husband consecrates evenings 20 "a
service % God. or 20 charity or % Ar. q
20 anything elevated; but let no. me
sacrifice home lie 20 club life. can Doil
ont 20 you z great many names % men VIII
are guilty OF this sacrilege. They aye a
genial as angels 81 the clubhouse. and q
ugly as SIN az home. They are gener0u
on oil subjects % wine suppers. yachts an
fast horses. but they are stinCv about III
wlte's dress and the children's shoes. The
nan AtA- lale l-Af WLlcl might %
healthful recreation an usurper OF his afIec
tions. and be has married 10, and he
guilty OF moral bigamy.
Another test BY which you can IN
whether your club Is legitimate or illegit
mate--tho effect it has on your secular q
cupation- can understand how throuc
such al institution man can reach CON
merci2l successes. know some men hav
formed their best business relations fhroug
such a channel II the club has advantage
you n an honorable calling u Is q legitirnat
club. But has y0ar credit faiIed9 Ara bal
Cain-Lakers more cautions how they truf
you with biA o, goodss Have the ne
whose names were down IN the commerciI
agency Al before they entered the clul
been going down ever since IN commercll
htoncingf Then look outl You and
every day know 81 commercial establish
nents going 10 ruin through the Scial e.
cesses % one or two members.
third test by which YOU nay kao'
whetherthe clubtO which you belong. or ~
club 20 whose membership you are invited
l. legitimate club OF an illegitimate clut
y this: What - the effecI IN your sense
moral and religious obhgatioCsS Nov. her
are two roads into the future this ChrlstiA
and the unchristiRn. the safe AMI lhe az
safe A institution OF any associate
THAI contuses ny idea IN regard 10 tbs
fact II = bad institution and a bad associs
ton. ! had prayers before I Joined a
club Did I have them after7 l attende
/ the house % God before connected myse
! With the club. Since that union with N