Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-05-21
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= A Preacher =
y Among the People. <


an evening session. stepped out int,
the street alone and, strolllng aimless
ly about, thought earnestly of what
had seen and heard
Strong and sincere men had told III
much about the distress that attends
the lives OF the helpless poor, and haC
suggested certain remedies that hav,
been given practical test.
The hour was late, but there wert
many people still to be seen. Th'
great book, humanity, always interest
ing to me, possessed unusual interes
on that night l had been hearing
about bhe extremes of society, about
the dwellers in tenements and mans
ions, and was in a mood to study the
different classes of people that | saw
all around me, and inquire concerning
the difference in conditions that was
so clearly and painfully manifest. A
| young gentleman and lady richly
dressed, seated in "a handsome carriage
drawn by a pair of magnificent bays
driven by eoachman in fine livery,
passed In front of me as was cross
ing the street. Only moment after a
poor beggar, clothed in rags, accosted
me and asked for penny with which
to buy crust of bread. The contrast
was so great that it impressed me and
as l walked on pondered upon the in
equalities to be seen in the social life
of man.
Judging by their appearance, those
in the carriage belonged to the class
that tolls not nor spins, yet they were
able to command wealth and live in
ease. The old man, however, had
given the prime of his life to service
in the shop, and yet when the infirm-
ities incident to advancing years, came
upon him, he found himself in such a
position that he was compelled to beg
or starve.
Had the young people so care-free
inherited wealth that had been accum-
ulated at he expense of honest toll, or
was theirs a fortune unstained by
blood? Had the old man spent his
meager daily wages in riotous living
or was he the helpless victim of cir
cumstances over which he had no con-
troll? Such questions as these rose in
my mind as l strolled on; but l
could not answer them.
As was passing an elegant mansion
strains of sweet music foated through
its open windows and far out upon the
evening air. Merry voices greeted my
ears and glanclng through the door
way, beheld youth and beauty chas-
ing "the glowing hours with flying
feet l stopped for a moment and
looked with delight upon the pleasant
scene. But only a few steps farther
on, down in poorly lighted cellar,
saw a number of tired workmen busily
engaged in making bread. Some of
them were low browed, haggard men,
whose every appearance indicated that
while it was their trade to prepare the
staff or life for others, they were
scarcely getting enough to perpetuate
their own lives. looked down into
the forDidding cellar upon the work
men faithfully doing their work, then
looked back into the brilliantly light
ed mansion and upon the merry dane
ers, wondering what change, if any,the
of absolute justice into
the social system of the world would
effect between the two. AS | could see
no likelihood of an immediate demon
5traliOn of the principle involved in
my musing, turned and walked on.
"All the latest songs and only five
'ents a copy" l heard someone
shouting. Turning around and looking
n the direction from which the voice
;ame, saw young man standing be-
side the curb with his latest songs
printed on large sheets Of paper and
brown carelessly across his shoulder.
There was an anxious look on his face.
His eyes turned nervously to the right
md the left as he looked for custom
n; but the great throng moved indif-
erenty on. While was wondering
whether a livelihood could be picked
ip in the city in that way, a patrol
wagon going at breakneck speed, and
a number of policemen.
Iassed up the street. The occasion for
IS hasty trip may have been row in
iome brothel, the capture of a robber
'r murder, or 1t may have been that
iome poor fellow had met with an ac-
,ident that necessitateu his being tax
IN to the hospital where the amputat-
ng table nd surgeons knife, cruel only
o be kind, awaited him. The crowd
seemed to hesitate for moment as the |
wagon passed by, one or bwo questions
the object of its hurried !
rip were heard and then if was for
gotten.
Drifting on with the people, came
10 a great bridge Tat spans the river |
IN whose bank the city srlnds. For |
lew minutes all the people that saw
were crossing over to the opposite
shore, and | began thinking how ere
ong all that now live, rich and poor,
high and low, VIII have passed over
ntO .he great beyond. And if the
bridge across that river called death |
Do not Illuminated by the liPht of a |