Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-10-26
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
MIGHT SCENES IN GREATER CITIES,
SUNDAYS SUBJECT.
Warns the Unwary Visitors from the
Country - From Isaiah XXI: II,
Watchman, What OF the Night"-The
Hour of Great TemPta tion.

copyright, 1901, by Louis Klopsch. N.Yl
Washington, Oct. 13.-In this dis
course DIR. Talmage describes some of
the scenes to be witnessed late at night
IN the great cities. and warns the un-
wary of many perils; text, Isaiah, xxi,
IL, "Watchman, what of the night?''
When night came down on Babylon
N1neveh and Jerusalem they needed
careful watching; otherwise the incen-
d1ary's torch might have been thrust
into the very heart OF the metropolitan
spIendor, or enemies, marching from
the hills, might have forced the gates.
All night long, on top of the wall and
IN front Of the gates, might be heard
the measured step of the watchman on
his solitary beat. Silence hung in the
air, save as some passerby raised the
question, "Watchman, what of the
night?"
1t Is to me a deeply suggestive and
solemn thing to see a man standing
guard Dy night. 1t thrilled through me
as at the gate of an arsenal in Char
leston the question once smote me-
Who comes there?" followed by the
sharp command, Advance and give
the countersign-" Every moral teacher
stands on picket or patrols the wall as
watchman. His work is to sound the
alarm, and whether it be in the first
watch, in the second watch, in the
third watch or in the fourth watch to
be vigilant until the daybreak filings its
morning glories'' of blooming cloud
across the trellis of the sky
The ancients divided their night in
to four parts-the first watch, from 6
to 3; the second, from to II; the
third, from IL to g, and the fourth
from to g. I speak now of the city
In the third watch, or from IL to 3
O'Clock.
The Early Watch.
I Fever weary of looking upon the
life of the city in the first watch. That
is the hour when the stores are closing
The laboring men, having quilted the
scaffolding and the shop, are on their
way home. 1t rejoices me to give them
my seat in the city car They have
stood and hammered away all day.
Their feet are weary. They are ex-
hausted with the tug of work They
are mostly cheerful. With appetites
sharpened on the swift turner's wheel
and the carpenters milestone they
seek the evening meal. The clerks,
too, have broken away from the coun-
ter and with brain weary of the long
line of figures and the whims of those
who go a-shopping seek the face of
mother or wife or child. The streets
are thronged with young men setting
out from the great centers of bargain
making. Let idlers clear the street
and give right of way to the besweated
artisans and merchants, They have
earned their bread and are now on
their way home to get it. The lights
in full jet hang over 10000 evening re-
pasts-the parents at either end of the
table, the children between Thank
God, who setteth the solitary in fami-
lies''
few hours later and all the places
of amusement, good and bad, are in
full tide. Lovers of art, catalogue in
hand, stroll through the galleries aed
discuss the pictures. The ballroom is
resplendent with the rich apparel of
those who, on either side of the white.
glistening boards, await the signal
from the orchestra. Concert halls are
lifted into enchantment with the war
BILE of one songstress or swept out on
sea of tumultuous feeling by the
blast of brazen instruments. Drawing
rooms are filled with all gracefulness
of apparel, with all sweetness of sound
with all splendor of manner; mirrors
are catching up and multiplying the
scene. until it seems as if in infinite
corridors there were garlanded troops
advancing and retreating The out
door air rings with laughter and with
the moving to and fro of thousands
on the. great promenades. The DASH
ing span. adrip with the foam of the
long country ride, rushes past as you
halt at the curbstone. Mirth, reyelry.
beauty, fashion, magnificence, mingle
in the great metropolitan picture until
the thinking man goes home to think
more seriously, and the praying man
to pray more earnestly. beautiful
and overwhelming thing is the city in
the first and second watches of the
night.
THIRD Watch of the Night.
But the clock strikes IL and the third
watch has begun The thunder of the
city has rolled out of the air. The
slightest sounds cut the night with
such distinctness as to attract your
attention. The tinkling of the bell of
the street car in the distance and the
baying of the dog. The stamp of a
horse in the next street. The slam
ming of a saloon door. The hiccough
steam whistle five miles away. Oh.
how suggestive, my friends, the third
watch of the night
There are =honest men passing up
and down the sire l. Here is a c,ty