Milford chronicle., 1901-10-18

sea or 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 rs if in infinite corridors there were
garlanded troops advancing and retreat
ing. The outdoor air rings with laughter
and with the moving to and fro of thou
sands on the great promenades The
dashing span. adrip with the foam of the
long country ride, rushes past as you halt
at the curbstOne. Mirth, revelry. beauty,
fashion, magnifcence. mingle in the great
metropolitan picture until the thinking
man goes home to think more seriously,
and the praying man to pray more ear
nestly. A 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 -, and the third
watch has begun. The thunder Of the
city has rolled out Of the air. The slight
est sounds cut the night with such dis
tinctness 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 slamming of a saloon door. The
hiccough OF the, drunkard. The shrieks
Of the 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 street. Here is a city mis-
sionary who has been carrying a scuttle
/ of coal to that poor family in that dark
place. Here is an undertaken going up
the steps of a building from which there
comes a bitter cry. which indicates that
the destroying angel has smitten the first
born. Here is a minister of religion who
has been giving the sacrament to a dying
Christian. Here is a physician passing
along in great haste. Nearly all the
lights have gone out in the dwellings, for
It is the third watch of the night That
light in the window is the light of the
watcher, for the medicines must he al.
ministered, and the fever must be watch
ed, and the restless tossing off Of the GOV
erlid must be resisted. and the ice mus
be kept on the hot temples. and the per
petual prayer must go up from heart!
soon to be broken.
Oh. the third watch of the night! Wha
stupendous thought-a whole city a
rest. Weary arm preparing for tomor
rows toll Hot brain being cooled off
Rigid muscles relaxed Excited nerve
sOothed. The white hair of the Octoge
marian in thin drifts across the pillow
fresh fall of flakes on snow already fall
en-. Childhood. with its dimpled hand
thrown out on the pillow. and with ever
breath taking in a new store of fun an,
frolic. Third watch Of the night! God
slumberless eye will look Let one grea
. wave of refreshing slumber roll over tn
heart of the great town, submerging car
and anxiety and worriment and pair
| Let the city sleep.
: But, my friends, be not deceived. Their
Z will be tonight thousands who will nc
sleep at all. Go up that dark alley, an
q be cautious where you tread lest you ia
t over the PROSTATE form of a drunkal
:. lying on his own doorstep. Look abOl
t you, lest you feel the garroter's hu
4 Look through the broken window PAL
d and see what you can see. You sa
{. "Nothing" Then listen. What is
0 ''God help usw No footlights, but ira
d edy ghastlier and mightier than RistOri
K Edwin Booth ever enacted. No light,
l. fire, no bread, no hope. Shivering in t
cold, they have had no food for twent
Il four hours. You say, "Why don't tn
e. begY They do, but they get nothiI
Il You say, "Why don't they deliver the
c. selves over to the almshouse? All, y
h would not ask that if you ever heard t
ar bitter cry of n man or child when told
it must go to the almshOuse! ooh, ~
IT say, ''they are vicious poor, and the
le fore they do not deserve our sympath.
IN : Are they vicious? So much more need IL