The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-10-18
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE 5Y THE NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject. The Way of fDestruction-Pitfsh
For the Unwary In the Great cities -
The Third watch of the Night
Drama I'm Fiye Acts.

WAsuryoroy. ID. C.-In this discourse
Or. Talrnage describes some OF the scenes
10 be witnessed late at night in the great
cities and warns the unwary OF many
oerils; text. Isaiah xxi, IL, Waterman
what OF the nightT
Eineveh and jerusalem, they needed
careful watching, otherwise the lneen-
iiary's torch might have been thrust into
he very heart OF the metropolitan sDlen-
ior. 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 air, save as some passer-
by raised the question, Waterman, what
Of the night"
II is 10 me a deeply suggestive and sol,
snn thing 10 see a man standing guard
by night. II thrilled through me as at
the gate OF an arsenal An Charleston the
question once smote me. VINO 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 10 sound the alarm, and whether II 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 tTellls OF the hhFs
The ancients divided their night into
four parasitic first watch from 9 10 9,
the second from Q 10 II, the third from
l2 to 3 and the fourth from 3 to @. /
sneak now Of the city in the third watch,
or from IL TO 3 o'clock. 49,.
I never weary OF looking upon the life
Of the city in the first watch. That ls the
hour when the stores are closing. The
laboring men. having quilted the scat
y La II. haar ufaU
home. II 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 exhausted with the
tug of work. They are mostly cheerful.
With appetites sharpened on the swift
turner's wheel and the carpenters whet-
stone they seek the evening meal. The
clerks, too, have broken away from the
counter and with brain weary OF the long
line of figures, and the whims OF those
who 90 a-shoppng seek the face of moth
er or wife and child The streets are
thronged with young men setting out
from the great centres OF bargain maxi
ing. 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
10 get it. The lights in full Jet hang
over 10000 evening repasts-the parents
at either end of the table. the children
between. Thank God, "who setteth the
solitary in families!"
A 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 and discuss the pic
lures. The ballroom is resplendent with
the rich apparel of those who on either
side of the white, glisteniing boards await
the signal from the orchestra. Concert
halls are lifted into enchantment with
the warble of one songstress or swept out
on sea of tumultuous feeling by the
blast of braZen instruments. Drawing
rooms are filled with all gracefnlness of
apparel, with all sweetness OF sound.
with all splendor of manner. Mirrors are
catching up and multiplying the scene .un-
til it seems as If in infinite corridors
and retreating The outdoor air rings
with laughter and with the moving to
and fro OF thousands on the great prom
euades. The dashing span. adrip with
the foam of the long country ride, rrshes
past as you halt at the curbstone. Mirth
revelry, beauty, fashion, magnifcence,
minele in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes home to
think more seriously and the PRAYING
man to pray more earnestly. A beautiful
and overwhelming thing is the city in
the first and second watches 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
tnctness as to attract vour attention.
The tnklng of the bell of the street car
in the distance and the baving of the dog.
The stamp of horse in the next street.
The slamming of saloon door. The hic-
cough of the drunkard. The shrieks of
the steam whistle FIVE miles away. Oh.
how suggestive. ns-A friends, the third
watch OF the night!
What a stupendous thought whole
city at restl Weary arm preparing for
to-morrows toll Hot brain being cooled
off. Rigid muscles relaxed. Excited
nerves soothed. The white hair of the
octogenarian in thin drifts across the
pillow, fresh fall of fakes on snow al
ready fallen. Childhood, with its dim.
pied hands throwu out on the pillow and
with every breath taking in a new store
Of fun and frolic. Third watch of the
night Gods slumberless eve will look.
Let one great wave of refreshing slumber
roll over the heart of the great town. sub
merging care and anxiety and worriment
and pain. let the city sleep.
But. nv friends. be not deceived. There
will be tonight thousands who will not
sleep at all. Go up that dark alley, and
be cautious where you tread lest you fall
over the PROSTATE form OF drunkard
lying on his own doorstep. Look about
you, lest you feel the garroter's hug. Look
through the broken window pane and
see what YOU can see You say; Moth; Moth;
help us!" No foothghts. but tragedy
ghastlier and mightier than Ristori or
Edwin Booth ever enacted. No light,
no fire. no bread, no hope. Shivering in
the cold. they have had no food for TWEEN
ty-four bours. You say, why don't they
begY Thev do. but they get nothing.
You say. "Why don't they deliver them
selves over to the almshouse" All. you
would not ask that If you ever heard the
bitter cry of man or n child when told
he must 90 10 the almshouse. Oh you
say they are vicious poor. and therefore
they do not deserve our sympathy Are
they vicious? So much more need they
your pity. The Christian poor. God helps
them.
Pass on through the alley. Open the
door oh" YOU saw. 1T is locked" No,
IL is no. locked. II has never been locked.
No burglar would be tempted to. go IN
there TO steal snnythins The door Is
stands against the door. Shove it back.
Go in. Strike a match. Now look. Beast
hness and rags. See those glaring eve
balls. Re careful now what you say. DO
not utter any insult, do not utter any sus-
piston II YOU value your life. What Is
that red mark on the walls II is the
mark Of a murderer's hand! Look at
those two eyes rising up out Of the dark
ness and out from the straw m the corner.
coming toward you. and as thev come
near you your hsht goes out. Strike an
other match Al. this 10 babe. not like
those beautiful children presented in
baptism. This little one never smiled. IL
never will smile A flower flung on an
awfully barren beach q Heavenly Shep-
herd. fold that little one m Thy arms
Wsap around you your shawl or your coat