The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-17
THE WAY OF DESTRUCTION
DR.. Talmsge Tells Of the Pitfalls for the
Unwary In the Great Cities.
The Third Watch Of the Nlght-A Drama
In Five Acts

u
When night came down on Babylon.
Nineveh and Jerusalem, they needed
careful watching, otherwige the incen-
diary's torch might have been thrust into
the very heart of the metropolitan spen-
dor, 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 oir. save as some passer-
by raised the question, "Watchman, what
OF the night?"
It is to me deeply suggestive and sol,
emn thing to see man standing guard
by night. It thrilled through me. as at
the gate Of an arsenal in Charleston the
question once smote me. WHO comes
there?" followed by the sharp command.
Advance and give the countersgn."
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 vieilant until The daybreak filings its
morning glories" of blooming cloud
across the trells of the sky.
The ancients divided their night into
four parts--the first watch from 8 to o,
the second from 9 to II, the third from
II to 8 and the fourth from 3 to 9.
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or from II to o'clock.
never 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 scaf-
folding and the shop, are on their way
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. Thev 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 whms of those
who go a-shopping seek the face of moth
err or wife and child. The streets are
thronged with young men setting out
from the great centres of bargain max
ing. Let oilers clear the street and give
right of way to the besweated artisans
and merchentsl They have earned their
bread and are now on their way home
to 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 familes!"
b 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, glistening 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 gracefulness of
apparel with all sweetness of sound,
with all splendor of manner. Mirrors are
1-l.f I q
til it seems as if in infinite corridors
there were garlanded troops advancing
and retreating. The outdoor air rings
with laughter and with the moving to
and fro of thousands on the great prom.
enades. 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,
minele in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes hone to
think more seriously and the praying
man to pray more earnestly. A beautiful
aud 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
tlnctness 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 horse in the next street.
The samming of saloon door. The hic-
cough of the drunkard The shrieks of
the steam whistle five miles away. Oh.
how suggestive. my friends, the third
watch Of the night
What a stupendous thougat-a whole
city at rest! Weary arm preparing for
to.morrows toll. Hot brain being cooled
nerves soothed. The white hair of the
octogenarian in thin drifts across the
pillow, fresh fall Of flakes on snow al
ready fallen. Childhood. with its dim
pied hands thrown out on the pillow and
with every breath taking in new store
of fun and frolic. Third watch of the
night Gods sumberless 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, my 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 earroter's hug. Look
through the broken window pane and
see what you can see. You saw Moth
ing Then listen. What is it? God
help usl" No footlights, but tragedy
gh1astlier and mightier than Ristori or
no fire. no bread, no hope. Shivering in
the cold, they have had no food for TWEEN.
ty-four hours. You say, "Why don't they
beg?" They 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
bltter cry of man or child when told
he must go to the almshouse. "Oh," YOU
say, they are vicious poor, and therefore
tney do not deserve our sympathy" Are
they viclousy So much more need they
your pity. The Christian poor. God helps
Pass on through the alley. Open the
door. oh" YOU say, 'it is locked" No,
Y Is not locked. II has never been locked
no burglar would be tempted to go in
there TO steal anything. The door is
never locked Only a broken chair
stands against the door. Shove it back.
20 IN. Strike match. Now look Beast
hnsss and rags. See those glaring eye
pals. BE careful now what you say. Do
not utter any insult, do not utter any sus-
Plcion, Il you value your life. What is
that red mark on the wall? It 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 in the corner,
coming toward you, and as they come
near near you your light goes out. Strike an
QiLher match. All, this is babe, not like
tose tenose beautiful children presented in
baptism. This little one never smiled. 1t
never, will smile. flower flung on an
aaWiuily barren beach. o Heavenly Shep-
nerd, fold that little one in Thy armsl
WIap around you your shawl or your coat