The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-10
THE WAY OF DESTRUCTION
DR.. Talmage Tells of the Pitfalls for the
Unwary in The Great Cities.
The Third Watch Of the Night-A Drama
10 Five Acts.
lConrrirht. lnlil

When night came down on Babylon.
Nineveh and Jerusalem. they needed
careful watching, otherwise the incen.
diary's torch might have been thrust into
the very heart of the metropolitan splen-
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 Waterman on his solitary beat;
silence hung IN air. save rs some passer-
by raised the question, Waterman, what
of the night?"
1t is to me a deeply suggestive and sol
emn thing to sec man standing guard
by night. 1t 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 countersign
Every moral teacher stands on picket or
patrols the wall as Waterman. His work
is to sound the alarm, and whether 1T be
IN the first watch in the second watch,
an 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 into
four parasitic first watch from to o,
the second from o to II. the third from
IL to 3 and the fourth from TO 6. L
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or from IL to o'clock.
/ never weary OF looking upon the htc
of the city in the first watch That is the
hour when the stores are closing. The
laboring men. having quilted the scat
folding and the shop, arc on their way
home. It rejoices me TO give them my
scat in the city car. They have stood
and hammered away all day. Their feet
are weary. Thew are exhausted with the
tug OF work They are mostly cheerful
With appetites sharpcncd 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, ana the whims of those
who go a-shopTlng 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 max
ing. Let idleTs 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 let 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, arc in full tide
Lovers of art, catalogue in hand. stroll
through the galleries and discuss the pic
lures. The ballroom il Respondent with
the rich apparel of those who on either
side OF the white, Glistening boards await
the. signal from the orchestra. Concert
the MARBLE of one songstress or swept out
on a sea OF tumultuous feeling by the
blast of bra2en instruments Drawing
rooms are filed with all gracefnlness of
apparel, with all sweetness of sound
with all splendor of manner Mirrors are
catching up and multiplying the scene I'M
til 1T seems as II in infinite corridors
there were gavlanded troops advancing
and retreatng. The outdoor air rings
with laughter and with the moving to
av.I r. i A.
enades The dashing span. adrip with
the foam of the long country ride, rushes
past as you halt at the curbstone Mirth
reveiry, beauty. fashion. magnifcence
mingle in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes home to
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 10. 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
tirctness as to attract your attention
The tinkling OF the bell of the street car
in the distance and the bavng of the dog
The stamp OF horse in the next street
The siammug Of a saloon door. The hc-
cough OF the drlmkard. The shricks of
the steam whistle FIVE miles away Oh
how suggestive. nv friends. the third
watch OF the night
What a sturondou- tnought--a whole
city at rest Wcarv arm preDarinr for
tomorrow toll. Hot brain being cooled
OIL. Rigid muscles relaxed Excited
nerves soothcd. 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 a new store
OF fun and froic Third watch of the
night! Gods slumbercss eve will look
Let one great wave of refreshing sumher
roll over the heart of the great town. sub
merging care and anxiety and worrimcnt
and pain. Let the city sleep.
hut. my friends. be not deceived There
will be tonight thousands who will not
sleep at all. Go up that dark alley. and
he cautious where Won tread lest YOU fall
over the PROSTATE form of a drunkard
lying on his own doorstep Look about
you. lest YOU feel the garrotcrs hug Look
through the broken window pane and
see .waat YOU can sec. You saw "Noth.
ing hen listen. What is it? God
help us'" No footlights. but tragedy
Ghastier and mightier than Ristor or
Edwin Booth ever enacted No light.
no fire. no bread. no hope Shiyering i'm
the. cod. they have had no food for TWEEN
ty-iomr hours. You say. why don't they
beg" Thov do. but they ret nothing.
You say "Wby don't they deliver them.
selves over to tho almshouse?' All. YOU
would not ask that If YOU ever heard tho
bitter cry OF man OF a child when told
he must go to The almshouse ooh" YOU
Soy. hey are vicious poor and therefore
thev do not dcsoryc Our sympathy" Arc
thcy vlcousI So much more need they
yo@- pity The Christian poor God helps
Pass on through the alley. Omen the
noor. oh YOU saw. cit is locked" No.
h is not locked. u has never been locked.
10 burglar would bc tempted to 20 in
there 20 steal anything The door is
never locked. Only a broken chair
stands against The door Shove IL back.
10 in. Strike match Now look. Beast.
lness old rczs. See those glaring eve
balls BE careful now what you say DO
not utter any insult. do not utter any sus-
wcion, II you value your life What is
that red mark ON the wall7 II is the
mark OF murdc-er's handl Look at
nose TWO eyes rising mp out OF the dark.
ness and out from the straw i'm the corner.
coming toward YOU. and as they come
near YOU your light goes ont Strike an.
Dt1cr match. Al. this is n babe not like
those beautiful children presented i'm
baptism. This little one never smiled NJ
never VIII smile. A flower flung ON an
awfully barren beach Heavenly Sbrp.
herd fold that little ono I'm Thv srmsf
Wrap around you your shawl or vour cost
Fighter Tor the cold wind swccpq through
Strike another match All, ir III possi.
bic that the SCARED and bruised face of
hat young woman ever was looked into
w maternal tenderness? Utter no qcorp
Utter no harsh word. No ray Of hope
Ess dsyned On that Draw ior masy a
year. No ray Of hope ever viii daWn 81
49, g. NJ az 1t~hf has oare ant