The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-10-19
EVILS OF THE NIGHT
DR.. Talmage Points a Warning to
the Unwary.
The wcII-Knovvn Preacher Describes
some of the scenes That May BE
Witnessed After Dark-Time
OF Great Temptation.

In this discourse DR.. Talmage de-
scribes some of the scenes to be wit
messed late at night in the great cit
les and warns the unwary of many
perils; text, Isaiah II, II: Waterman
what of the night
When night came down on Babylon,
Nineveh and Jerusalem they needed
careful watching; otherwise the ineen-
diary's torch might have been thrust
into the very heart of the metropolitan
splendor, or enemies, marching from
the hills, might have forced the gates.
All night long, On top of the wall n
in front of the gates, might be heard
the measured step of the on
his solitary beat. Silence hung In ar,
save as some passerby raised the ques-
ton: "Watchman, what of the nlght'
1t is to me a deeply suggestive and
solemn thing TO see a man standing
guard by night. 1t thrilled through
me as at the gate of an arsenal IN
Charleston the question once smote
me: "NNho 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, 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 t%rellis of the day.
The an%cients divided their night
into four parasitic first watch, from
6 to 9; the second, from 9 to ~; the
third, from 10 to 3, and the fourth,
from 3 TO 6. l speak now of the city
in the third watch, from L. 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 clos
ing. 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
exhausted with the tug of work. They
are mostly cheerful. With appetites
s~harpened 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 60 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 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 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 pictures. The ballroom is
resplendent with the rich apparel of
those who, on either side of the white,
g~listening boards, await the signalfrom
the orchestra. Concert halls are lift
ed into enchantment with the MARBLE
of one songstress or swept out on a
sea of tumultuous feeling by the blast
of brazen instruments. Drawing
rooms are filed with all the graceful
ness of apparel, with all sweetness of
sound, with all splendor of
mirrors are catching up and multi
plying the scene, until it seems as if
in infinite corridors there were gar
landed troops advancing and retreat
ing. The outdoor air rings with laugh
ter and with the moving to and fro of
thousands 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, magniicence,
mingle in the great metropolitan pic
ture until the thinking man goes home
to think more seriously, and the pray
ing nan to pray more earnestly. \
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 mas TOIltu out OF the air.
The slightest sounds cut the night with
such distinctness as TO attract your at
tention. 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 sug
gestive, my friends, the third watch OF
the night!
There are honest men passing W
and down the street. Here is a cit
missionary who has been carrying
scuttle of coal to that poor family il
that dark place. Here is an under
taker going up the steps of a buildin!
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 beer
giving the sacrament to a dying Chris
tan. Here is a physician passing along
IN great haste. Nearly all the light!
have gone out in the dwellings, for i
is the third watch of the night. Tha.
light in the window is the light of the