Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-10-18


the scenes TO be witnessed late at night
In the great cities and warns the un-
wary Of many perils; text. Isaiah xxi.
il. "Watchman. what OF the nightT'
When night came down on Babylon.
Nineveh and Jerusalem. they needed
careful watching. otherwise the incen-
diary's torch might have been thrust
into thc very hcart Of the metropolitan
sQiendor. or cucrlies. marching from
IT, hills. c,glt have forced the gates.
81 night long, ca top OF the wall and
81 iront Cf the gates, might be heard
TIE measured step OF the Waterman on
bis solitary beat; silence hung In air,
save as some passerby raised the ques-
ton. 'W0tchman, what OF the nightT'
It Is 70 me a deeply suggestive and
solemn thing to sec a man standing
guard by night Il thrilled through me
as at the safe OF an arsenal In Charles
ton the question once smote me, "Who
comes thereI" followed by the sharp
command. Advance and give the coun-
tersiGn." Every moral teacher stands
OH picket or patrols the wall as watch
man. 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 vigilant
until the daybreak filings It's morning
glories" OF blooming cloud across the
trellls OF the sky.
The ancients divided their night into
four parts-the first watch from @ to o,
the second from TO u. the third from
IL 10 3 and the fourth from to 9.
speak now OF the city in the third
watch. or from u to 5 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
scaffolding 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. They are ex-
hausted with the tug Of work. They
are mostly cheerful. With appetites
shsrpened on the swift turner's wheel
and the carpenters milestone they
seek the evening meal The clerks. too,
have broken away from the countel
and with brain weary of the long hr;&
Of figures and the whims Of those who
go a-shopplng seek the face Of mother
or wife and child. The streets are
thronged with young men setting out
from the great centers of bargain max
Ing Let idlers clear the street and
give right of way to the besweated ar
tisans and merchants! They have earn
ed their bread and are now on their
way home TO get II. The lights I'm full
Jet hang over 10000 evening repasts-
the parents at either end OF the table.
the children between. Thank God,
who settcth the solitary In familiesg'
Evening Ina the City.
a few hours later and oil 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 resplen-
dent with the rich apparel OF those
who on either side OF the white, glis-
teuing boards await the signal from the
orchestra Concert halls are lifted into
enchantmeut with tho MARBLE OF one
songStress or swept out on sea OF
tumultuous feeling by the blast OF
brazen instruments. Drawing rooms
are filed witt al sracCfulness Of APP
parel, with al sweetness OF sound,
with I'll splendor OF manner Mirrors
are catching up and multiplying the
scene until e seems us IL In inhn!te
corridors there were garlanded troops
advancing and rctrcating The outdoor
al rings with laughter ana with the
Ifr o and 70 Of thousands on the
s.f, pronenades. The dashiug span,
a't.l V.t5 The foam OF the long coun-
trl rlG2 ru-hes past as you halt ut the
c-tHs.oue. Nirth, revelry, beauty, fash
Ion. maSnincencc, minglc In the great
metropolitan picture until the thinking
man goes home 10 think more seriously
and the praying man TO pray more ear
nesuy. a beautiful and overwhelming
thing Is the city Ia the first and second
watches OF the night.
Bct the clock strikes 70. and the
third watch has begun. The thunder
or the city has rolled 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 bay
Ing or the dog. The stamp OF horse
in the next street The slamming OF a
saloon door. The hiccough OF the
urunkard. The shrieks of the steam
whistle FIVE miles away. oh, how sug-
gestive. my friends. the third watch OF
the night!
Ihere are honest men passing I'D and
down the street. Here is a city mis-
sionary, who has been carrying a scut-
Tie or coal to that poor family in that
oark place. Here is an undertaken CO.
ing up the steps or a building from
which there comes bitter cry, which
indicates that the destroying angel has
smitten the iirstborn. Here Is a min.
lister OF religion who has been giving
the scc-1.ncni to a dying Christian.
Re1rl~ II physician passing along in
great ha-i.' Nearly all the lights have
gone out Ia the dwellings, for 1t is the
third watch OF the night.
Ta!rs Watch of the Night.
Oh. The third watch OF the night!
What S,gpondous thought-a whole
city az r1st. Weary arm preparing for
tomorrow toll. Hot brain being COOL
ed OF i;;rid muscles relaxed. Excit-
60 nerves s0othed. The white hair of
ne ectogenarian In thin drifts across
the pillow, fresh fall of flakes on snow
already fallen. Childhood, with its
dimpied hands thrown out on the pill
how and with every breath taking in a
rev store OF fun and frolic. Third
watch of the night! Gods slumberless
eye will look Let one great wave OF
refreshing slumber roll over the heart
OF the great town, submerging care
ana anxiety and worriment and pain.
Let the city sleep.
But, my friends, be not deceived.
There will be tonight thousands who
VIII not sleep at all. Go up that dark
alley, and be cautious where you tread
lest you fall over the PROSTATE form of
a drunkard lying on his own doorstep.
Look about you, lest you feel the gar
roter's hug Look through the broken
window pane and see what you can
see. You say, Nothing" Then listen.