Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1901-10-18
The WAY OF DESTRUCTION
Or. Talmage Tells of the Pitfalls for the
Unwary in the Great Cities.
The Third Watch OF the Night-A DRAINS
in Five Acts.
tCopvripht, 1901, |

Or. 1almage describes SOME vi tiS S|NI
to be witnessed late OF night IN the great
cites and warns the unwary OF many
perils; text, Isaiah xxi, IL, "Watchman,
what OF the night!"
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 sp;en'
dor. or enemies. marching from the mis-
,n;gbf have forced the gates. All night
long. on top of the wall and IN front OF
The oates. might be heard the measured
step of the Waterman on his solitary oeat'
silence hing in air. save as some pasSer'
nv raised the question, "Watchman' what
1t is to me deeply suggestive and ,,s sol
nv night. 1t thrilled through me as at
the gate of an arsenal in Charleston the
npestion once smote me. WHO comes
there" followed by the sharp command:
advance and give the countersign'
Every moral teacher stands on nlcket or
patrols the wall as Waterman; HIS WORK
!; to sound the alarm, and whether 1t he
il 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 trellis of the sky.
The ancients divided their night into
four. parts-the first watch from 6 to y,
the second from 9 to II, the third from
l. to 3 and the fourth from, 3 to u; i
speak now Of the city in the third Watch'
OF from u to o'clock -, -.
never weary of looking upon the Ire
o.; the city in the first watch. That Is the
hour when the stores are closing. Inc
laboring men. having quilted the scat
folding 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 Thew are exhausted with the
ting 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
Jerks. too. have broken away from the
counter and with brain weary or the long
line OF figures. and the whims of those
who 90 a-shopping seek the face OF moth
or or wife and child. The streets are
thronged with young men, setting out
from the great centres of bargain max
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
70 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 sctteth the
solitary IN famllles!
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
tures. The ballroom is respondent with
the rich apparel of those who on either
side of the white, glisteniug boards await
the signal from the orchestra. Concert
halls are lifted into enchantment WIN
the MARBLE of one songstress or swept out
on sea OF tumultuous feeling by the
blast of brazen instruments. Drawing
rooms are flied with all gracefulness OF
apparel. with all sweetness of sound,
with all splendor of manner. Mirrors are
catching up and multiplying the scene un'
I'll 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 6f thousands on the great prom
enades. The dashing span, adrip with
the foam of the long country ride, PUSHES
rast as YOU halt at the curbstone. Mirth
revelry, beauty, fashion, magnifcence,
minQle in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes hone to
think more seriously and me 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 II. 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
,inctness as to attract your attention
The tinkling of the bell of the street cal
J, the distance and the baying of the dog
The stamp of horse in the next street
cough of the drunkard. The shrieks o.
The steam whistle five miles away. On
low suggestive my friends, the THIRD
watch of the night!
What a stupendous thought-a whole
city at rest! Weary arm preparing tol
to-morrow's toll. Hot bra in being cooled
off. Rigid muscles relaxed. Excited
o~togenarian in thin drifts across tht
pillow, fresh fall of fakes on snow, al
ready fallen. Childhood, with its dim
ped hands thrown ont on the pillow anc
with every breath taking in new store
OF fun and frohc. Third watch Of, thu
right Gods slumberless eve will look
Let one great wave Of refreshing slumbeei
roll over the heart of the great town. sub
lae7ging care and anxiety and worrlmen
aDd pain Let the city sleep.
Pit. my friends. be not deceived. There
will be tonight thousands who will moi
seep at all. Go up that dark alley, anC
lie cautious where you tread lest you fal
over the PROSTATE form Of DRUM arc
lying on his own doorstep. Look about
YOU, lest you feel the garroter mug. LoOf
through the broken window pane ant
see what YOU can see. You saw. Moth
ing" Then listen. What is it? Goo
relp us!' No footlights, but tragedy
rhastlier and mightier than Ristori OF
Edwin Booth ever enacted. No light
10 fire. no bread, no hope. Shivering IL
the cold, they have had no food for TWEEN
tr-fonr hours. You say, "Why don't they
heg?" They do, but they get nothing
You say, "Why don't they deliver them
selves over to the almshouse" All. vol
would not ask that if you ever heard thu
bitter cry OF a man or a child when tolo
he must go to the almshouse. ooh" vol
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 say, "it is locked" No
it Is not locked 1t has never been locked
No burglar would be tempted to go IL
there to steal anything. The door j
never locked. Only broken chail
stands against the door. Shove it back
60 in. Strike match. Now look. Beast
illness and rags. See those glaring eve
balls Be careful now what you say. d.
not utter any insult. do not utter any sus
p;cion, if you value your life. What Ii
that red mark on the wall? 1t is thu
mark of murderer's hand Look a
49, +u,o ayao ricino I'M ont of thp dark