The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-11-29
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WAsHIEGToN, ID. C.-In this dlseourse
Ut, Talmage describes some OF the scenes
20 De witnessed late at night in the great
A clties ana warns the unwary Of many
gb5t II te A. iSal95 g. XXI IL "Watehman
When night came down on Babylon,
Nineveh and Jerusalem, they needed
careful watching, otherwise the incen-
g1ary'B torch might have been thrust into
the very heart of the metropolitan splen-
dor, OF enemies, marching from the hills,
might have forced the gates. All night
long, on top Of the wall and 10 front Of
tho gates, might be heard the measured
step OF the Waterman on his solitary beat;
silence hung in air, save as some passer-
by raised the question, Waterman, what
of the night"
It il. 70 me a deeply suggestive and SOL
sInn thing % see a man standing guard
by night. IL 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 OF
patrols the wall as Waterman. His work
- TO sound the alarm, and whether it be
m the first watch, in the second watch,
I'm the third watch or in the fourth watch
20 be vigilant until the daybreak filings It's
morning glories" of blooming cloud
across the trellis of the sky.
The ancients divided their night into
tour parasitic first watch from to 0,
The second from 0 10 u, the third from
y to and the fourth from 3 TO 8. I
speak now of the city In the third watch,
or from u to o'clock.
! never weary of looking upon the life
of the city in the first watch That is the
u etc H.
aboring men, having quilted the scat
folding and the shop, are on their way
home. It reioices 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 sharpened on the swift
burners 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
hne of figures, and the whims of those
who 90 a-shopping 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 maxi
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
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 familiesl"
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 Respondent with
the rich apparel of those who on either
side of the white, ghstening boards await
the signal from the orchestra. Concert
halls are lifted 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 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 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,
mingle in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes home to
think more seriously and the 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
tinctness 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 slamming 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 thought whole |
city at rest Weary arm preparing for |
to-morrow's toll. Hot brain being cooled |
of. Rigid muscles relaxed Excited |
nerves soothed. The white hair of the |
Octogenarian in thin drifts across the |
pillow, fresh fall of fakes on snow al |
2eady fallen. Childhood, with it's dim
led hands thrown out on the pillow and
9TH every. breath taking in a new store
Il. fun and froic. Third watch of the
Sight Gods slumberless 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 a drunkard
lying on his own doorstep. Look about
you, lest you feel the garToter's hug. Look
through the broken window pane and
see what you can see. You say, Moth
ing" Then listen. What is it? "God
help us" No footlights, but tragedy
Phastlier and mightier than Ristori or
Edwin yin Booth they eyer enacted g No light,
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.