Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-10-19

NCopNIlEuls LOUIS hlopSCn iSOi-l
0N this discourse DIR. Talmage de-
scribes some of the scenes to be wit
messed late at night in the great cities
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 care
full watching; otherwise the incendiary'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 and in front OF
the 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, "Watchman, what
of the night?'
1t is to me deeply suggestive and sol
emn thing TO see 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
thereE" followed by the sharp command,
advance and give the countersign." Ev
cry moral teacher stands ON picket or
patrols the wall as Waterman. 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 viglant 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 8 to u; the third from
l. to 8, and the fourth, from to 6. l
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or 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 closing. The
laboring men, having quilted the seat
| 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 feete
are weary. They are exhausted with the
tug of work. They are mostly cheerful.
With appetites sharpencd 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 and the whims of those
| who so a-shopping seek the face of moth
| er or wife or child. The streets are
! thr0nged 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 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 fam
| lilies.
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 resplendent with
the rich apparel Of those who, on either
side of the white, glistening 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 brazcn instruments. Drawing rooms
are filed with all gracefuness of apparel.
with all sweetness of sound, with all
splendor of manner; mirrors are catching
up and multiplying the scene, until it
seems as if in infinite corridors there We're
garlanded troops advancing and retreat
ing. The outdoor air rings with laughter
and with the moving to and fro of thou
sands on the great promenades. The
dashing span, adrip with the foam Of the
long country ride, rushes past as you halt
at the curbstone. Aiirth, reyelry, beauty,
fashion, magnificence, mingle in the great
metropolitan picture until the thinking
man goes home TO think more seriously.
and the praying man to pray more earn
estly. A beautiful and overwhelming
thing is the city in the first and second
watches of the night
Third Watch of the Nigh.
But the clock strikes -, 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 tinlling of the bell Of the street ear
in the distance and the baying Of the dog.
The stamp OF q 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 suggestive, nay friends, the third
watch Of the night,
There are honest men passing up and
down the street. Here is II city mis-
sionary who has been carrying a scuttle
Of coal to that poor family in that dark
place. Here is an undertaken going up
the steps or a building 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 been giving the sacrament TO dying
Christian. Here is physician passing
along in great haste. Nearly all the
lights have gone out IN the dwellings, for
Il is the third watch OF the night. That
light In the window IS the light Of the
watcher, for the medicines must be ad
ministered, and the fever must be watch
ed. and the restless tossing off Of the COW
er.id must be resisted, and the ice must
be kept on the hot temples, and the per-
petual prayer must 20 up from hearts
soon to be broken.
Oh, the third watch Of the night. What
stupendous thought-a whole city at
rest, Weary arm preparing for to-mor-
rows toll Hot brain being cooled off.
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