Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-10-16

of the night?'
When night came down on Babylon
Nineyeh 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 gGtes. 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, 'Watehman, what
of the night?'
1t is to me a 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
there?'' followed by the sharp command
Advance and give the eountersign.' Ev-
cry moral teacher stands ON picket OF
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 yigilant until the daybreak filings its
'morninc gories" of blooming cloud
across the trelis of the sky.
At duCISlNS hAfibOd NhN4A AiSAt "a ~
four parasitic first watch, from TO o.
the second, from to u; the third, from
u to 8, and the fourth, from to q.
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or from Il to 3 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 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 feete
are weary. They are exhausted with the
tug 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
clerks, too, have broken away from the
counter and with brain weary of the long
line of figures and the whims of those
who go a-shopping seek the face of moth
er 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 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
flies.
A few hours later and all the places of
amusement, good and be i, are in full tide.
Lovers Of art, catalogue in baud, stroll
through the galleries and discuss the pic
PM Two ha11 ;e Will
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
sea of tumultu6us 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, until it
seems as if in infinite corridors there were
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, PUSHES past as you halt
at the curbstone. Mirth, reyelry, beauty,
fashion, magnihcence. minglc 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 cloek 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 slammng of saloon door. The
hiccough of the drunkard The shrieks
Of the steam whistle FIVE miles away.
oh, how suggestive, my friends, the third
watch of the night!
There are honest men passing up and
down the street. Here is a city mis-
sionary who has been carrying a scuttle
OF coal TO that poor FAMILY i'll that dark
place. Here is an undertaken going up
the steps of building from which there
comes a bitter cry, which indicates that
the destroying angel has smitten the first
born. Here is minister of religion who
has been giving the sacrament to a dying
Christian. Here is a physician passing
along in great haste. Nearly all the
lights have gone out in the dwellings, for
1t 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
erlid must-be resisted, and the ice must
be kept on the hot temples, and the per-
petual prayer must go up from hearts
soon to be broken.
Oh, the third watch of the night. What
& stuRsndous thought wlole city at
rows toll. Hot brain being cooled off.
Rigid muscles relaxed. Excited nerves
soothed. The white hair Of the octoge-
marian in thin drifts across the pillow,
fresh fall Of flakes on snow already fall
en-. Childhood with it's dimpled hands
thrown out on the pillow. aud with every
breath taking in new 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
and anxiety and worriment and pain.
Let the city sleep.
But, my friends. he not deceived. There
viii be tonight thousands who VIII not
sleep at all. Go up that dark alley, and
be cautious where you tread lest you fan
over the PROSTATE form OF drunkard
fxfug on his or-u 7.~--.an I .7oi- a baut