Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1901-10-31
A FIVE ACT DRAMA.
DR.. TALMAGE'S SUNDAY SERMON.
Subject, The Way Of Destruction A
Plea For Higher and Better and No
bier Living.
fCopyright. 1901. I


DR.. Talmage describes some of the scenes
to be witnessed 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,
careful watching, otherwise the incen-
diary's torch might have been thrust into
the very heart Of the metropolitan splen-
dor, 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 watchman on his solitary beat;
silence hung in air, save as some passer-
by raised the question, 'sWatchman, what
Of the night?'
1t is to me deeply suggestive and sol
emn thing to see a man standing guard
by night It 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.
Every moral teacher stands on picket or
patrols the wall as watchman. 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 hings it's
morning glories" Of blooming cloud
across the trellis of the sky.
The anciepts divided their night into
four parts-the first watch from to 9,
the second from 9 to Il, the third from
/ II to and the fourth from 3 to 6. l
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or from II to 8 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 rejolces 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.
! 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 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 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 fanilies!'
| A few hours later and all the places o.
amusement, good and bad, are in full tide.
Lovers of art, catalogue i'll 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, glisteniing boards await
| the signal from the orchestra. Concert
halls are lifted into enchantment with
the warble 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
til it seems as if in infinite corridors
there we're 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
mingle in the great metropolitan picture
until the thinking man goes home tc
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 Il. and the thiro
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 tinlxling of the bell of the street cal
in the distance and the baving of the dog
The stamp of horse in the next street
The slamming of a saloon door. The hic
cough of the. drunkard. The shrieks o
the steam whistle five miles away. Oh
how suggestive my friends, the thire
watch OF the night!
What stupendous thought who.'
city at rest! Weary arm preparing fo
to-morrows toll Hot brain being coo!e,
off. Rigid muscles relaxed. Excite,
nerves soothed. The white hair of tn
octogenarian in thin drifts across tn
pillew, fresh fall Of flakes on snow. al
ready fallen. Childhood, with its dim
pied hands thrown out on the pillow an,
: | with every breath taking in a new stor
| Of fun and frolic. Third watch Of tn
! night! Gods slumberless eve will look
Let one great wave of refreshing slumbe
roll over the heart of the great town. sub
merging care and anxiety and worrimen
l and pain. Let the city sleep.
= But, my friends. be not deceived. Their
will be tonight thousands who will no
sleep at all. Go up that dark alley, an
2 be cautious where you tread lest you ia
e over the PROSTATE form of drunkar
; i You, lest you feel the Carr 3ters hug. Loo
= THROUGH the broken window pane an
t see what you can see. You say. .Notl
+ ing' Then listen. What is It? "Go
!. help u.s." No footights, but TRACED
: ghastler and mightier than Ristori o
Edwin Booth ever enacted. No light
no fire. no bread, no hope. Shivering i
i the cod. they have had no food for twer
= ty-fonr hours. You say, sWhy. don't the
. beg?" Thew do, but they get nothing
: You say, "Why don't they deliver then
e selves over to the a!mshouse?" All. vo
Y would not ask that if you ever heard tn
,, bitter cry of a man or a child when tol
= he must go to the almshouse. "Oh,'' vo
{, say. "they arc vicious poor, and therefor
T thev do not deserve our sympathy" Ar
n they vicious? So much more need the
your pity. The Christian poor God help
them.
Pass on through the alley. Open th
door. 'sQh." you say, 'it is locked!" N
it is not locked. It has never been lockee
d No burglar would be tempted to go
there to steal anything. The door
g never locked. Onlv a broken cha
. stands against the door. Shove it bacl
( Go in. Strike a match. Now look. Beas
# illness and rags. See those glaring ey
balls. Be careful now what you say. j
not utter any insult, do not utter any su