The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-20

course Dr. Talmage describes some of the scenes to be witnessed late at night in many perils: text. Isaiah xxi. Il. "Watch-man. what of the night?' When night came down on Babylon. fss ass ary's torch might have been thrust into the very heart of the metropolitan splen- dor. or enemies. marching from the hills tong. on top of the wall and in front of the gates, might be heard the measured step of the watchman on his solitary paserby raised the question, Watch man. what of the night?"
 It Is to me a deeply suggestive and sol- 6y % night. It 1t thrilled % through % me Ad ss' at the gate of an arsenal in Charleston the question once smote me. Who comes Advance and give the countersign." Every meral teacher stands on picket or patrols the wall as watchman. His work is to sound the alarm, and whether watch. in the third watch or in the fourth watch to be vigilant until the day break filings its morning gories" of blooming cloud across the trellis of the sky
 The ancients divided their night into four parts-the first watch, from to g; ts the second; from s & ts F; the & third, from speak now of the city in the third watch, or from 12 to o'clock.
 I never weary of looking upon the life the hour when the stores are closing. The laboring men. having quilted the scaffoldinR and the shop, are on their 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 appetifes sharpened on the swift | turner's wheel and the carpenters whet- l 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 mother or wife or child. The streets are thronged with young men setting out from the great centers of bargain mak- ing. Let idlers clear the street and give right of way to the besweated artisans 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 be- itary in families"
 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 pictures The ballroom is resplen- dent with the rich apparel of those who. on on either side of the white. glistening chestra. Concert halls are lifted into en. chantment with the warble of one song stress or swept out on sea of tumul. tuous feeling by the blast of brazen in- struments Drawing rooms are filled with all gracefulness of apparel, with all sweetness of sound, with all splendor of manner; mirrors are catching up and multiplying the scene. until 1t seems as if in infinite corridors there were gar landed troops advancing and retreating. The outdoor air rings with laughter and with the moving to and fro of thousands on the great promenades. The dashing span, adrip with the foam of the long country ride, rushes past as you halt ut 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 earn estly. beautiful and overwhelming thing is the city in the first and second watches of the night.
 Third Watch of the Night.
 But the clock strikes F, and the third l 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 | the dog. The stamp of a horse in the next street. The slamming of saloon door, The hiccough of the drunkard. The shrieks of the staem whistle five mites | away. Oh, how suggestive, my friends the third watch of the night.
 There are honest men passing up and
 
 ary who has been carrying a scuttle of coal to that poor family in that dark place. Here is an undertaken going up the steps of a building from which there comes bitter cry. which indicates that | the destroying angel has smitten the first-born. Here is a minister of religion S,OI %hO has o.s, been giving the sacrament to passing along in great haste. Nearly all the lights have gone out in the dwell ings. for 1t Is the third watch of the IEHio hot lNrrAk HY. ..1N Nr 1, light of the watcher, for the medicines must be administered, and the fever must be watched, and the restless toss ing off of the coverlid must be resist temples. and the perpetual prayer must go up from hearts soon to be broken.
 Oh. the third watch of the night What a stupendous thought-a whole city at rest! Weary arm preparing for tomor- rows toll. Hot brain being cooled off. Rigid muscles relaxed. Excited nerves marian in thin drifts across the pillow fresh fall of flakes on snow already fall en. Childhood. with its dimpled hands thrown out on tho pillow. and with every breath taking in new store of fun and frolic Third watch of the night. Gods | slumberless eye will look. Let one great heart of the great town. submerging 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 prostrate form of drunkard lying on his own doorstep. Look about you. lest you feel the garroter's hug. Look through the broken window pane and see what you can see. You say. Nothing" Then listen. What is 1t? God help us!' No footlights. but trag- edy Rhastlier and mightier than RstoTi or Edwin Booth ever enacted. No light, no fire, no bread no hope, ShiverinR in the cold. they have had no food for twen- ty-four hours. You say. Why don't they bek?' They do. but they get nothing. i You say, Why don't they deliver them selves over to the almshouse?" An. you would not ask that If you ever heard the | bitter cry of a man or child when told he must go to the almshouse! Oh you say. they are vicious poor. and there fore they do not deserve our sympathy" Are they vicious? So mucn more need | they your pity. The Christian poor. God | h lbs them Through their night there 1 wrinkles the round, merry star of hope and through the broken window they see the crystals of heaven. but the vicious | last light has gone out You excuse yourself from helping them by saying they are so bad they brought this trouble on themselves. I reply, Where I give ten prayers for the, innocent who are suffer ing l will give twenty for the guilty who are suffering
 The Open Door.
 Pass on through the alley. Open the door, "Oh." you say. Tit is locked" No 1t is not locked. It has never heen lock | ed. No burglar wOOld he ternDted fN 0O