The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-15

WASHINGTON, Oct. BIN this dis
course Br. Talmage describes some of the
scenes to b. witnessed late at night in
the great cities and warns the unwary of
many perils; text, Isaiah xxi, II,
"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 nightP'
1t is to me a deeply suggestive and SOL
emn thing to see a 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 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 vigilant until the daybreak filings its
morning g~lories" of blooming cloud
across the trellis Of the sky.
a The ancients divided their night into
four parasitic first watch, from 6 to g;
the second, from 8 to u; the third, from
II to 3, and the fourth, from 3 to 6. [
speak now of the city in the third watch,
or from II to 3 o'clock.
I 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 scaffold-
ing and the shop, are on their way home.
lit ~rejoices me to give them my seat in
the city car. They nave stood and ham,
4nered away all day. Their feet are
weary. They are exhausted with the tug
zof 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, ave broken away from the
counter and with brain weary of the long
Zine Of figures and the whims of those
>who go a-shopping seek the face of moth
7 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
levening repasts-the parents at either end
lof the table, the children between. Thank
God, "'who setteth the solitary in fam
Alies."
A few hours later and all the places Of
amusement, good and bad, are in full tide.
overs 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, g%listening boards, await
1.-THE signal from the orchestra. Concert
halls are lifted into e-nchantment with the
&warble of one songstFess or swept out on
ia sea OF tumultuos tfe cling 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, rushes past as you halt
at the curbstone. Mirth, revelry, beauty,
fashion, magniicence, mingle in the great
metropolitan picture until the thinking
man goes home to think more seriously,
n the praying man to pray more ear
nestly. A 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 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 a 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, my friends, the third
watch Of the night
There are honest men passing I'D and
down the street. Here is a city mis-
sioaary who has been carrying a scuttle
Of coal to that poor family in that dafS
place. Here is al undertaken going up
the steps Of a building from which there
comes q 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 a dying
Christian. Here is a physician passing
along in great haste. Nearly all the
lights have gone out in the dwellings, for
it 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 praysr must go up from hearts
soon to be broken.
Oh, the third watch of the night! What
a stupendous thought-a whole city at
restl Weary arm preparing for tomor-
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 fakes on snow already fall
en-. Childhood, with its dimpled hands
- -1l@r- onI 18th 49,