The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1902-08-02

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The night IS dark and dreary,
the thunder peals and the flashes
Of lightning follow each other in
quick succession, the gay, we'll
dressed crvwd that a few hours
before thronged the sidewalks
has suddenly disappeared, and all
nature seems TO shrink within it.
self as if in fear of the terrific
Outburst of the heavens above,
the rain is pouring down in tor
rents, the water-beds of the
streets are filed to their capacity,
the crossings are swept clean by
the heavy rains, the night officers
are standing under the friendly
protection of the store porches
and the fickerinR, dim light of the
street lamps lend to the surround
ings a weird. unenviable scene.
The gay lothario of the previous
nights carousal and dissipation
has awoke from the slumberings
Of the day, he rubs his eyes IN
wonderment of where he is at; he
rolls ont of bed, dresses and pre-
pares himself for the nights fes-
tivities, he looks out of his win
dow at the threatening heavens,
which are pouring down rain
mercilessly, but such small i'm.
pediments retard not his ardent
fervor nor stand between him and
his prospective pleasures, b Q
staggers out Of his room on to the
sidewalk, mechanically looks at
his watch-it is now past twelve,
the tolling of his neignbor's clock
Verifes the time, he pulls down
his hat to conceal his features, if
perchance he should meet his
neighbor. Hark! He hears a
footstep and rapidly bounds to
the friendly dark shade of a
nearby pole where he listens at
tentively TO the deft, light foot
steps. 1t is a night officer going
his rounds, he passes without OBJ
serving the man in the shade.
Lothario gives sigh Of relief at
not being observed, starts out
anew, succeeds in reaching the
next corner without being OBJ
served; suddenly ne hears another
footstep, but this time it has
brought him ioy-lt is one Of the
youthful companions of former
midnight carousals, innocent,
harmless, unsophisticated eigh
teen, easily led to vice and ruin
and a susceptible credulous sub
ject for the experienced, harden
ed wretch who leads him on.
With a joyous ha! ha! the hand
is extended to the more youthful
companion, a suggestive look is
passed between them and arm in
arm they swagger down the side
walk. With the characteristic
loquacity of old-fashioned chnms
they gaily chat, needless of be-
ing overheard, but sudden
"hush up from the more youth
full Immediately silenced the loud
talk of his companion, who, not
observing in the distance a 1.-the
figure leaning against the lamp
post, silently approaching the in
divldual who caused their appre-
hension OF detection they observe
a familiar face, one who has not
heretofore been numbered IN
their ranks, one who undoubtedly
sneaked away from the watchful
care of parents, one who hereto
fore never knew of the worlds
vices, one who has been raised in
the atmosphere of innocence and
virtue; but ahl his maiden mid
night experience is about to open
up broad road to his ruin and q
wide avenue to his vices and an
unlimited opportunity to indulge
his growing Immortality.
With a cordial salutatlon of
''howdy DOR the two midnight
pleasure seekers approach the
bashful STRIPPING and after the
customary obscene remarks which
are invariably used on such re-
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