The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-02
Don't Gamble Away Life.

Gong down the street the otner udy>
says writer in the Chicago Interior. walk.
the buildings between US and the waters
edge stood clearly defined against the.
cloudless sky, we could not help noticing
how the facades of all were hung with al;
NOSE innumerable fire escapes. Like great
webs for gigantic spiders they reached
from story to story, and silhoutted against
the azure background they formed very
conspicuous feature of the scene.
1t was evident from their numbers that
their presence was not accidental. With
out knowing fully the legislation govern.
that the state had made their erection
compulsory. Past experience had taught
the citizens that many .".6reproof" struci
ture goes up in smoke, and that under Ger.
tain conditions even stone and mortar melt
with fervent heat. Those who saw the
greater part of Chicago dissolve into
cloud thirty years ago have not the eong
fidence in builders assurances that they
once had. Even when entering the most
substantial structure they have the. habit
of looking round for means of exit. Taught
by what he has endured, Chicago jpio-
neer would not care to spend more than,
one night on the summit of Mount Blanc
unless it were provided with FIRE es-
cape. ~ r.s gSs$S
why should men be less careful Of their,
spiritual than Of their physical safety!l
Why should man who would not rent
an office or accept sleeping .chambe1
without first looking up the fre escape
enter upon habits of life and customs Of soy
ciety without moments thought of thl
risks involved? Are there not apiritu
where nevertheless the young and Y
thoughtless blithely resort for The carell
enjoyment: of pernous pleasures? 1t
quires no special genius to enter upon
prodigafs career; but how Is one to be
ivered from its consequences? When
purse is empty, is there an easy way ba
to afiuence? When the eye sparkles an0
the pulses quicken under the gentle stimny
lus of champagne, would it not be the part
of wisdom to ask where is the way to-.
safety if the soul should suddenly become
the pace begins to tell? Suppose the man
awakes to find his account overdrawn, his
health impaired, and his name under an
eclipse? Is there fire escape leading
quickly and easily from this clubhouse
life to his old-time freedom and safety?
Have his new habits given him q stronger
will, clearer conscience and more inti--
mate touch with the redemptive elements
of society? Before making ones home here
would 1t not be the part or wisdom to Know
whether there is from such career AN
easy retreat, or whether the soul waking
to an hour Of menacing peril wakens only
to find itself more engaged while strugs,
Cling to be free%
The special peril of our day is gambling.
Inscriptions dealers tempt little children
and foolish boys with multitudinous de-
vices, through which thev can be intro
duced to the ascinations of chance gains.
But where is the fire escape? When the
flames are all about you, and the danger is
imminent, and it is question OF fight or
death, is it easy to unlearn all these dia-S
bolical habits? 1t is a simple matter to es-
cape the fascinations which attach them
selves to all forms of hazard and Of chance
The wise man knows that it is easier to-
keep out than to get out. wv, VI
Hinged about with flames, the unhappy
victim of sims fire traps plunges for a,few
tragic moments hither and thither, all in
vain, and then, as we have so lately seen
in the fashionable life of an eastern city,
in sheer despair leaps upon death and per-
ishes with all the. imperfections on hia
head" Do not foolishly "take the
chances" when they are too evidently all
against you. Do not make any mode OF
life even your temporary home if from it
you fail to find plain and easy path that
leads to peaceful and secure life, q life
"hid with Christ in God"