The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29
A SATURDAY. SERMON.

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A SATURDAY SERMON.
A fool desDiseth his fathers instruc-
tions: but he that regardeth reoroof is
prudent-PrOverbs 15:5.
Young man. you have been travel
ing In somewhat questionable com
pany Of late. More than that, your
breath has Indicated at times that you
are acquiring the habit Of filling your
! system with stuff that steals your
brain. weakens your will power, and
dulls your moral perception
Two or three times YOU have come
out of questionable places late at night
and your unsteady steps have been
noted by others. A year or two ago
when you first began to take a drink
low" you would never have believed
that you would ever stagger along
the street. Oh. no. You would never
sink that low. Yet today the worst
thing about it. in your estimation, is
being found out. Your power to dis
tinguish between right and wrong is
slipping away from you.
But do not imagine that no one
knows of these little indiseretions Of
yours You cannot hide them. Your
friends-your real friends-know of
them and are ashamed for you. Per-
haps you yourself have already got
beyond the shame of it. except the
shame of being found out. You do
not imagine that your employer knows
OF these esca1.a les of yours. blt h
does. Even q soulless corporation
keeps tab on the habits Of its en-
pIoyes Your employer may not say
anything but some of these days yyaI
may discover that he no longer needs
your services.
OF course you can either drink or
leave it alone All good fellows" can.
The trouble is that they usually
choose to drink-until they have not
the viii power to do anything else. a
few years ago a clothing merchant |
who had built up big business in q |
Northern Kansas town. becoming |
stricken with i'll health and knowing |
he had not long to live. Incorporated |
his business and put 1t under the |
of young man who had |
shown aptitude for it. In due time he |
was gathered to his fathers. and the |
young manager took full charge. His |
energy put new life into the already /
big trade. He had exceptional ability /
ard his friends predicted that he
would soon be a wealthy man.
But he began to be a good fellow"
Just as you are doing. OF course he
had no idea OF drinking very much.
but there was no harm. he thought, in
being social over a friendly little game
Of poker. He could either drink or
cave It alone, 80 what was the harm
IF an occasional glass.
-Four or FIVE years ago, at the height
IF his prosperity. he won the love of
4 beautiful girl. She was an accom-
Dlished musician, we'll educated and
one Of the leaders in the society of the
little town They had an elaborate
Wedding. and all their friends pre-
licted a happy future for them. His
1eenness and strength of intellect
her grace and accomplish
nents. But it was not many months
before whisky came between him and
lis young wife. and he grew to love
.quor more than he loved her. At
ength she had to secure a divorce
rom him
In the meantime his business began
o suffer. He still told his friends
hat he could either drink or leave it
lone. but they noticed that he always
hose to drink. OF course he did not
ealize that it was running his business
-bility. but It was; and today that mag
lifcent clothing business is in the
lands of a receiver. after having led
n that line in that community for
hirty years. It's late manager IS an
'utcast from the society in which he
vas a leader five years ago. Now he
associates with the lowest class and
le is going to the devil as fast as
whisky can drive him there. just when
lie ought to be approaching the zenith
f his manhood.
Young man. this is a true story,
elated in sorrow a few days ago by a
PERSONAL friend of the victim. or
curse you don't believe it, but you are
leaded the same way.
Another calendar year is about to
lie. Glance back to January I. 1906,
nd measure the progress you have
made since that time. Has it been up
r down? Which way will your steps
cad during 1907? What are you go
ng to co about it?