The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-20

Once more Will this pulpit be sup
piled from the outside. The Arkan-
sas City Traveller preached such a
practical sermon a few days ago. that
the Traveller win repeat It here today.
Here it is:
This morning, young man, as we
sat in our office we saw you from our
window with two companions, head
into the alley at the Western Union
telegraph office Down in our heart.
young man, we actually pitied you.
we knew what you were going into
that alley for, just as well as you did.
and so did every one else who saw YOU.
The simple act OF going down an al
ley young man. is no particular crime.
but 1t Is what you meet with down
there that brings the harm to YOU.
Ihey say there are dreadful animals
down there that lure you into their
jungle, entrap you so you are never
able to get out of their meshes. There
IS one animal there they call the blind
Tiger, young man. Beware OF him. He
VIII get you II you don't watch out.
Iney call him blind but it is YOU who
are blind. His eyes are more piercing
ana mis- hearing more acute than anv
creature you ever saw before in vour
whole life He saw you before YOU
headed into the alley, young man. and
ne and all his satanic satellites smiled
sleefuly and made the way at the
start pleasant for you.
We noticed, young man that as Won
ana your two companions headed into
the alley, you walked with bouyant stem
ana you had manly appearance. In
Iact, you We're nice looking bows still
IN your teens, and you were lauehine
ana joking each other as If YOU were
not going down that alley to meet dam
nation and ignobIe death. You saw tbat
the man who goes over Niagara Fails
IN a barrel is a fool; what are von2
well, young man. after Won went
into the alley and took that drink OF
rot-gut, did you feel any better2 We'll
hardly. That drink needed COMPANY
ana you took another, and by this time
your eyes began to be crossed and vour
brain to whirL Then you made a sneak !
for the front street. trying to look wise
ana innocent But you knew you were |
guilty and 50 did everyone else who saw
you.
1T was quite while, young man. be-
fore we saw you again but when we 1
did We could easily tell by your red /
face and languid look that you were |
not feeling as we'll as before you took |
that drink of rot-gut One of your com
panions was more hardened than YOU. /
The blind tiger held him until he be- |
came drunken and we saw him on the t
streets in a maudlin condition. stageer- /
ing in all directions. Pity was in our 4
heart for him. young man, but there /
was more for you. He had been on the
road quite awhile, and you were lust
starting. We always feel sorry for the
boy just starting.
Keep heading into the alley young /
man, and it won't be long until you will |
be coming around to the Traveller office,
asking us to keep your name out of the
police court column for your mothers
sake or for fear you will lose yolE job.
You forgot your mother and your job
when you started down the alley and
when you come around to Us with this
foolish request we will also forget you
ever had either.
keep on heading into the alleys,
young man; work at it steadily and you
will soon be the acknowledged village
7runkard. Children will ssfrink from
you in terror and mothers will point to
you as an awful example to be avoided.
And we win wonder how 1t is possible
for man, made in the image and like
ness of God to sink so low and become
80 loathsor7e