The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-04-05
The Old Home TOlUn

THE following article was taken from the
Goodbye Sermon" of Rev. H. C. Hitchcock
as published in the Kenosha Telegraph on
Thursday March %, 1875. newspaper in
the possession of John Rock, 500 South
Chicago street,
Mr. Samuel Hale, afterwards Judge
Hale, was the recognized captain of
the lighter. Nor was he at all remiss
in his office. In the dead of night,
if steamer whistle sounded in the
offing, he was quickly up and out;
and some of those now before me can
remember the tones of his voice
sounding through the settlement call
ing out the men to launch the lighter.
If his voice in front of cabin
ever failed to wake the sleeper, a hea-
Wy kick sending open the door was
sure to bring the man to- the scratch
Of duty.
Our people also fully realized at
this early time that the Sabbath was
made too sacred an institution to rest
on the first day of the week If the
whistle sounded right in church time,
when the people were all assembled
for divine service, it was all the same.
There was not moments hesitation.
The commercial spirit of the citizens
was equal to the occasion.
Every man in the assembly seized
his hat, and getting down the steps
as softly as possible, there was a
grand race for the beach-leaving the
minister sometimes even in the midst
of a prayer-and when the minister
opened his eyes after his final amen,
10 and behold, his solid listeners
whom he had been trying to lead up
ward to the throne of grace, had van
ished from his presence, as when one
waketh from a dream!
And here let me say in passing that
in studying up this "Reminiscences of
the olden time in Kenosha, ] fancy |
have fallen upon a discovery which
explains q feature of the present.
have often remarked one popularity
in my congregation here, in which 1t
differs from other congregations with
which l have been acquainted, and
that us a preference for the rear
seats in the house This is SO mark
ed a preference that l am told the
back seats with US will actually bring
the higher price. Usually it Is the
case that the audience wishes to get
near the speaker.
/ / have wondered what is the origin
of this popularity here: whether it is
because the ministers in this pulpit
have not been generally handsome
men; or whether there is trembling
of conscience among the hearers, 8
fear to come into close range with
the pulpit artillery; or whether it is
\ indeed token of that beautiful spir-
itual humility which enters as an ele'
ment into the very highest forms Of
piety.
But perhaps now have found tbs
true answer. Perhaps it is neither OF
these. Perhaps with us the habit Of
wanting to get next the door is sim
ply a traditional habit, handed dowr
from the early days, and having its
origin in that wonderful commercial
enthusiasm of the then young anC
expectant metropolis, which fired ev
cry soul with burning unconquerablt
4 desire to be the first to man the
lighter. In that glorious race for the
beach, the man nearest the door haC
of course the advantage. Reason
/ enough why the back seats should b.
preferred, especially by the men
In those patriotic days, swee
thoughts of the lighter mingled will
the sounds of the sanctuary, anc
while one ear was open to the Cos
pei, the other waited for the whistle
And so we are obliged to look upol
this matter charitably and in the tru,
historic shirt