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The Old High Hat

Improvement Era, vol. 5, no. 2, December 1901, p. 144

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations

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144 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

completely disregarded the present time than at any time in the history of our country, by the use of intoxicating drinks. There is a specious argument that people who work all the week need some relaxation and pleasure on the Sabbath day. The trouble with those who advocate the Sabbath day for pleasure resorts, is that what they would have us think they mean by relaxation and pleasure is really indulgence in vice. The Sabbath day God made holy, and man cannot disregard that divine injunction without reap- ing the awful consequences of its neglect. People must not im- agine that the civil authorities alone can correct the great evils of the Sunday saloon. There must be an ever vigilant watch-care by parents over the conduct of their children. There must be no re- laxation in preaching, teaching, admonishing and warning upon the evils of drink. There is a spirit as well as a letter in every divine command, and when the spirit of the law is gone the letter becomes ineffectual.

THE OLD HIGH HAT.

Thrown out here on the rubbish heap, dusty, battered and dented deep — Style, the pattern of 'fifty-three my! old hat, you're a sight to see! Cleanin' house and yer had ter go? Well, that's nateral, don't yer know? Hats and men, that have had their day, have ter git if they're in the way. Changed a little we have, I swan! sence that night when I put yer on. New and shiny and grand and tall, and took Her to the fancy ball. Mind the walk from the hall that night? Moon shining so big and bright, — — And she sayin' with arm in mine How becomin' you are, and fine! Hum-a-day! that was long ago. Now she thinks you're a perfect show, And the children are lafiin' at Grandad here and his old, high hat. Time don't linger fer man ner tile, hats and heads they go out of style, — Have to pass and make way fer new that's as sartin fer me as you. Come, old feller, I'll take yer in, hang yer up on the nail agin; For, though now we are worn and gray, we've been somebody, aint we, hey? Saturday Evening Post.