can raise the desired amount at the gambling table, and here do their first gambling.  Where one succeeds, at least one hundred fail.  Some raise the required amount by transferring a few cows, yearlings, steers, a horse or a mule, to distant pastures; some are caught and some are not.  Those not caught are in a far worse condition than those in the jail or in the penitentiary, because they have been checked in their mad career, and the others are emboldened by their escape to commit other and greater crimes.  “Be sure your sins will find you out.”  Yes, inexorable, unerring justice is on the track of all evil-doers, and will be certain to overtake them sooner or later.  Hundreds of thousands of fathers and mothers, and young married people, have been brought to poverty and misery; some, within my knowledge, to alms-houses, by the heavy draws made upon them by their sons, daughters and wives, in preparing for dancing parties and balls.  For weeks before the ball comes off—­and here let it be understood that I mean the ball to cover hops, dancing parties and all manner of dancing—­the young people are wild with excitement; they are almost wholly incapable of any kind of business.  All manner of domestic affairs are almost entirely neglected by the girls and young wives.  The bright anticipation of great pleasure in the near future, turns some of their little shallow brains up-side-down, and they are often seen in a sort of deep reverie, wearing a blank gaze, having very much the appearance of poor unfortunate idiots.  If the father, mother, husband, brother or teacher speaks to them, unless it be on the subject of the ball, they grin like a baboon and snap like a mad dog.  If we run on at the rate we are now going, it will not be a great while until it may be found to be cheaper to build a few asylums for the sane, and let the idiots and lunatics run at large.

THE BALL.  THE HOP.  THE DANCE.

IT IS ALL THE SAME.

Well, the long looked for day has come; it is now 8 P.M., and the boys, girls and young wives are in their rooms donning their new and costly apparel, which has been bought, borrowed or stolen in divers and sundry ways.  Some have been paid for, some will be paid for, and some will remain open accounts until judgment day.  The wealthy and those who never pay their bills will be dressed in the costliest, richest apparel, because only these classes can afford these luxuries.  EXTREMES WILL MEET.  The young men go and bring in their girls, and when they get to the door, they are met by the committee of reception, who politely show the ladies a side room where they will go and lay off their wraps.  The young men go out into the corner of the yard or in the woods and lay off their wraps—­in the nature of a bottle of whiskey or brandy—­or they have left them in a buggy or carriage, or a room has been set apart for this purpose, and the WRAPS have been provided before-hand, or they are to be found in a convenient drinking saloon.