The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-09-16
LEADYILLE PIETY.
Respect Of the gospel Maintained
with RcvoIvcrs.

Respect OF the gospel Maintained
with RevoIvers.
OF course / went TO Leadville. that
wonderful mushroom city, which can
boast of the most rascally gamblers,
hardest drinkers, checklist bummers,
and the vilest prostitutes in creation.
Ones first impulse upon arriving ia
the town is to start out and see the
sights-to gaze in upon the many gam
bling hells, where money is ever chang
ing hands upon the turn OF a card
Above the sharp clicking of the ivory
checks can be heard the voices Of the
dealers calling upon the players to
make your bets, gentlemen" while
notes Of exultation and cursing come
forth in strange chorus, uttered by
those who lose and those who win. But
it is not Of gambling that would tell
Won. The scenes are but duplicates Of
those go familiar TO every pioneer IN
the early days of the Union Pacific
Railroad.
/ was standing in front Of the hotel,
when my attention was attracted 10y
dilapidated, notwithstanding speci-
men Of a saloon hummer, who was
passing along the street ringing a bell.
~ intervals he would cease ringing,
and shout:
Religious racket right away at the
big tent Roll up, tumble mp. or slide
Up on We years, for we'll have a bang
up dish O. gospel talk from Faro Bill;
aud d-o-o-o-n't you forget it,
Turning to a dapper little gambler
who stood near, asked:
"Who is this Faro Bill?"
"Who is he? Well now il that amt
the boss play fur high. You kip break
me right here il / thought there was a
bloke in the mines that didn't know
Bill. He used 20 be one O. the boys.
but got capped Tito a religious game
by slick-tongued gospel sharp about
tive months ago. He's chopped on all
bis old rackets, an don't stand in with
uothin now that don't show up Bible
or prayer book in the layout. Billy
used 20 be the boss gambler Of the
camp, and wasn't afesred 90 sit in a
game with the flyest sports that ever
slung a card; but he's clean gone on
the pious lay now, aud seems 10 have
lost all good there wss ever in him.
The boss mouthpiece Of the heavenly
mill has gone down to Denver, an Bill
Is agoin' 10 stand in an sling gospel TO
the BOYS rs we'll as he can.
This explanation. given in the most
earnest tones, started me instanter for
the big tent. II was used at night for
variety theater, where artists (?) OF
questionable character performed acts
of still more questionable decency, and
was rented for religious services every
Sunday morning. l found the tent
filed 90 It's utmost capacity. Many
had, no doubt, come through curiosity
to see how Bill would dcport himself
in this, his initial sermon. Upon the
stage sat burly, red-feced man, with
arms folded in careless manner, who
looked over the large audience with an
air OF the most decided independence.
This was Faro Bill, the speaker Of the
occasion When he arose he glanced
around the tent for a moment, evident
" collecting his thoughts, aud began:
"Fellow citizens: The preachar be-
in absent, il falls on me 10 take his
hand and play II fur all it's worth. You
all know that I'm just larnin the
game, an II course, / may be expect
"a 20 make wild breaks, but / don't
believe thar's a rooster an the camp
mean enough 90 take advantage OF my
ignorance, an eold-deck me right on
the first deal. I'm sincere in this new
departure, an believe I've struck a
game that I can play clear through
without copperin' a bet, for when a
man tackles such a layout as this, he
plays to win, an II he goes through
the deal So he orter do, when he lays
down TO die, an the last case is ready
to slide from the box, he can tell the
turn every time.
81 was readin' in the Bible to-day that
warn about the Prodigal Son, an /
want % tell yer the story. The book
don't give any dates, but il happened
long, long ago. This Prodigal Son had
an old mau that put up the coin every
/ time the kid struck him for stake, an
never kicked at the size Of the pile eli
ther. reckon the old man was purity
we'll fixed, an when he died intended
/ TO leave all bis wealth to this kid an
/ his brother. Prod gave the old man
a little game OF talk one day, an in.
/ iuced him 20 whack up in ADVANCE OF
\ the death racket. He'd no sooner got
his divy in his fist than he shook the
old man an struck out 10 take in some
o. the other camps. He he'd a way-ur
time fur a while. an slung his cash to
the front like he owned the best payin
lead on airth; but hard luck hit him q
lIck at last an left him fat. The book
don't state what he went broke on, hut
I reckon be got steered up agin some
brace game. But, anyhow, he got LETT
without a chip, or four-bit piece tc
20 an eat on. An old granger thet
tux him home an set him 10 herdin
hogs. an here he got so hard up an
hungry that be piped OF the swim,
while they were feediu' an he stood IL
with 'em husk lunch. Tie soon weak
ened on such plain provinder, an say
30 himself, says he. Even the olt
mans hired hands are lIvin' on squar,
grub while I'm worryin' along here OF
corn husks straight. III Just take
grand tumble TO myself ah' chop or
this racket al once. I'll skip back 4
the governor aud try to fx things up
ana call fur n new deal 40 Off b.
started.
"The old man seed the kid a comm
aud what do ye reckon he done? Di,
be phil bis gun and ley for him, in
tending 10 wipe him ont as soon a. b,
got into rauge? Did he call the dog
% chase him OF the rauch? Did Ia
rustic around for a club aud give hin
n staud.on at the back gatc2 Eh? No
% any alarming extent he didn't No
sir. The Scripture book says n
walized ont TO meet him, and froze &
him ON the spot, and kissed him, an'