The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-09-23
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LEARNING A NEW GAME.
Poker Bilps First Attempt at
Preacitsag the. GOSPEL, and
What Came of 1t. ~

Poker BilPs First Attempt at
Preacii.ag the. GOSPEL, and
What Came of 1t. 81
EfCorrespondenoe Carbon Wyoming) Journal9
OF course went to. Leadvlle, that
wonderful mushroom city, which can
boast OF the most rsscaHy gamblers,
hardest drinkers, checklist bummers and
yilest prostilutes IN creation. Ones first
impulse upon arriving in the town is to
start out andNse the sights-to gaze in
upon the ms gambling bells, where
money is eyer ging hands upon the
turn OF card Above the sharp clicksl
Ing of the ivory checks can be heard The
voices of dealers calling upon the play
ers to "Make your bets, gentlemen"
while notes of exultalion and cutsing
come forth in strange chorus, uttered by
those who lose and those who win. But
lit is not of gambling that | would tell
you. The scenes are bat duplicates OF
those so familiar to every pioneer in The
early days of the Union Pacific Rail-
road. Ell
l was standing in front Of the hotel
when my attention was attracted by a Dir
lapdated, sntiquated looking specimen
of saloon hummer, who was passing
along the street ringing bell At in
intervals he would cease ringing and
shout:
"Religious racket right away at the
big tent! Roll up, tumble up, or slide
up on yer years. tur we'll have bang
up dish O gospel talk from Faro Bill
an o-o-o-n't you forget it u =
Turning to q dapper little gambler
who stood near, / asked: r
"Who is Faro Bill p f II ia
"Who is hel' Well, now, il that
ain't the boss play fur high. You kin
break me right here if l thought there
was bloke in the mines that didn't
know Bill. He used to be one o. the
boys, but got capped into a religious
game by slick-longued gospel sharp
about two months ago. He's chopped
on all his old rackets, an don't stand iu
with nothin' now that don't show up
Bible or prayer-book in the lay OUT
Billy used to be the boss gambler of the
camp, and wasn't afeard to sit in game
with the fyest sport that ever flung
card; but he's clean gone on the pious
lay now, and seems to have lost all the
good there ever was in him. The boss
mouth h-piece of the heavenly mill has
gone down to Denver, an Bill is goin'
to stand in an sling gospel to the boys
as well as he can."
This explanation, given in the most
earnest tones, started me instanter for
the big tent. 1t was used at night for n
variety theater, where artists y OF q
questionable character performed acts OF
still more questionable decency, and was
rented for religious services every Sum
day morning. ! found the tent filed to
its utmost capacity. Many had, no doubs,
come through curiosity to see how Bill
would deport himself in this, his initial
sermon. Upon the stage sat bnrly,red
faced man with arms folded in a careless
manner, who looked over the large au-
dence 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 mo-
ment, evidently collecting his thoughts,
and began: "a
"Feller citizens, the preacher bein' ab-
sent, it fslls on me to take his hand and
play it fur all it is worth. You all know
that I'm just Iearnin the game, an, of
course, 7 may be expected TO make wild
breaks, but don't believe thar's roos-
ter in the camp mean enough to take ad-
vantage o, my ignorance and cold-deck
me right on the first deal. I'm sincere
in this new departure, an | believe that
I've struck game that can play clear
through without copperin' a bet, fur
when man tackles such layout as
this, he plays every card to win, an if
he goes through the deal as he orter do,
when he lays down to die, an the last
case is ready to slide from the box, he
can call the turn every time.
81 was readin' in the Bible to-day thai
yarn about the Prodigal Son, an want
to tell yer the story. The book don't
give no dates, but it happened long,
long ago. This prodigal Son had an
old man that put up the coin every time
the kid struck him Tor a stake, an never
kicked at the size Of the pile either. /
reckon the old man was purity we'll fixed,
an when he died he intended to give all
his wealth to this kid an his brother
Prod give the old man little game O.
talk one day, and injuced him to whack
up in advance O. the death racket. He'd
no sooner got his divy in bis fist than
be shook the old man an struck out to
take some o. the other camps. He he'd
a way-up time for while, an slung his
cash to the front like he owned the best
payin' lead on arth; but hard luck hit
him lick at last an left him fat. The
book don't state what he went broke on.
but reckon he got steered agin some
brace game. But anyhow, be got left
without chip, or four-bit piece to 60
an eat on. An old granger then tux
him home an set him to herdin' hogs,
an here he got so hard up an so hungry
that he piped off the swine while they
were feedin', an he stood in with 'em on
Ia husk lunch. He soon weakened on
such plain provender, an says to him
self, says he: Even The old mans hired
hsnds are livin' on square grub, while
I'm worryin' along on corn husks
straight. I'll just take grand tumble
to myself an chop on this racket at
once. Tn skip back to the governor
and try to fix things up, and call fur a
new deal,' 80 off he started. I. 81
sThe old man seed the kid a coming
and what do ye reckon he did? Did be
pull his gun and lay for him, intending
to wipe him as soon as he got into
ranger Did he call the dogs to chase
him of the ranch? Did be hustle around
for club and give him stand off at
the front gateG Ehr Not to any alarm.
ing extent he didn't. No, sirl The
Scripture book says be waltzed out to
meet him, and froze to him on the spot,
and kissed him, and then marched him
of to clothing store and fitted him
out in the nobbiest rig to be had fur
coin Then the old gent invited all the
neighbors and killed fat calf, and give
the biggest blowout the camp ever
seed." sQ 81 7es7sy5.l l5.,
At the conclusion Of the narrative the
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