The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-09-23
PIETY.


OF course l went to Leadville, that wonder
fu! mushroom city, which can boast of thu
most rascally gamblers, hardest drinkers
cheekies, bummers, and vilest prostitutes il
creation. Ones first impulse upon arriving
in the town is to start out and see the sighss-
to gaze in upon the many gambling hells
where money is ever changing hands upoI
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 caiiie forth in straus.
chorus, uttered by those who lose and those
who win. But it is not Of gambling that l
would tell you. The scenes are but duplicates
OF those so familiar to every pioneer in the
early days OF the Union Pacific Railroad.
l was standing in front of the hotel, when
my attention was attracted by a d%ilapidated,
misunderstanding specimen of a saloon
hummer, who was passing along the street
ringing a bell. at 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, for We'll have a bang-up dish o. GOSPEL
talk from Faro Bill and d-o-o-o-n't YOU for
get it,"
Turning to a dapper little gambler who
stood near, l asked:
"Who is this Faro Bill ?"
"Who is he? Well now, if that amt the
boss play for high. You can break me right
here If l thought there was a bloke in the
mine that didn't know Bill. He used to be
one o. the boys, but got capped into a relig-
lous game by a s~lick-tongued gospel sharn
about two months ago. He's chopped on ali
bis old racket, and don't stand in with moth
in now that don't show up a Bible or PRAYER
book in the layout. Billy used to be boss
gambler OF the camp, and wasn't afeared to
SIT in a game with the fyest sports that ever
siung a card; but he is clean gone on the nj
Gus lay now, and seems to have lost all the
good there was ever in him. The boss MOUTH
piece of the heavenly mill has gone down to
Denver, M Bill is agOin' to stand in an
sling gospel to the boys as well as he can"
This explanation, given in the most earnest
tones, started Inc instanter for the big tent,
1t was used at night for a variety tReater.
where artists () of questionable character
acts OF still more questionable de-
cency, and was rented for religious services
every Sunday morning. I found the tent
filled to it's utmost capacity. MANY had. M
doubt, come through curiosity to see how Bill
would depost himself in this, his first SER
mon. Upon the stage sat a buriy, rcd-faced
man, with arms folded in a careless manner
who looked over the large audience with an
air Of the most decided independence. This
was + 10 Bin, the speaker of the occasion.
When he arose he glanced around the tent for
a moment, evidently collecting his thoughts,
and began:
"Feilow citizens: The preacher being alb
sent, II falls on me to take his hand and play it
fur all its worth. You all know that Pm inst
o larnin' the game, an OF course, l NAV be
expected to make wild breaks, but / don's be-
lleve there's a rooster in the camp mean
enough to AXE advantage of my ignorance,
an cold-deck me right on the first deal. I'm
sincere in this new departure, and 1 believe
I've struck a eame that l can play clear
through without eopperin' a bet, for when a
man tackles such q layout as this, he ptays
every card to win, an if he goes through tie
deal as he orter do, when he lays down to die.
the last card is ready to slide from the
box, he can tell the turn every time.
II was readin' in the Bible tO-day hat
yarn about the PrOdigal Son, an, I vant to
ell yer the story. The book don't give NO
1ates, but IL happened long, long age. This
Pr0digal Son had ar old man that put I'm the
,0in every time the kid struck him for stake.
IN never kicked at the size of the pile either.
reckon the old man was pretty we'll fixed, am
when he died intended to give all his wealth
o this kid an his brother. Prod gave the