The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-10-21
A Gamblers First Attempt at
Preaching the Gospel.

nF COURSE l went to Leadville, that
" wonderful mushroom city, which
can boast of the most rascally gamblers,
hardest drinkers, checklist bummers and
vilest prostitutes in creation. Ones
first impulse upon arriving in the town
is to start out and see the sights-to gaze
in upon the many gambling ells,where
money is ever changing hands upon the
turn of a card. Above che sharp click
ing of ivory checks can be heard the
voices of dealers calling upon the play
ers to Make your bets, gentlemen"
while notes of exultation and curslng
came forth in strange chorus, uttered by
those who lose and those who win. But
1t is not of gambling that would tell
you. The scenes are but duplicates of
those SO familiar to every pioneer in the
early days of the Union Pacific rail
road.
was standing in front of the hotel
when my attention was attracted by
dilapidated, Anticipated looking speci-
men of saloon hummer, who was
passing along the street ringing bell.-
At intervals he would cease ringing,
and shout
C Religious racket right away at the
big tent Roll up, tumble, or slide
up on yer y-years, for we'll have a
bangup dish o. gospel talk from Faro
Bill-an' d-o-o-n't you forget it !"
Turning to dapper little gambler
who stood near, asked:
"Who is Faro Bill ?"
"Who is hep Well, now, if that
amt the boss play fur high. You kin
brake me right here if 1 thought there
was bloke in the mines that didn't
know Bill. He used to be one of the
boys, but got capped into religious
game by a slick-tongued gospel sharp
about two months ago. He's copped on
all his old rackets, and don't stand 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 afraid to sit in a game
with the flyest sport that ever slung
card; but he's clean gone on the pious
lay now, and seems to have lost all the
good that was ever in him. The boss
mouthpiece of the heavenly mill has
gone down to Denver, an Bill is goin'
to stand in an sling gospel to the boys
as we'll as he can"
This explanation, given in the most
earnest tones, started me instantly for
the tent. 1t was used at night for va
riety theatre, where artists (?) of ques-
tionable character performed acts of
still more questionable decency, and
was rented for religious services every
Sunday morning. I found the tent.
filled to its utmost capacity. Many had
no doubt, come through curiosity to see
how Bill would deport himself in this,
his initial sermon. Upon the stage sata
hurley, red-faced man with arms folded
in careless manner, who looked over
the large audience with an air of the
most decided Importance. This was
Faro Bill, the speaker of the OCCASION
When he arose he glanced around the
tent for moment, evidently collecting
his thoughts, and began:
Feller citizens, the preacher bein'
absent, it falls on me to take his hand
and play it fur all it is worth. You all
know that am just learnin' the game,
an of course, may be expected to
make wild breaks, but don't think
thar's a rooster in the camp mean
enough to take advantage o. my igno-
rance, and cold-duck me right on the
first deal. I'm sincere in this new de-
parture, an believe I've struck game
that can play clear through without
copperin bet, for when a man tackles
such lay out as this, he plays every
card to win, and 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 tell the turn every
time.
81 was readin' in the Bible to-day
that yarn about the Prodigal Son, an 1
want to tell yer the story. The book
don't give any 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 for stake, an
never kicked at the size of the pile
either. I 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 old man
little game of talk one day, and in