The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-02
VOL. 13. NO. 2.
FOR MEN ONLY.

Major Billingsly owns one of the Il largest plantations in Arkansas. The major is widely known as a leader in 4 many movements that tend to the inn proyement of the colored mans con- Rdition. He is deeply religious, and scattered here and there over his great tract of land, may be seen small meet ing houses, dedicated to the cause (which alone can save the soul of the humble cotton picker. The major is strong believer in the sanctifying
 force of pulpit eloquence. He be- 8 lieves that the quiet and logical lines S of argument are but naught as com-
 pared with the emotional call issued by the sensational evangelist; so he re- cently advertised for 8 man who could persuade men to turn with enthusiasm away from their habits of sinfulness.
 The advertisement was answered by 8 an old negro named Collier. He de- clared that he had been preacher during many years and that he well understood the humane art of persuad- ing men to throw down their sins. The major employed him at good salary, and conducted him down to the great plantation.
 "Now Collier" said the major, "you have seen my churches"
 "Yes, sah, has seed lem mighty plain. I ken tell you dat" "Well, want you to preach in one of them at least once week" "Do dat ez sho' ez de Lawd is wid me, an blebe He is."
 "Go on now and make yourself &C., quainted with the the brethren. You will find that many of them are ignor- ant, but they are disposed to do what is right"
 "I un'erstans lem, sah. 1 knows dat dey is rasslin' wid ole Nick, but femme tell you sah, gwine give deze bredren de gospel trick O ketchin' CT un'er holt an da gwine fling ole Nick wid CT jar dat'll loosen his teeth. Da gwine do it ez sho ez yours bon an Tll tell you dat now"
 "Collier, am delighted to know that you have such confidence in your self. Go ahead with your good work" l" About week later, the major, upon meeting Collier, asked him how he was getting along with his work. "Ez sweet ez CT pie, sah; ez sweet
 ez CT June-apple pie favored wid de Hume O de dogwood blossom. De bull-tongue blow O 'suasion is goin' down 'mong de roots O sin an is
 bringin' lem up ter de sunshine O de warmin' gospel"
 "Collier, you impress me deeply,
 and think that have found jewel in you"
 ! "I thanks you fur de comperment,
 sah, but I kain' stan yare an talk ter you. l mus go on an' keep de po' sheep rum jumpin' ober de fence O human weakness an fallin' inter de
 briar- patch O 'niquity. By de way, l hab tuck de big church down on de bayou an turned it inter CT place fur
 men only. It is CT easy matter ter make ladies 'ligious, but you haster work wid men powerful, sah. Now gifts up dar an talks ter dem men in CT way da kain't mistake, an you better b'rebe dat Is bringin' lem roun mighty peart. Whut does you think O de idea?"
 "I think that it is excellent, and I
 hope that you will go ahead with the good work until every sinner has
 been brought into the fold."
 "rm gwine do dat, sah, eff de Lawd will only let my stren'th hop out, but
 I tell you it is powerful w'ar;n' on CT
 man."
 i The meetings for men only became
 so popular that negroes came from
 distant plantations and crowded the
 house. One night while the major
 was in the neighborhood of the large
 church, he decided to go over and listen to Golfers persuasive talk. As he approached the church he noticed