The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-02-11
A FARO TABLE FOR APULPIT.
A Clergyman Relates How lie HAD a
Chance at the RNYs.

No class of men knew better how
to treat minister they liked in a
royal manner than the class Of men
who went into those rugged nouns
tains in Southwestern Colorado dm-
ing the time of the "great San Juan
excitement" in rs, '76 and III. Nor
could more intelligent, plucky.
warm hearted set Of men be found
men who knew what was right. Among
them were many who had been taught
in eastern homes by pious parents
that "man's. .chief end is to glorify
God and enjoy him forever" Yet
strange as it now seems when looking
back to those exciting times, many of
these very men from the best of homes
found their way into the great gamb,
ling bells that were to be found in
the Give" mining camps, claiming
that they went went there only to see
what was going on. and not to take
part in the games, Yet, notwithstand~
ing these claims, many of them, after
getting, as they thought, ''the run of
the game" did fight the tiger"
Some did so successfully; others did
not. When entering some of the
camps where they lad no minister |
invariably went to the right place to
find an audience, and in every case was
cautiously and kindly received, and
generally told, Gust wait, Brother
barley, until the. games can be stopped
and then we will give you chance
at the boys" 1t was not always an
easy matter.to stay the games. Win,
ners were GENERALLY willing, while
losers were not as ready to quit.
But as soon as the games closed,
then ''roultette," ''keno," "pokerV
and "faro" would give place for
time to the gospel,
A more convenient pulpit than
faro table could not be found. nor
a more respectful and intelligent au-
dience, and occasionally what sing
ing we did haveIn Men with trained
voices, rich aud sweet, would lead in
singing without books, those grand
old hymns, "Jesuy, Lover of my
Soul, aud Crock of Ages Cleft for
Me" and, with bowed heads, listen
to the prayer, and often with
tears in their eyes listened to the ''Old,
Old Story, told as they often heard
it "back east, =" while sitting in pew
besides father, mother or found wife
and Gear children. The constrast was
Just as great between the eastern
pews and the beer kegs, whisky bar.
rels and chairs as it was between the
the eastern pulpit aud western faro
table, behind which the minister
stood, but the Christ presented was
just the same, and those meu's souls
were Just as dear to the Savior.
In one camp | became acquainted
with faro dealer" who had a deci-
dedly clerical look, aud his beautiful
gray beard and clerical dress added
much to his elegant manners. He
always called me Brother Darley.S
During those years l was often re.
minded of the words of the 'sweeping
prophet: Weep ye not for the dead
neither bemoan him; put weep sore
for him that goeth away"
One right | said to yoong man
fresh from the east, as met him Mt
the door of a large gambling hall,
Were you in the habit of entering
such houses in the east?' He an.
swered: 81 was never in a saloon or
gambling house In my life until |
came to this camp. My folks would
be ashamed ifthey knew that | ever
entered such places" Having hold
OF his hand, and the light shining in
to our faces, said ''Should Won
be any the less of n man o,,t u,oa.
than you were back east?' By the
flash OF his eye and the color Of his
face l saw that he was offended, but
| held his hand and kept looking him
in the eye. Finally he dropped his
head and said: II ought not to
be, New York Observer.