Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-06-15

-.T5fA llItIJI WSthS dSO l.
~ spent week in an
@NwjZ enterprising little
\ v.Vg;sIHsH, Western city in at
lNNM#fssl tendance upon q
$H5ssE\t Methodist Annual
cS.saN. lspl 30 Conference. The
= ,ssssE> leading merchant
e, Ftg,asaSZ rs, was my host. Af-
fMIX,$,HS,NfS$E ter dinner, the first
"~fMIm day of my visit, we
-" were talking of the
growth of the city from a small from
tier settlement. My host, who was
proud Of the little city, related many
incidents connected with its early his
tory. Among other stories he told me
how NIethodism began by sermon in
saloon.
81 attended the first Methodist
meeting ever held in the town. 1t
was terrible service. Itremble now,
when 1 think of it, although it was so
many years ago. Our town was a
pretty tough place. The chief bust
nesscs were liquor selling, gambling
and undertaking. There was funeral
every day. If some one did not die
from disease or accident there was a
murder. The street or bar room fight
that was not to finish attracted lit
tie or no attention. The bowie knife
and revolver were never concealed.
They were always within ready reach
If ever place deserved to be called
hell it was N
81 was youngster who had run
sway from home in tho East to try the
frolic of frontier life. 1 had been a
resident abouta week. AS was pass
ing down our principal street, I no.
ticed horseman in very peculiar
garb riding slowly along as if he were
looking for some one. Noticing me,
he drew the reins of his horse and
said
Young man, is there hall or
room of any kind in this place large
enough to hold meeting in? am
Methodist itinerant and would like to
add this town to my circuit. 1 desire
to hold service tonight
81 was so amazed that for moment
I was silent as [ looked closely at the
stranger. He was tall, powerful
looking man. He had clear, reso-
lutte eye, lip and chin that revealed
q determin alton nothing could balk.
I felt that he was man who did not
know fear, but the folly of the ques-
tion became more and more amusing
until broke out in merry, mocking
laugh.
''The face grew stern the eyes shone
xut tb n livbt liz tho frla Of che
The voice hardened to cutting curt
ness almost like anger:
Does it amuse you, my young
friend, to have me ask you civil
question:
81 replied hastily: Il beg your par
don, sir, for my discurtesy, but the
idea of anybody wanting to hold re-
ligious meeting in this town is funny
enough to make any one laugh. You
might as well try to hold meeting in
Perdition.'
"'I would certainly hold meeting
in Perdition if / felt it to be my duty
and could get in; but this town can't
be as bad as that
''I directed him to THE Coyote
the largest gambling hell in town. I
said:
1T is large enough to hold good
sized congregation, and it has one ad-
vantage over any other place. 1t is
always full You will be sure to find
a crowd there, night or day. do
not believe they will allow you to
speak. If 'One-eyed Jack" the pro-
prietor, is in good humor he may
kick you into the street; if he is cross,
and he generally is, he may shoot you.
II saw the circuit rider fasten his
horse in front of the saloon and enter
I slipped in to see the sport The
preacher stood for moment, just in
side the door, looking around. At
the furthest end of the building pow
erful man with black patch over one
of his eyes was swearing at barten-
der in a most sulphurous manner. The
stranger approached the swearer and
said, as he removed his hat and made
a curious bow:
"'Are you the proprietor of this
place?'
'One-eyed Jack was about.to re-
ply with savage oath, according to
his usual custom, when the peculiar
garb and the distinguished bearing of
the questioner caused him to hesitate.
With politeness unusual ts him, he
said:
Il am, sir; what can l do for you?'
"'I am a Methodist preacher, and
] Iwould like permission to preach IN
your saloon.