The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-01-12

and it is the quiet hour in the week
for the gay and dissipated ones-for
there are yet sports in the craft.
though modern, stern business require
ments are lessening the number. Even
the bloods" are forced to think seri-
Gus thoughts On a stormy Sunday
night in an inn far from home, eS
pecially if it be New Years eve.
Kind of Bibles They Use.
Suddenly | heard one man say:
Il ran across a testament that
pleased me the other day-a neat octa-
vO in morocco, with the words OF
Christ in red ink
Strange talk in a hotel among trav
cling men, thought L. l looked round
to see if the speaker was droll joker.
He had been talking in a natural,
clear voice, readily heard by the dozen
others seated by. He was a handsome,
black-whiskered man of 40. He was
seated in the middle Of the room, paral-
lei with an older man-bOth were
smoking and looking into space with
that comfortable, restful air of trav-
cling man when he does run down.
Il still cling to my old Bagster," re-
piled the older man casually. stout,
ruddy and looking as if he enjoyed life.
Have carried it for forty years.
Both men sat thinking and watching
the clouds of smoke curl away. They
had been speaking as off-hand as if
noting changes in the stock market.
Il see Watson's life of the Master
has begun in McClure's'' finally con-
tinued the older man. Zine thing,
the first installment."
More silence, until some one re-
marked: well, this is d-n strange
talk to hear in a hotel How does it
happen they don't mutf1e their voices
when they talk religion or go some
where and lock the door, like other
folks"
Carrying Grips and Banner of the Cross.
'They're GideOns," explained anOth-
er.
"Nicholson-Old Nick-of James
vile, everybody knows him, flip, fly
and full of sand-has organized trav-
cling men into a Gideon's Band. The
first meeting was held in GAINESVILLE,
where there are more actual religious
young men to the square inch than
any place this side Of MOOdy'S north
field"
A convention will be held in Wauke-
gan, Ills, July 1, 1900. S. e. Hill of Be
lott is president, and John III. NichOl-
son, secretary, with a fine line of Off
GERS from many cities of the west. 1t
seems that on Wednesday, May 81.
1899, two commercial travellers met in
the business thOr0ughfareS Of Beaver
Dam. After the usual greeting a So
cial conversation sprang up between
them, in which the idea of organizing
a Christian travelling mems association
was advanced. 1t was resolved to hold
the first meeting at GAINESVILLE, Wis,
on Saturday, 2 p. H., in the parlOrs of
the Y NJ. G.. A. This meeting was held,
and it was finally decided that any
travelling man who believed in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and serving Him.
no matter what denomination he may
be connected with, would be eligible
to membership in the "GideOnS." The
buttOn-fOr all Gideons wear it's
a blue background white pitcher, with
the red flame of a torch protruding
from the pitcher-red. white and blue.
The present membership is about $50.
Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Kansas, and Indiana are
represented.
Talks Religion on the Train.
John HI. Nicholson lis about as we'll
known as any travelling man in the
state. He travels for a Chicago paper
house and is a hustler for orders. But
when he gets on train he lays out an
evangelistic campaign like a general.
He usually goes into the smoking car
and soon you will see him chatting
with a travelling man. He prefers
those who look worldly, the full-blood-
ed thick-necked fellows whose bullying
eyes tell of high living-somebody's
boy in need of a helping hand. John
spots his ''brother" and soon has him
in conversation. CHEEKY and happy, it
is impossible for the gruffest drummer
to throw him off, and without wasting
time 'Old Nick" Che is about 80, with
a wife and babies) has a close, help
full talk with his new acquaintance
and gives him a lot to think about
The victim" will later be seen getting
off the train with Y. NJ. c. A. litera
ture sticking out Of his pockets, per-
haps Gideon button on his lapel, and
like enough tears in his eyes.
Sowing Seed in Strange Place.
Not long ago, in a little town up
north, | saw the name Of this noble
man-loving fellow in a strange place
1t was in the lavatory Of the little no.
tel Obscene hands had made the walls
foul with the vulgarest and most de-
basing doggerel and sketches that vile
minds and clever inquiry could devise.
In the midst of this filthy showing
was neat, round paster Cast away
from you all your transgressions,
whereby We have transgressed; and
made you new heart and a new spir~
it; for why will We die?"
Underneath some one had written:
'Nicholson, the paper man, must have
put this up"
ORLANDO BURNETT.