The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-20
THE EVANGELIST AND THE DEVIL.

Merton Smith that tonight he Will ad-
dress men only at the Gospel Tent.
This is parlous proceeding and can
only mean that the red-headed evan
gelst is now about to get into close
quarters with the devil. From now on.
we assume. that the slugging will be
hard. that the fur will fly, and in the
end we shall see whether the devils
tail is between his legs or erect and
defiant over his unregenerate rump.
When Mr.. Smith assails the devil in
Tucson before a strictly masculine
audience it can only mean that he
means business. The devil is not only
potent but popular with the average
Tucson man, and in essaying to as
sail him before. what might be termed
a packed jury, the evangelist must
have great dependence on the grace
of God. 1t Is not feat worthy OF
heroic effort to tackle the devil before
feminine Tucson. That's easy. All Tue
son women are angels-some OF them
slightly disguised, 1t is true-but the
influence of the devil among them can
only be exerted on sentimental grounds
ON the plea that he is not as black as
he is painted. But the man of the old
nueblo-he loves the 6eyil when he
has not contempt for him engendered
by too much familiarity.
We say therefore unto the Rev. Mer-
ton Smith. that in summoning mas
culine Tucson exclusively to sit as
Jury on the devil, he Is up against
the real thing How will the evangelist
appeal to the Hassayamper? How VIII
he indict the deyil in order to appeal
TO the old timer? Can he prove to the
man who has been to Pioche' that
hell is worse than Nevada? What line
of exalted eloquence will be take to
convince the old timer that Heaven Is
better place than the ancient and
honorable pueblo of Tucson? we do
not like to attempt TO influence the
jury while the case is pending, nor
have we any desire 10 discourage the
evangelist. but knowing as we do the
power of the devil in this town his
ancient supremacy his friendly rela-
tions with leading citizens, the fire.
quent appeals that are made to him,
his bouyancy in Cultivating new ac-
quaintdnccs and his never firing care
for his yotaries we are disposed to
think that an old deserter from the
Panhandle OF Texas who has lost his
thirst. will have hard time dislodg-
ing him in the popular affection. 10
be candid. we are afraid that the
evangelist is face to face with a pre-
JUDGED. If not a packed jury.
1t is all very we'll FOR the Rev. Mr..
Smith to recall his triumphs of the past.
to linger lovingly over his whipping
of the little two dollar and half devil
Of Phoenix, or the three glasses OF
beer devil of Tempe. but here he en-
counters his Satanic Majesty in all his
cordial force anu insinuating depra-
witty The men of this ancient pueblo
recognize the joys of life here, under
the amiable suZerainty of the genial
old fiend, but they know not of other
worlds. This place Is good enough ior
them. How will Mr.. Smith undertake
to convince them that Heaven has at
fractions that Tucson is stranger to?
Will he be able to show that there is
no limit to &c game in the Land OF
Smiths desire and that the percent
ages in favor Of the dealer are less
than in Tucson? viii he be able to
show that Heaven is place where men
will have as much fun getting sober
as they had when getting drunk? Will
he be able to prove that the women are
fairer and their smiles more frequent
and sweet? Will he be able to convince
the Old umer that the barkeep is ever
good natured Of morning when luck
has not been proptious after an all
nights whirl or can he show tina, the
dealer behind the table is sometimes
made marshal of one of the favored
Territories of Heaven?
II Mr. Smith can set forth these
things, backed by ample proof he may
be able to take a fall out of the devil
in Tucson before jury of his vassals
But In simple justiccc to Mr. Smith we
find 1t necessary to inform him that
he Is up against tough proposition
Tucson Is a delightful place to live all
the year round The people are conser-
vative, and have never. evinced a dis
position to go back on old friends
even to oblige insinuating and eloQu
emit strangers.
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