Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-08
x-PUGILIsT EXPORTER
How Bantam Billy Smith Now ] @ Fights Satan. K
NIGHTLY PLEADS WITH CROWDS.

NIGHTLY PLEADS WITH CROWDS. l Wearing the Salvation Army Uni- form, Former Champion Fighter Works For Religion as He Fought Tn the Ring-Incident That Led to His Conversion.
 l "God called me, and stood up. God bid me work among you, and I am l here''
 Night after night Billy Smith, the undisputed bantam champion of seven states, the participant in 10s credita- ble ring battles and one time the very best in his class, stands on a stool in the center of a motley crowd at Forti- eth street and Lancaster avenue, in Philadelphia, and thus explains his presence in the ranks of the Salvation Army. He works for religion as he fought in the ring, says the New York World.
 With his frowsy hair waving in the breeze, his fists clinched, his head low cred and his 1.-the body swaying to and fro, Smith, in the language of the streets, urges his hearers to repent and be saved.
 Before Brother Smith begins his "tes- timony" he looks the crowd over just like used to size up percentage house." as he puts it, and then in a clear, penetrating voice he tells his story.
 You all know me-" he begins. T need not tell you that gambled, that lied that cursed. that fought, that had good time. You all know that went all the way down the line. You all saw me play every game and each one to the limit. You all saw me on the highroad to hell, and some of you were jealous of me. You envied me the good time, the good clothes, the diamonds, the cheers of those who paid to see me fight. Not one of you had sense enough to be sorry for me. I was pushing the pace that kills.
 Every vice had it's hold on me but rum. was getting to the place where no longer respected my family, cared for my friends or thought of myself. I was billed for eternal torture. Then God spoke. It was right here on this corner. The army was here. I heard the testimony of dozen saved souls, and each one seemed to tell the story of my life My wife said, Billy, they mean us' It was the word of God. We followed the army over there to the hall, and there God called me-. and I stood up. God bid me work among you, and am here.
 tsYour soul is worth saving. We are here to help you save it. None of you is so far gone that you can't be saved. I know that it takes brave man to shake his hummer friends and come out strong for Jesus, but it pays. I know all about the sneers and the smiles that you will have to bear, but they are only for today, and salvation is forever. No coward can be Chris tian.
 A coward can't be anything that is manly. I'd sooner wear. this uniform and stand on the street in the snow begging pennies for the poor than live in a palace with a guilty conscience. You people are afraid to come out for Christ You think it is smart to sin. It's cowardly. Some day you will wake up. It may be day too late. Come to Jesus now"
 A Salvation Army hymn sung to the air of the everlasting ssHiawatha'' cut short his harangue, and the clear so- prano voice of Mrs. Billy Smith, some time star of the Fairy Female Min strels, sounds high above all the other voices, and Billy pushes around in the crowd with tambourine begging pen nies for the Salvation Army Rescue home, which is the institution he re- gards with especial favor.
 T simply had to take up the army work Billy said the other night Tt was Gods will, not mine. My wife ran away from her home in Illinois twice to go on the stage. General Joe Wheeler is her uncle. Her people are all right. They would not stand for any female minstrel business. Her brothers, who kept the Leland hotel at Shellyville, Ill, got crowd togeth- CT and went to Jana, where the Fairy Female Minstrels were to show, and surrounded the hall, and it was a toss up whether they would shoot the show men or only lynch them.
 My wife i've were not married then, you know) went home with her brothers and, bless you, ran away again. I met her in Chicago the day after fought McGovern, and the next time went to Chicago we were mar ried, She was converted first and had much to do with my salvation.
 'tWe just turned our diamonds and such things into cash, established this home. and while give 10 per cent of all earn to the work my wife sells the War Cry and helps at the barracks. We are both trying to learn to play in struments. so that we can get into the band. We have come into the army to stay.''
 Are you as happy now as you were when boxing?"
 T never knew what it meant to be