New-York tribune., 1906-12-14


-,s,op Talbot tells of life on the Western
,-,.s n the SOS and 90's. much we have
about II in Owen Wister's stories: for he
-. Bishop whose sermon on THE Prodigal
-. uas the subject Of Lin McLean's illuminat-
,,rnn1ent Great changes have occurred
-. chose not remote days when in the young
,.onarv Bishops diocese of Wyoming and
...ho-comprising territory greater than the
80 England and the Middle States. with Mary
,.,s added for good measure-there were but
.,,b, c.her clerCymen OF his Church and only
=. railroad. II is clear that the House OF
p,sbops made no mistake in the selection OF
.si- evangelist 10 the cowboys. miners and Ind
,.,s who made up the bulk OF the population
committee of miners in Idaho town ask
,,e Or. Talbot for minister. stipulated that he
sbould be "a first rate man, good talker and q
.0os mixer" They had apparently taken the
r,sbop as their model; and If he talked to them
ss undoubtedly he did-in the same frank free
bor,ely and humorous way in which he talks 70
,se public in his book It is easy to understand
how he won their confidence and affection and
turt I'D see that now. cut into quarters. is ad-
--ln;stered by four busy prelates
7, IS impossible 10 ignore the fact that the
,gtho-'s personality must have had much TO do
with his success. although, Of course. no sug-
rsstion Of the sort comes from him. except as
nc car. read between the lines Saloonkeepers
saulblers bad men," and the human driftwood
generally Of the TWO frontier territories were as
eager 10 extend q helping hand as were the few
church members he encountered II was a
ssloonkeeper who met him on his first stop on
his first missionary journey. who loaned him a
horse rode with him TO the ranch where he was
70 pause. arranged for the services. gathered
the congregation, played the organ and led the
singing He defined his position in these words:
SAY. Bishop w2ent el 70 put myself straight with
voU ] believe II Square deal. ] don't want YOU
70 believe mat am one OF Your religious fellows.
for I an / Bob Ineersoll man through
r1el and " take the Boston Investigator5 Nv
name IS B,.ly Bartlett, and run the saloon here
n town When YOU got out Of the stage. I thought
10 give sou the glad hand"
The talk that the Bishop gave the bows" in
the schoolHouse must have been Of the right
sort for ir was Billy Bartlett the Bob IngersolI
mar, through and through" who begged him 10
stop over another day. and who headed the
movement for a church and a regular preacher
In q mining town in Idaho the author was
compelled 10 round up a congregation by a per
sorai canvas OF the seven saloons. much To the
horror OF a little missionary of another denoui-
nation. The service was held in a dance hall
and was crowded, not only 70 the doors but to
the windows. ~ the close the Bishop was about
20 dismiss the people with a benediction when
the landlord asked him If he had not forgotten
sonething-''the hat''-and suggested that he
hsd better run that part Of the business" him
self requesting that the organist pIav five
hymns Tive" exclaimed the Bishop You
surely don't want five hymns?' Yes, Bishop,"
he replied, ''I want plenty Of time do not want
70 be crowded. The boys are q little slow on
collections" AS he later explained, "Bishop. YOU
see 7 charge every feIer accordin' 10 his nile
know these boys. Most or 'em grub with me.
made one feller cough up ten-doIIar gold
piece, and you VIII find a good many hves in the
hat Let's count f." What would not many a
city pastor give for such an energetic plate
passer?
D. TaIbot's observation-disclosures IS shown by the
hearty tribute he pays 10 other workers in the
field, though not Of his denomination, and by his
Readiness 10 cooperate with them He recog-
rized ss fellow workers sectarian missionaries
and Jesuit priests and could say of Joe Oldham
professional gambler who never met him
without slipping double eagle into his hand:
was generous soul warm hearted and loyal
. rs friends. bis kindness 70 the widow ana the
gI-, = NE nan IllIa ~ me I I1Ie~ ana TO al
rior- lin -erir 1f-i ~ 1ofJIi-, He i5d ig4 +
claim 10 he Christian. but as he never turned his
4: 4. fss- Of 's Lord was rot turned away from from
Characteristic example of this spirit Of fell
lowship is given in the authors account Of the
night in which ne and the Billy and Eva
Ecknley Show" appeared as rival attractions
N the same town I'm which there was only one
available hall At the Bishops suggestion, he be-
gsn ms service half an hour earlier than usual,
IN order not 10 interfere with the dramatic per-
formsnce. Reciprocity was the order Of the
oay. The theatrical company occupied front
seas during rhs service and the Bishop
n5lned ~ the show, which proved to be
p delightful little comedy with a touching
faale the moral effect of which could not ne
otherULse than uplifting"
There .vere many foreigners in the country
Who's knowledge Of English. picked up from
The miners and cowboys was weird and often
oisoonle-riug. a devout Swedish woman. who
had lost hy death two uubaptized babies, drove
'TeIry miles 70 have her other children christ
enec- After some cousoiatory words, the Bishop
falo. And now you have brought these dear
children rH ae baptizedo" You bet, you bet
fhe answered. Il hope they may be spared 10
you and may prove 2 great comfort and bless
iag You bet. you bet" An enthusiastic
Italian once greeted Inc author in railway
nam An you ze cardinal. I hear sou talk
last night Damn pretty church! Damn big
'eRc- Damn good talk The Bishop has many
interesting anecdotes 10 tell OF the Mormons
ard of Inc Indians in his diocese. He thought
very highly OF old Chief Washakie OF the ATapa-
hoes How highly the chief thought Of him is
Illustrated by Washakies request Of the Indian
agent for some oxen 10 Kill for feast with
winch 70 welcome the Bishop when he came TO
I4y the Cornerstone Of the new Indian school.
HoH many oxen 90 YOU wish 10 XIII for the
hsaoT the agent inquired Three" said the
-s- "TLe Bishop heap big man. He heap
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