Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1910-07-22
The PREACHERS "IREAT. :"
By REV. EDWARD P. OWEN.

x-x-X-X-x- x-X-x-X-x-
@-1ss7>7-s~r~1'>'-rs.
The little town of NJ has his
tory that runs back to the days when
the southern edge of Kansas looked
out upon a vast unsettled tract of In
dian land. For years this border
country had been the rendezvous of
the cattlemen, who used the range
below, and of the various outlaws and
criminals who had made the Indian
lands their hiding place.
A little branch ran down to c.,
a little town on the Kansas side of
the line, and at the time Of the s'rufi. !"
some Of the best citizens of c.,
anticipating the extension OF the rail-
road into the new territory. laid out
a new town site on the Oklahoma
side OF the line, on piece OF ground
that was far more convenient site
than the old Kansas town of C.
From the birth OF NJ there
was a keen and bitter strife between
the two towns. No less than three
men we're shot down in the streets in
broad daylight In the course of the
first few years, and several cases of
arson were supposed to have origin
ated in the rival town. The two sa-
looms in M were kept busy from
the start, and c. kept pace with
a Joint and gambling den. The repu-
tation Of the two towns was known
far and near.
About six years after the opening
OF the strip" while on visit to a
member Of our Salem church, we were
discussing the question Of missionary
work, when It was suggested that if
] were looking for a really typical
missionary field l should hnd 1t at
M My informant had owned a
claim" near NJ in the early days,
and his statements were so strong
that 1 was tempted to investigate at
once.
found a busy little burg that
drew trade for more than thirty
miles. but there was no church in
sight, and | was informed that Sun
day was a "wide-open" day. Horse
races. foot races. drinking, gambling
were the rules, Sunday-school the ex-
ception, and all attempts at preach
ing had thus far ended In failure.
But | found. as is often the case, that
1t is darkest lust before dawn. Even
the supposedly irreligious were dis
satisfied with conditions, and one in
dividual, reputed to be an atheist. Of
fered TO donate sa5 towards the
building Of a church.
l could only discover three profess
ing Christians in the town. but de-
cided to commence permanent work,
and took up regular appointment at
the school-house twice a month.
On my third visit was sitting in
the hotel about seven O'Clock on Sat
urday evening. when | heard two
shots fired on the street and a good
deal of confusion and noise. In a
few minutes the hotel door opened
and ! saw someone beckoniug to me
to come Oh InstinctiveIy guessing
ff'' '-t @f0As 4 dohtu NY NlcltOf
what he wanted. His answer was
that he wanted me to come over and
have a drink with him, I thanked
him politely. but told him that drink
ing was not one of my usual habits.
He then suggested a cigar, but again
thanking him. I told him l did not
smoke. Not to be outdone, he then
offered to compromise by treating me
to some lemonade at the restaurant.
AS | happened TO know that the
restaurant keeper was one of the
three protesting Christians Of the
town, ! readily aequiesced. thinking
that, once inside the restaurant. l
should fad some way to take care Of
my generous friend, for 1t wns evident
that he would need a guardian before
long. When We arrived at the restaaz
rant It was locked. The proprietor
was Justice OF tho peace, and had
gone IN search Of special constaXles to
quiet The disturbance. 49,