Evening journal., 1911-11-20
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story of a Gambler and a
Governor
By Holland.

James w. Nye. appointed by Presi-
dent Lincoln as territorial governor
of Nevada, and elected one of the
senators from Nevada after il was
admitted to the Union. was in his day
nationally renowned as political
speaker. II was said of him that bet-
ter than any other man. Lincoln
alone excepted. Nye could tell a story
to illustrate a point He was a man
of much wit and like Lincoln had a
very keen sense Of humor. Il was in
part because of Lincoln's admiration
for Nyos ability as a stump speaker
that Lincoln appointed him governor
Of Nevada after that territory had
been formed by Congress.
Nye was a man OF striking physical
appearance. Not quite so tall as
Colonel Bob" lngersoll, in many
other respects, both physically and
mentally, he strongly resembled that
/ famous eXpounder of infidelism Gov
ornor Nye had many friends in the
East, and especially in central New
York, where he began his practice as
lawyer, and it was to a group Of
| eastern friends that he one day told
the following anecdote, illustrative Of
the old saying that ones ruling pas
sion is strong in death.
81 suppose" said Governor Nye.
with a reminiscent smile-he was
then a member of the United States
Senate-"the territory Of Nevada,
when ! became governor Of it. was
about the weirdest and most lawless
community then existing anyhere on
the face Of the earth. Every form 9f
vice prevailed openly there, and yet
there was in existence a kind of rude
code of honor which served better
than any written law to restrain the
lawless from carrying things on with
what might be called a high hand.
Among this element when I ar
rived i'm Nevada was a desperadO. a
gambler. who practically ruled the
territory. His passion for gambling
was so inveterate that he was willing
to wager bet upon any event TIC
was fond of betting upon the weather
and he would even bet upon the
course of the wind as that might HC
| developed the next day at certain
fixed hOuE He would take any con-
ceivable chance. ! got along very
well with this man, and he seemed tc
entertain some friendship for me, sc
that when word came from this gam
bier to me that nc was desperately
/ I'LL think. with pneumonia was
genuinely sorry.
"Thc doctor attending the gambler
had told him that he could not live
and, knowing his patients mode o
/ life. the physician had supplemented
this information by limiting that l
] the gambler wished to make an.
statement or to leave any message
with man Of God, he had bette
send for ono Immediately. That th'
gambler had done but his messen
gers could find no clergyman any
whore and when they so reported
the gambler had asked that | be sen
for. You're the Governor, explained
the messenger, and he saws that's tn
best thing to being clergyman, ant
besides, he likes you
Though not very experienced il
giving religious consolation | deter
mined to do what ! could for tn
gambler. Hurrying 20 his bedside
saw at a glance that he was yer.
near death He looked up at me ant
smiled family Well, Jim,' ] said
you seem to be pretty sick.
In reply, he told me that he knew
his time had come. and that he fel
he had something to say--he wanter
to leave the world squarely. 7 kney
what he meant. and as we'll as I coul
/ told him that the Good Book sal
that if anyone confessed his sins eve
at the last moment, and was reall
sorry for them there was no dout
of that mans pardon
with his eyes looking grateful
into mine. and in a voice that wa
faint in the presence Of swiftly az
preaching death the gambler an
desperate said that he now recalle
what he had been told as a boy abou
God and Heaven, but that he ha
forgotten It all after he had become
man. I own up he whispered.
haven't been a good man And the
he questioned plaintively: Yet 70
, tell me that If | am sorry it will be a
right?
Yes. Jim I answered.
For a moment he lay still. with hi
eyes closed. Then he looked earnestl
into my face again. And if am reall
sorry. ! will go TO heaven? he askeC
Yes, jim, I said, I am sure yo
will.
. Do YOU expect to go to heaven
he asked, after another pause. And
, told him that | hoped to go there.
Shall we both be angels?' he ash
ed, with all sincerity. like a little chill,
and with a child's pathetic yearnia
in his eyes.
Il 81 could only answer. Yes
A beautiful smile fitted across tn
mars face. Governor he said. afte
moment, and in the faintest of voice.
when we're both in heaven and angel
I'll bet you five dollars | can hy taste
than you can
1T was the ruling passion strong /
death. And five minutes later he wa
dead"
Copyright, 1911. - Z. ]. Edwards. A