The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-12-04

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The prayer is over: 800 male
voices lift the familiar strains of an
old Gospel song. And down the aisle.
hitting the sawdust trail," they come
in ones and twos and dozens. until
4Ts have stood before that multitude
to shake the evangelists hand and
signify their intention OF starting an
other life. They do not cry. there Is
no emotionalism. no sentimentality.
1t was more than twenty years ago
that Billy Sunday himself hit the
sawdust trail. on a warm spring after
noon in Chicago. The trail In his case
was Van Buren, Street. and IT led
straight into the old Pacific Garden
Mission. He was right fielder then on
that famous baseball aggregation cap
tanned by Pop Anson. that. bare-hand-
ed. guiltiess OF gloves or mask or
chest protector. won its way into the
championship-and most Of the team
was with him on that particular af-
ternoon. Mike Kelly was there. and
Ed Williamson. and Frank Flynn,
heroes all. surrounded by the newt
able band OF street-urchin worshipers.
AS they passed the battered door OF
the mission. the music OF an old hymn
almost equally battered-driffed out
into the warm sunshine. Billy stop
ped short. and wonderingiy. jokingly.
the crowd stopped too. He had heard
that music long time back. but its
strains had not grown more familiar
through the years. Now Il struck in
pulsion. The crowd bantered little
and started TO move on--but not Bill
~. Quietly he reached out his hand 20
each one OF the group In turn. Boys"
he said. I'm through. I'm going in
One laughed. one passed a rough Jest:
the rcsi stood stIii uneomprehending.
And the old BILLY Sunday was gone.
Sometimes In his sermons now he
tells about II. and particularly about
the next afternoon when he reported
for practice at the old South side
grounds. Al the gate he met Frank
Flynn and braced himself for the or
deal that he knew 10 be inevitable.
Frank came on slowly. looking search
ineiy into BiIly's eyes. but there vas
no smile. no jest: instead long hand
shake and I'm glad you did II. Bill"
Inside Pop Anson waited 10 extend his
hand. and one by one his team mates
followed quietly. without pretense.
The Angels that assist ST. Peter at TIE
gate could not have given n welcome
more sincere. II was a surprise TO
Billy, almost a shock-but IL helped.
IL gave him a new regard for the
heart OF the common man. a deeper
respect for his God. who without the
soss OF single day was busiiy ut
work on his side. For that is Billy's
idea OF God. that He Is working Tor
Billy Sunday just as hard and as long
as Billy works for Him. Religion to
Billy Is not worth its name unless 4.
has Its sleeves rolled up: salvation
and sweat, In his vocabulary. are
words derived from the same common
source.
Efficacy ef Prayer on the Diamond.
IL was his religion. working persist
emily at Its Job. that made him catch
the long. far fly In the decisive game
that week A tremendous hit It was.
In the crucial minute OF the ninth In
ning--far out over right field. over
the heads OF the crowd. almost to the
very fence. As he ran back for Il he
could tell that 1t was going to be al
most impossible; he could feel the
home crowd In the bleachers straining
for him. could hear far on the faint
encouragement OF his team mates. and
knew that the men on bases were run
ming In sure confidence that the game