The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-21
THE SECRET OF BILLY
 SUNDAYS SUCCESS

From God derived to God by nature We act the dictates of his mighty
 mind,
 And though the priests are mute and
 temples still
 God never lacks a voice to speak his
 wi1l.''
 Who is Billy Sunday? The back woods farmer who is not abreast of the times may tell you frankly that he has never heard of him. Men who took an interest in field sports over a score of years ago will tell you their knowledge of him rests with the fact that he was a baseball player, and in his line was reckoned good. News paper readers of today will answer that he is a clever entertainer on plat form in pulpit, his talk consisting of one tn, i'll Overlapping another like gigantic ocean waves, but guaranteed I to do no damage.
 l Women, the world over, will explain to the mystif1ed that Billy Sunday is an evangelist whose profession is to make fairly good people better and sinners near Christians.
 l Unlike the ministers who modestly agree that the hat shall be passed to gather up the humble contribu tions. Sunday sends his sta1wartc henchmen up the 'aisles with a. huge basket on [ wheels, not forgetti to whisper his instructions. to bring it back filled to ] the brim. Bills of any denomina ton l will do. It's worth the biggest price a man (even though he be poor) can spare to see him spar with the tnvis- ibIeNSatanic majesty, faying him with such fiery, Scathing words that he is either utterly routed to flight or is put down and out for all time. Sunday, coming out of the battle royal out of breath, but with flying colors.
 Billy's unique success comes of the fact that he believes in himself and his methods. The ladder of his pros- perity is built of wood cut from the tree of enthusiasm. He has studied it out that the preachers who lack it have a hard time holding on to their jobs,'' as he phrases it, s'as the years make inroads on their capabilities.
 How Billy Sunday answered the call to do his best to save souls Is an in teresting story in itself He and Ma Sunday (his estinab1e wife) strolled Unto church one Sabbath morning to rest after a long rambIe under a warm summer sum- Ma was well pleased to listen to the quiet truths which fell from the Hips of the good ministers. Not so the, restless Billy. that bundle Iof human energy who finds nonotony irksome.
 l The droning voice, nningli14g with the hum of bees, and the gentle breeze that blew in through the open win dows had a soporif1c effect on Mas companion. Glancing about with one eye open and the other shut, he noted that all the men in the congregation were noddfng their heads as though agreeing Unanimously with the words that f1oated lazily down to them from Ipulpitward.
 Ma had played a tattoo on his ribs for the twentieth time to hold his thoughts and sense in leash. Sudden 4y, though by one accord, low rumb1ing, mighty snore resounde6 through the ediFlce
 Billy Sunday sprang to his feet gazed about, sat quickly down again his face flushed, every nerve in his
 body tingling, 5resounding to a mighty
 fmpulse-,a wonderful Inspiration.
 Ma he whispered hoarsely, "can'i
 you see why religion is standing sti1
 having a hard time of it to keep from 'd backsliding? The preachers haven'- got enthusiasm enough-not one out
 of a score of 'em. It needs a Iive4wirt 2 religion they've got in lem up to the } highest key. I'm the man to blaze tn, trail. They'll not go to sleep when
 get up to tell them how fast they ar, racing the devils road. I'll invite en to join with me in chasing hin
 around the stump and driving home
 smashing good knockout blow. There. more Christian than sinner in eve1- one. I'll help 'em to make a victoriou. ; home run.''
 That Billy Sunday has made goot in his own unique way. no one cal
 doubt.