The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-28

1hs 20 lug - w
story of ho,U he became cont
rerted 10 Christianity:
by WILLIAM ASHLEY SUNDAY.
Thirty-one years ago 1 walked down
a street in Chicago in company with
some ball players who were famous
the world over (some OF them are
dead now). and we went into saloon.
1t was Sunday afternoon, and We
got tanked up and went down and
sat on a corner. i never go by that
street without thanking God for saw
ing me. II was a vacant lot at the
time.
We sat on a curbinG. Across the
street a company Of men and women
were playing on Recommendations.
flutes. and slide trombones-and
others were singing the gospel hymns
that I used to hear my mother sing
back in the log cabin in Iowa, and
back in the old church where used
to go TO Sunday school.
ReeoIIerts Childhood.
And God painted on the canvas of
my recollection and memory vivid
picture Of the Scenes. Of other days
and other faces.
Many have long since turned to
dust. I sobbed and ,sobbed. and
young man stepped ont and said:
I'VE are going down TO the Pacific
Mission: won't you come down TO the
mission: am sure you will enjoy
II. You can hear drunkards tell how
! they have been saved and girls tell
how they have been saved from the
red light district"
/ arose and said to the boys:
I'm through. am going TO Jesus
| Christ We've come TO the parting
| 81 the WAYS" and l turned my back
on them.
Some Of them laughed and some,
OF them Knocked me; one OF them
gave me encouragement, others new
er said a word.
Thirty-one years ago 1 turned and
left that little group on the corner
of State and Madison streets. and
walked to the little mission and fell
on my knees and staggered out of
sin into the arms OF the Saviour.
MarrteH Nell.
went over 10 the west side of
Chicago, where I was keeping COM
pany with a girl, Nell; now my wife.
[ married Nell She was a Presby-
terian, so I am a Presbyterian II
she had been a Catholic would have
been a Catbolic-because l was hot
on the trail of Nell.
The next day had to go out to
the ball park and practice. Every
morning at 10 o'clock we had to be
out there for practice. 1 never slept
that night. was afraid of the horse
laugh that gang would give me be-
cause / had taken my stand for Jesus
Christ.
walked down TO the old ball
| grounds / will never forget it. /
] slipped my key into the wicket gate.
! The first man to meet me on the
! inside was Mike Kelly.
Up came Mike. t'Biily." he said. I'm
proud Of you. Religion is not my
/ long suit, but I'll help you all / can"
Others Commend Him.
Up came Arson. the best ball play
er that ever lived: Pfeffer, Clsrksop,
Burns, Jimmy Mccormick, Williamson,
Flint and Dalrymple. There wasn't
fellow in the gang who knocked.
Every fellow had a word OF en-
couragement for me.
4 nat afternoon we p.dNeu lnr Olu
Detroit club. We were neck and
. neck for the championship. That
club had Thompson, Richardson.
, Rowe. Dunlap. HanIon, and Bennett,
and they could play ball.
was playing right field. Mike
Kelly was catching and John G.
CIarkson was pitching. He was as
: fine a pitcher as ever crawled into
uniform. There are some pitchers
today-Johnson Bender. Mathewsou.
AleXsnder--but DO not believe one
of them stood in the class with
Clarkson.
Cigarettes put him on the bum.
| When he would take a bath, the wa
, ter would be stained with nicotine.
We had two men out and they had
a man on second and one on third.
4, Bennett, their old catcher. was at
the bat. John had three balls and
two strikes on him. Charley couldn't
F., hit a high ball. but he CouId kill
/ them when they went about his
knees.
"One MOre-ThaCa ALL"
| ] holIered TO Clarkson and said:
zone more. and we've got EN-"
John went clean down. and as he
went to throw the ball his right foot
slipped and the ball went low in
stead Of high.
/ saw Charley swing hard and