New-York tribune., 1921-04-24

just one OF his hands con the lot
This showmans friend is equally ready to
officate at circus wedding, and once in his
career he married couple of Wild West per
formers on horseback, the minister also being
mounted.
1t wasn't orthodox, perhaps said Mr.
KEN recently as he sat in an arena box at
MADISON Square Garden and watched u morn
ing rehearsal Of trio Of sullen tigers. "but
my idea is to deal with these people in their
own language. If | had not agreed to marry
That pair mounted and dressed in their war
paint doubt if they would have married at
all, and l happen to know that marriage was
an excellent thing for Them
Sometimes the parson conducts religious
services in the arena while the performers
and circus laborers crowd into the grand
stand seats. Frequently they are wearing
their makeup and costumes. because these
services are not always held on Sunday Mr.
klein attended the Moody Seminary in Chi
cago and there is considerable of the revival
lst IN his method. He has a theory that il
would be mistake for him to dress except in
accordance with the accepted ideas of the peo-
pie he is dealing with 1t would be lmpos-
slble TOR any one to mistake him for ANYTHING
but a preacher. He favors overshoes. and
without his umbrella he is always glancfng
nervously toward heaven. His bow tie is
black and 50 is his square derby Generally
he affects waistcoat that buttons to his col
lar His mustache is full and sweeping. It
would be proudly owned by French cavalry
man.
Jews and Catholics, Protestants and what
not, all look alike to me- said Brother Rein
as he undertook to outline his expanded no.
tlon Of Congregatonalism in the circus.
I'm bit broader than most. | guess but
/ have had advantages not given to every
clergyman. was a bartender in Hell's Kitchen
before decided to alter my life can talk 10
man SO that he will understand me. can
take circus razorback and reduce him to
tears of repentance. l did that very thjnv
with Colonel Cody.
can show you the very spot in this build
ing where Buffalo Bill knelt with me in PRAYER.
You know how did it? just told him what
KIND of an end he was coming to. Exactly so
When was a boy in New York I saw
Cody for the first time. He was PLAYING in
The Prairie Flower with band of tame
Sioux Indians at Stadts Theater, afterward
the Windsor, opposite the old Bowery. be-
tween Canal and Bayard streets
i knew him best when he came here with
his big show. Come along now and III show
you where Cody prayed
Parson Rein paused beside a door in the
entrance corridor The upper half swings in
ward, so that on occasions it can be used as
hat check room Swinging this open with 4
dramatic, open-armed gesture, he indicated A
spot IN the center of the broken tiled floor.
Buffalo Bill got down on his knees right
there and prayed" he said. II knet there. and
he was there" Mr.. Rein indicated each sno.
as carefully as prosecutor might guide a
jury the scene of crime.
Ihis is how 1t happened: Cody came TO
me and said: Dominic, where can find the
Ten Commandments | was astounded. hut
told him that they were in the twenty-second
chapter of Exodus. He wouldn't saw what he
wanted the information for | never learned
but I saw splendid opportunity. | said to
him:
Colonel some day you are going to stand
before your Maker. What will YOU saw to
him?'
Cody grasped by the arm and said
hoarsely, Come in the office!' This little room
here was the Office. / wish I had photo
graph OF that old gun-fghting plainsman.
down on his knees, talking to God 1t would
be fair answer to the liars that saw he died
playing cards in bed.
There are two show people who know
about Cody's reformation | mean Bert Davis
and his wife. They were billed as Hiram and
Auntie Birdseed They pulled off rube act
Wandered into the arena as hick spectators.
you know
The day after Cody prayed with me thew
asked me what / had done to the coone;.
Dominic, did you mesmerize the old colonel?'
they asked me. we haven't heard him use a
cuss word to-day That was pretty near a
miracle. but to his dying day never heaM
Cody swear again
Yes, sir. Exactly so,' finished the show
mans friend, as he turned to shake hands
with his old friend, Zip, the What Is It.