Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-07-26
A Good serenade Speech.
BY A NATIVE OF ROCKINGHAM.

BY courtesy of friend in this village
we are in possession of copy of the Ell
gin illinois, Gazette, in which we find
a neat serenade speech made by Samuel
Billings, Esq, of Chicago, native of
this town, Rockingham and who is well
known and who will be remembered as a
son of the late Samuel l.. Billings. Mr.,
Billings, since the great fire at Chicago,
with partner, has been running a hotel
at Elgin, the Waverly House, though we
believe he still keeps his residence in
Chicago. On the evening of the above
named occasion, the Bluff City Band
gave the proprietors of the Waverly
House an unexpected serenade, calling
upon them for speeches, and we copy
from the Gazette, whose reporter humor-
ously describes Mr.. Billings as twin to
Josh, as follows:
The first on the list was Mr.. Samuel
Billings-twin brother to Josh. Mr..
Billings was resting serenely and happi-
ly in the arms of Morpheus when the
band struck up national air and blew
him from his bed into his pantaloons at
the first blast. Some little excitement
and confusion followed, but second
thoughts were brought into play, and
+" Billings was himself again and eager
for the fray" His appearance was the
signal for speech, and a speech the
boys would have. In vain did Mr.. Bill
lings endeavor to pacify them with smiles,
bows, promises of rewards and hopes OF
glory in the future, but a speech they
would have and nothing else, so the gen.
tleman in his usual quiet and inimitable
manner stepped forward and said:
Gentlemen Of the Bluff CITY Band:
You have refused all tenders of sub
stitutes for speech from me this even
ing, and while am not anxious to dis
tinguish myself in forensic literature at
this hour of the night, cannot but feel
complimented at your persistency. l
know the Billings family ranks with the
best of orators and writers, but we usu-
ally left it to Josh to do the talking, as
that seemed to be his main reliance for
subsistence. The balance of US turned
in when Josh became exhausted, and in
that way we are all of us more or less
given to oratory.
Gentlemen, it is not my intention to
detain you with a speech. / might
speak TO you of the glorious record OF
Horace Greeley at Niagara Falls, his no
BILE bearing when signing the bail bond
of JEFF. Davis; the brilliancy of bis coun.
tenance when advocating the doctrine Of
secession, and his utter indifference to
the result of the present contest between
himself and General Grant, but see m y
friend and host, Mr.. Stephen Lasher, is
here, and will introduce him to you. He
is directly interested in this political fan
dango, having recently been elected
treasurer ola Greeley club, and will fur
nish you something that will make your
mouths water. Gentlemen, accept my
thanks for this demonstration and an in
vitation to refresh yourselves with com
modify that will be easier to digest than
speech; after which you can listen to
Mr.. Lasher"
Mr.. Lasher and Mr.. Cass were also
called for and made very happy respon-
ses, and it will be seen by the speech OF
Mr.. Billings that he is sound and main
tains the political spirit of his old native
town.