Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-01-23
How Robert Collyer was Bothered

u,
A lady residing in Milford, Mass.
where Robert Collyer recently iectllred.
and where the good man fairly lost his
temper, wrote as follows to the Spring
field Union:
Robert Collyer, while lecturing in this
place recently, was very much ANNOYED
because of the singularly undenaonsfra-
tive character of his audience. There
are some Methodist preachers, we are
told, who cannot preach with elderly"
until they have elected a few hearty
amens," and there are some. I regret
to say, who, In default of these, mani
testify "bid" for them. Thus with Mr.
Collyer. He must be appreciated, or
he could not comfortably or successfully
get on. In the meantime, aggravating
as was this utter want of extravagant
and hilarious demonstration of satisfac-
ton the distinguished lecturer 80 eager
~ craved, still more so was the &c gritty"
conduct of one of the young ladies in the
audience. After the fashion of her
grandmother she had brought her knit
ting work with her. Why, indeed,
shouldn't she thus improve her time.
killing, in this way, her two birds with
one stone? But this example of indus
try, it seems, so far from being appre
clated by the lecturer, served but to ir-
ritate and greatly annoy him. Had not
his equanimity already been seriously
disturbed by the apparent lack of SYM
pathy on the part of his hearers? And
now for thatyoung miss thus deliberately
to take out her knitting work, and, d.
rectly under the lecturers eve, to 60 to
knitting it was too much.
This point where forbearance ceases
to be a virtue had been reached. and the
lecturer paused and politely requested
the young lady to put up her knitting
still she kept knitting. Presently he
stopped again and repeated his request.
But she kept knitting, knitting. Strange
that it did not occur to him to turn the
tables on the young lady by saying good
naturedly: Gentlemen and ladies, YOU
have before you fine illustration of nv
subject. There, I should say, is an ex-
ample of clear grit. Thus he would
have been quite sure to "bring down
the house" and thus elicit the very ap-
plause his heart was so aching for But
no, his better genius had quite deserted
him, experienced as he is in dealing with
popular audiences and SO, after few
moments more, he requests for the third
time the aforesaid young lady to desist
from her knitting. But still, for all that,
she kept on knitting, knitting, knitting,
the same as before. The speaker now
cut himself loose from his really delight
full listeners, put spurs to his steed, and
went galloping and careering through
the remainder of his lecture at so rapid,
reckless and break-neck pace as to rem
der it quite unintelligible to all save
those who were in his immediate vicinity.
And after the close of the lecture Mr..
Collyer, it Is said, openly expressed him
self as seriously displeased, declaring
that he wouldn't come to Milford to lee
ture again for anything less than 81 900,
and that if that young lady was to be
present with her everlasting knitting
work, he should ask 81, 500. "Baffled
at last, should be the title of that even
lng's performance, and by young wo-
man and her knitting work Some one
uldcompose song in commemoration
of the occasion, entitled 'And still she
kept knitting, knitting, knitting p
Nine days later, it appears, Mr.. Col
lyer, having recovered his equanimity,
wrote the following apologize and ex-
planatory letter to Mr.. Blake, the Cor
responding Secretary of the Graduate
Course, before which he lectured in Mil
ford
On THE TRAIN, Dec. 16, 1872.
DEAR SIR feel sure I was mistaken
In your people, and took serious atten-
ton for Indifference / soon found IN
Western Massachusetts that this is your
way p; and it is very good way But I
shall not be able to come again this sea-
son. However, if ever 1 lecture much
after this season, I shall be glad to
come, row that we have found each other
out. Yours, indeed,
ROBERT COLLIER.