The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-10-07
TB..WEEELl REGISTER.
wiIhfe ColliDs' Speech Before the
Lasos Club.

b"NoS ~h"S'
New York Tribune.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
Many years ago-more years than
now quite like to reckon--I WAS visiting
Sorrento, in the Bay Of Naples, with
my father, mother and brothers, as 8
boy OF thirteen. At that time OF my
Ii e, as at this time of my life, | was an
Unsuitable reader of that order OF books
for which heavy people have invented
the name oflight literature. Laugh
ter In due course of time exhaust
ed the modest resources Of the library
which we had brought to Naples, and
found myself faced with the necessity
OF borrowing from the resources
OF our felIow-travelers. summer
residents of Sorrento like our.
selves. Among them was
certain countryman OF yours, very tall,
very lean. very silent and very melan-
choly. In what circumstances the
melancholy of this gentleman took
rise l am not able 10 tell you. The Ia
dies thought it was a disappointment in
love. The men attributed it to cause
infinitely more serious than that
mean indigestion. Whether be suffer.
ed in heart or whether he suffered in
stomach l took, remember, boys
unreasonable fancy 10 him, passing
over dozens OF other people, apparently
Tar more acceptable than he was. / ven.
tured to look up to the tall American
it was a long way to look up
and said in q trembling voice, "Can
you lend me q book to read 2 He
looked down to met was a long way
to look down-and said, Il have got
but two amusing books One of them
is the Sorrows OF Werter.' snd the
other is the Sentimental Journey.
[ Laughter. You are heartily well
come to both these books. Take them
home, and when you have read them
bring them back and dine with me,
and tell me what you think Of then"
| took them home and read them, and
told him what l thought of them more
freely than l would now. And last,
not least, had an excellent dinner,
crowned with q cake, which was an
epoch in my youthful existence, and
which, NAV say, lives gratefully and
Creasilv in my memory to the present
day. LApplause
Now. Mr.. President and gentlemen,
venture TO tell you this for one reason.
1t marks my first experience OF Amer
lean kindness and American hospitality.
In many different ways this early ex-
preston OF your kindness aud hospital
ty has mingled in my after lite, now
in England, now on the Continent, I'M
I'll it has culmil ated IN this magnificent
reception from the Lotos Club, am
not only gratifisd but touched by the
manner in which you have greeted me
ard the cordially with which the re
marks Of your President have been
received. | venture to cay that | see
in this reception something more than
q recognition OF my humble labors only,
| think | see recognition OF English
literature, liberal, spontaneous and siu-
cerc. which, | think, is an honor to you
as well "a an honor to me. 10 the
name of English literature, l beg CRATE
fully to thank you. On my own behalf,
beg to assure you that l shall not
soon forget the encouragement you
have offered to ne at the outset of my
career in America Permit me to re-
mind You that am now speaking the
Language of sincere gratitude, and that
is essentially q Language OF very few
words. Applause.