Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-02-06
JOHN b. COUCH.
By REV. v.T.b.CUYLER, D. d.


unique distinction Of having addressed
more humaa beings than any man
now living on our Globe. And no
man living has been the innocent occa-
sion of so much hearty laughing and
as many honest tears. spurgeon be-
gan ten years later than Cough, and
has not spoken more than halfa as often.
Henry Ward Beecher did not rise into
celebrity until Cough had been for
years the prince Of pl pl,tformers. For
thirty years no speaker has command
ed such crowds who were eager TO pay
for the privilege of listening to the
most exciting Of discourses delivered
In the most dramatic voice and gestic-
uiation. 1t may seem presumptUous
to say it, but have often thought that
Cough is the only real rival Of Garrich.
The great English actor recited tbs
brilliant words of Shakespeare and
Sheridan, but Goagh composed his
own Grafton Garrick had the help of
scenery and companies offellow-setors.
Cough makes his own "scenery" with
his tongue, and stands up alone. Gar
rick had the widest variety OF topics,
but Coughs most splendid triumphs
ofspeaking and acting have all been
achieved on that Old, very old, and
"thread-bare thems of temperance" ="
Garrick only aimed IS produce laugh
ter or tears. Mr.. Cough, as great
Christian phiianthropist, aims to per-
suade, to reform, and to convert his
fellow-creature5 to sobriety and relig-
ion. Rarely ms a man ever employed
his peculiar gifts more nobly than hes
my well-beloved friend and brother,
John B. Cough.
He is a native Of Sandgate, in Eng
land, and was bornf in q poor little
cottage, on the 22d of August, 1871.
His father was common soldier in the
British army. I need not recount his
familiar history, how be came to
America with 5at half a dollar in his
pocket, how ne struggled along in the
most utter poverty, how ne ran behind
the panper's hearse that bore the body
OF his poor, pious mother to the Pot
ter's Field, how he fell into the most
degraded drunkenness, how he was
rescued by Joel 5tratton, the Worces-
ter shoemaker, and signed the total
abstinence pledge with a trembling
hand, how he relapssd and signed
and signed again, until at last, by Gods
grace, ne stood up as an emancipated
and converted man. Alr. Cough s
hope Of remaining reformed inebri-
ate, is founded on the "Rock of ages
He trusts God, and.not himself. The
most attractive trait in Brother
Coughs noble character is his earnest
and devout faith in his Redeamer.
Soon after Mr.. Coughs reformation
he began to lecture in behalf of total
abstinence. Al nr5t ne spoke to few
country-folk in scho6l-houses and
churches. Then he went to Boston,
where, after three hundred public ad-
dresses, he can draw larger audiences
than any man alive. Deacon Grant
was his early behefaetor, and was al
ways proud ofhaving befrierded him.
For many years Mr. Cough was a
member of Rev. DR.. Kinks church,
but of late has been connected with
the Congregational church Of Boylston,
Mass.
Next to the grace ssof God, and the
prayers of a godly mother, our friend
owes most to his faithful Yankee wife.
He married Mary Whitcomb, of Wor-
cester county, on the 24th of Novem-
Der, 1913. AT the time of their mar
riage he was worth the coat on his
back, and ten silver dollars. That
same evening he fulfilled an engage
ment to talk. temperance in a school
house. She took him on trust, and
has stood by him until he has risen in
to a worldwide fame as an orator and
philanthropfst. When her young hus-
band-stiu rather "shal1y," and in
danger of fal;ing-introduced her to
Deacon Grant, the shreWd man talked
with her few moments, and then
slyiy whispered in his ear, John,
she'll do" She has done, and nobly
too, for twenty-nine eventful years.
During the long period OF his public
career, Ir. Cough has made two visit
to Europe, and spoken in every con
siderable city and town OF the British
empire. He has had tie gifted and
the titled among his auditors, yet the
common people hear him gladly.
He has delivered over seven thous
aad public addresses, some Of them Il
audiences of ten thousand people. He
has travelled over a sufficient number
of miles to have carried him twelve
times around the globe. He has secur'
ed over two hundred thousand sigma
lures to the pledge. Blythe help of God
he has reformed large number o.
those VINO had sunk into that same
abyss Of drunkenness from which he
himself was rescued. Much OF the
large amonnt Of money paid him foI
his addresses, has been generously
given away in charity.
As an orator, Mr. Cough reached
his climax Of power twenty years ago.
His voice was then as muscaI as flute,
with marvellous power in the tender,
pathetic passages. Longand hard ser
vice has made itsomewhat harsh and
husky, but it IS still an instrument oI
rare compass and Hexibility. Some
times he overacts, especially when
weary. Butt in the days of his highest
..l.A:-1. mo cc...lI n.1rr.r- hi.-, IL.