New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-07
Solemn EuthuyiasU

1t was one of COrwlns campaign years,
way back in the titties. or may be the forties,
and he had been making the circuit of the
State in behalf of the Wing ticket He had
gone through the southern and middle
counties, and had been assigned to the Re
serve to wake mp the Yankees. as he said,
and 80 had lighted down at PAinesville
The meeting was d morning one, after tie
old fashion, and the farmers from all around
the country had come 10 town t. hear "the
great Mr.. Corvine as they called him,
make a speech. When the organization had
been effected and the speaker Introduced,
he felt that he must do something worthy
of his reputation as 1.-the great NJ. Cor
wine" He laid dowr hl- stock of facts and
figures 10 Systematic order, building from
them an argument THAT he Thought .irresisti-
BILE, working at it patiently until ne thought
the structure COMPLETE; but upon looking
into the faces of his auditors was unable to
catch single responsive look There they
sat, bolt upright before him, dignifed and
quiet-so silent, indeed, that Tom could
hear the ticking of the old clock at the far
end of the room There wasn't ripple of
applause though, nor emile nor clap of
a hand.
This discouraged Corwin little, but he
thought he could wake them up with some
of his eratOry. So he sailed in with some
of his imprisoned flights of rhetoric, and
no orator that America has produced had
a more glowing fancy or could ter more
eloquent things than he. Still there was no
response. There his audience still sat, up
right, unmoved, as SO many gate posts.
Then he concluded he would try the virtue
of his funny stories, and told string of
them as only Tom Corwin could tell story.
Selecting particularly dignifed old fellow
in front of him, he directed his budget of
side-splitting yarns ut him, but ne'er o
smile broke from his lips or those of any
one present. Then he went to making faces
at them-the funniest faces that ever a man
made-faces such as only TOE Corwin
could make Still not smile, not hint
even that anybody enjoyed the perform
ance. There they sat before him, giving
that dignifed attention which they thought
the occasion required; but no one opened
his mouth or moved band or foot in the way
of response. Finally Mr.. COrwin sat down
disguised.
Then tall, lank. cadaverous looking in
dividual, sitting of in one corIer of the
room. slowly rose to his feet, and, clearing
his throat very leisurely, said: Mr.. Chair
man, in view of the fact that we have had
the great Mr.. COrwine here with US to-day,
greatly to our edificatiOn, l therefore move
you, sir that we now proceed to give Mr.
Corwine three cheers So saying, he sat
down.
Then another lank, cadaverous individual
on the other side of the room, rose to his
feet slowly as the other, and said: "Mr
Chairman, second that motion" And he
sat down.
Then the chairman, with due solemnity,
assumed perpendicular to put the ques-
ton. "Feflow citizens" said he, sit has
been moved and duly seconded that this
town meeting proceed to give three cheers
to the Hon Mr.. Corwine for the able and
mastery address he has delivered in Our
presence to-day. All who are in favor of
that motion will signify the same by saying
aye A dozen or more voted in the affirma-
tive. Those Of contrary miad will say
no." There were none. The motion is
adopted" Then he sat down, and silence
again relgned. =
and in Q cracked voice called out, mr.
Chairman, hoorAy for Mr.. Corwine!" And
he took his seat.
And then the dignifed party in the mid
die of the audience, at whom the jokes had
been directed, rose in his seat, cleared out
his throat, aud in dignihed tones said: "Mr.
Chairman. hooray for the great Mr.. Cor
wine," and sst down again.
Finally, an old. grsy-haired veteran, who
and, leaning on his cane, called out in the
qserulons voice of age, "Mr Chairman,
hooray for Mr.. Corwintw
The three cheers having been thus given
for tho speakef, the meeting adjourned with
due solemnity, and Corwin went to his
room at the hotel, vowing that he'd never
make another speech in the Reserve. And
he didn's. "Still," said he, ~ never blamed
them much. That was their way of show
ing enthusiasm. They'd never had any
missionaries afnong them."-Cincinnat En-.
Ollirer