Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-11-25

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II was one of Corwin's campaign
years, way back in the ffties, or maj
be the forties. and be had been making
the circuit of the State of Ohio in be-
half Of the Whig ticket. He had gone
through the southern and middle coun-
ties, and had been assigned TO the re-
serve 20 wake up, the Yankees, ~ hs
said, and q lad hehtoda1Qxnat Rsips-
vile. The meeting was q morning one,
after the old fashion, and the farmers
from all around the country had come
to town to hear 'the great Mr.. Cor
win," a. they called him, makes speech.
When the organization had been ef-
fected and the speaker introduced, he
felt that he must do something worthy
of bis reputation as the great Mr.. Cor
win.' He laid down his stock and fig
ures in systematic order, building from
them an argument that he thought ir.
resistible, working at it patiently until
he thought the structure complete; but
upon looking into the faces of his aud
itors was unable to catch single res
ponsive look. There they sat, bolt up
right before him, digni6ed 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 q rip
pie of applause, though, nor q smile,
nor a clap Of hand.
This discouraged Corwin little, but
he thought he could wake them up with
some of his oratory. So he sailed in
with some of his impassioned flights of
rhetoric. and no orator that America has
produced had more glowing fancy or
could utter more eloquent things than
he. Still there was no response. There
his audience still sat, upright, unmov-
ed, as so many gate posts. Then he
concluded he would try the virtue of
his funny stories, and told a string of
them a. only Tom Corwin could tell a
story.
Selecting = particular dignitied old
fellow in front of him, he directed his
budget of side-splitting yarns at him,
but ne'er a smile broke from the lips
Of those of any present. Then be went
to making faces-the funniest faces that
ever a man made-faces THAT only Tom
Corwin could make. Still not a smile.
not a hint even that anybody enjoved
the performance. There they sat be-
fore him, giving that digni6ed atteu-
tion which the occasion REQUIRED, but
no one opened his mouth or moved band
or foot in the way of RI rtsponse. Final
ly Mr.. Corwin sat down disguised.
Then tall, lank, cadaverous- looking
individual, sitting off in one corner Of
the room, slowly rose to his feet, and,
clearing his throat very leisurely, said:
Mr.. Chairman, in view Of the fact
that We have had the great Mr.. Corwin
here with US to-day, greatly to our edi-
fcation, therefore move YOU, sir, that
we now proceed to give Mr.. Corwin
three cheers So saying he sat down
Then another lank, cadaverous indi-
vidual on the other side of the room
rose to his feet slowly, and said:
Mr.. Chairman. I second that mo-
tion.' and he sat down.
Then the chairman, with due solem-
nifty; assumed a perpendicular to put
the question. 'Fellow-citizens, said he,
it has been moved and duly seconded
that this town meeting proceed to give
three cheers for the Honorable Mr. Cor
win for the able and mastery ad-
dress he has delivered in our presence
to-day. All who are in favor Of that
motion will signify By saving aye A
dozen or more voted in the affirmative.
Those of contrary mind will say ro.
There were none. The motion is adop-
ted Then he sat down, and silence
again reigned.
Presently little, dried up, weazen-
faced old man in the back part of the
hall got up, and in a cracked voice
called out, Mr.. Chairman. hooray for
Mr.. Corwinv And he took his seat.
And then the dignified party in the
middle of the audience, at whom tbs
Jokes had been directed, rose in bi.
seat, cleared out his throat, and, in dig
uitied tones, said:
Mr.. Chairman, hooray for the grea,
Mr. Corwin,' and sat down again.
Finally, an old gray-haired veteran
who sat up in the amen corner, got or
his legs, and, leaning on his cane, callet
out in the querulous voice of age:
Mr. Chairman, hooray for Mr.. Cor
winp
The three cheers having been thu
given for the speaker, the meeting al
journed with due solennity, and Cor
win went to his room at the hotel, vow
ing that he'd never make another speecl
in the Reserve.
And he didn't. -.......
Still said he, I never blamed then
much. That was their way Of showin
enthusiasm. They'd never had an
missionaries among them