Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-01
A BUDGET OF BLUNDERS.

THERE arc certain phenomena in pub
lie life Which surprise us by their even
ness and the regularity of their move.
menls. When these regular events are
broken in upon, and are disturbed, we are
quick to notice the impelling cause, but
we fail 20 be impressed with the wide field
there is for more Interruptions. We are
quick enough 10 pass Judgment upon rail-
way officials whenever accidents occur,
but the great wonder Is, with our immense
country and our travelling public, that
bridges do not break, and locomotives run
away, and steamboats, exl lode, more FIRE.
'qucntly than they do. And this is Just as
true of public and of social lite.
IL Is a marvel that there are not more
mistakes made in the presence of n mis-
ccllancous audience, when once we realize
no" easy matter il is 10 spoil lecture,
concert, or service by the irrelevant intro.
duCtion of some ludcrous element
IL is great wonder, too, when we re-
member their power, that little children
when In company do not create more awk.
ward scenes by the Juggling in OF contra
band subjects of conversation
A story is told Of accelerated American
preacher who was reproved by friend
because he got OFT so many funny things
from the pulpit.
Really, now, my dear brother,n said
the friend, cannot come to hear you
any more until You promise me not to
Joke soni
well. my dear friend, - replied the
preacher, I" IT you only knew how many
such things came up to the surface which
! didn't get Oft, you would give me credit
for the few which do slip outs
Ii, rs II has been said, there is some.
thing sad in the sight OF large audience,
there are times when il impiesses the
speaker rather with - sense OF the ludi-
crous, People in listening to speaker
try 70 put on their cleverest look, as if
they understood il ALL and when the
speaker himself has lost his subject, nom.
inativc aud verb and feels that he is talk
ing nonsense for the moment, the un.
abashed attention and wise looks of his
hearers are food for side train OF anus
ing reflections.
What did you think of my sermonH'
asked clergyman OF an intimate friend,
&c Did you notice anything curious about
ii when | was about halfway through yes.
terday afternoon ~
lie had lost all idea of his third point
in AN cNtcmporaneous address, and WAS
foundering about like Millions Satan in
the chaotic bog, trying To get on solid
ground again
"Well," answered the friend, ~
thought something was wrong, but rs
WAS sure you could not lose Yourself, |
concluded must have fallen asleep for y
moment, and thus have lost the thread OF
the discourse
The subject off, Professional Blundersn
came up nj clerical dnnor.company
some time ago, and the question went
round Ia each as follows;
Were yor ever 80 placed in public in
the performance of service rs 90 lose all
sense of the solemnity OF the occasion and
bc compelled 10 laugh in spite Of your
more serious SELF
The following are some OF the answers,
rs rev ealing the hidden hut uulorgoteu
experiences oi ministerial accidents Case
number one was rs follows
WAS holding q prayer.meeting in a
Western town in the early DAYS OF my
ministry, and, as thele was no one IL raise
the tune, uled myself To do il. The
hymn began
With hyssop purge '.,y servant, Lord
And 81 clean shall We.
My first attempt Was failure. When
tried tune number two | found 10 was a
long meter; tune number three WAS
another long meter, and rs had come to
the end of my stock | stood still for a
few moments locking At The page There.
upon al old woman stood up by the door
and spoke out into Shriil, piping VOICE
You d0ut seem 10 gtt on very well with
hyssop. suppose yoN lY some other yWhg
What could | DO but burst out with the
ali-con4uuyinE laugh. or die II I sup
pressed liz"
Here was case number two.
Il was conducting the funeral OF 8