The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-02

Gen. Jos. H. Geiger.
HIS LECTURE AT THE OPERA
HOUSE LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
THE BEST LECTURE OF THE SEASON, WITH
THE ELITE AND FASHION OF THE
CITY IN ATTENDANCE.


1t was full of fun, humor, telling hits,
serious reflections, and pointed morals
drawn from the "chelonia." Not as large
an audience as the merits of the speaker
demanded was in attendance, but those
that were there left delighted, instructed
and we'll pleased that they were present.
The lecturer commenced in humor-
ous, yet clear tone of voice, which Of it
self was asuficient incentive to laughter.
He said before he left Columbus his
friends had predicted that he could not
get an audience in Toledo of SO respeCta-
BILE people. He was very glad to see that
they more than doubled that calcula-
ton. Laughter He was very happy
to see them all there that evening, and
as they had to do their part Of the busi-
ness, he supposed, that for the privilege
of appearing in his august and mighty
presence, they were all equally glad to
see him, as they should be for that priv
ilege. 1t was not often that he had the
privilege ofaddressing such an audience
as that before him, and it was not often
that they had the privilege Of hearing
such man as himself; [laughter] and
therefore they were in manner equally
congratulated. AS an old lady in Penn
sylvania once said; she had tried for
five years to get Contented mind and
could not get it, and now she was deter
mined to be content without it. Laugh
ter If they would be patient, and try
and be pleased with what they heard,
they would have one of the best socals
they had ever seen in the city of Toledo.
He knew it would be strain upon their
nerves, trial to their endurance, and
stretch upon their seats, and they would
probably make strong and earnest plead
ings. and he could assure them they
would have his prayers for their success.
Laughter.
There had been some controversy re-
garding his personal appearance, in Ohio,
among the newspapers. The Springfield
Republic said he was the homeliest man
in the State The London Enterprise said
he was the best looking man in Colum-
bus, [laughter] and the Springfield Tran
script said, "God pity Columbus" He
hoped the London Enterprise was right.
TLaughter.] Because the passions may
change, and hope may vanish, but a
thing of beauty is a joy forever. Laugh
ter. He knew not what others might
think, he could say what few could, he
had improved. When he was quite a
baby, at home in old Pennsylvania, his
mother was holding him upon her knee;
and he was sick and cross tempered.
There was man that stepped up and
looked at him, and he was squalljng and
screaming and yelling. Says the man {:
"Mrs. Geiger, there is great deal of COM
fort In having that kind of brat"
"Why?" answered his mother, who did
not particularly see any. "Well," said
the man, "he might live to be a thousand
years of age and he will never be any
uglier." Laughterl
He could compliment them by promis
ing he would not detain them long. Not
more than an hour and half If at that
time he had given them sufficient, they
would go away satisfied, and if by that
time he had wearied them, they would
be willing to retire. Laughter 1t was
always better for speaker to stop when
his audience had anotion he should pro-
ceed, then go on until he had notion
he should stop Laughter,] But some
men have no common sense. He always
had Laughter. That was what dis
,oL II IA |
were like old coffee mills-had an idea
that they should run faster when they
were empty than when they were full.
They 60 on until their words become
like self-righteousness, the more you
have of it the worse you are off. Laugh
ter There they have minister of the
Gospel, going on, and on, until the con-
gregation were perfectly exhausted, and
they soemnly begin to consider whether
it would not be little better to 60 to
the than be saved by such preach
ing They will have to patiently wait
until he has gone over his firstly, his
secondly, his thirdly and his fourthly
His sin conclusion" and finally, lastly,
and "few practical observations" until
the congregation will have exclaimed
from their hearts, "How long, oh Lord
how long~ Laughter.] They had
here lawyer beating the air with his
arms, disturbing the court, the jury and
the bystanders with his exemplary re-
marks, until his beholders begin to look
upon him something like as they would
the mathematic definition of line
'length without breadth or depth"
[Laughter.l Yet they had been COM
pelled to listen to it. Politicians were
noted for their long-winded endurance
in making speeches. They would go on
for hours humbugging their listeners
with their windyness, and it cost more
for the Government of the United States
to pay for these foolish harangues in
Congress than it did to keep up her for
eign relations. He knew it to be so from
experience, as he, himself, had served in
the Ohio Senate, and since then he had
concluded that if God would forgive him
for that offence he would never attempt
to repeat it. Laughter. On one occa-
sion he calculated to gain for himself a
reputation. He was ambitious and was
aspiring to write name on high that
would never die, and he spoke day and
half Laughter
When the question was first mooted
about him delivering his talk, or his lee
ture, before a Toledo audience he thought
he was entirely too long winded for wes
tern men. They asked him whether
they thought he could draw. He re-
piled, "Yes, of course can draw" The |
very first thing ever did in my life was
IN draw rlauohter1 nv breath Trenewed |