The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-19
JNO. B. COUGH, THE LECTURER
BY SHERWOOD BONNER.

than a generation. 1t was founded in Eng
land by Lord Brougham and the ether orig
inators of the Society for the Diffusion OF
knowledge among the People, as an auxil-
exist there and find their counterparts in
America in our Mercantile Associations and
Libraries. 1t was designed to extend among
the common people knowledge of polite
literature. Politics and religion were rgor-
ously excluded. 1t was founded in the idea
of patronage. 1t has existed to tue present
day, but has never grown much beyond
the original germ. In the United States it
come an independent institution, looking
for its support to the people, and employing
professional lecturers. Its Inauguration in
Boston was due to Mr.. Hildreth, Mr.. Whip
Pile, Mr.. Winthrop, Mr.. Evans, Mr.. Philips
and other cultivated scholars. 1t is row reg
ular business. Quite an army of men and wo-
men find their sole support and vocation in
supplying the demands OF lyceum managers.
Since the establishment of the Bureau the
system has been still further revolutionzed
by introducing expensive concerts and at
fractions, that have largely increased the for-
mer price OF course of entertainments
Seven years ago, for example, the leading
Boston courses seldom involved an outlay of
more than thousand dollars, while in a re-
cent course single Titiens concert cost
double the sum.
Notwithstanding the general impression
to the contrary, the lyceIm system OF the
country is in a more fiOurishing condition
than at any previous time in its history, talk
ing the general depression OF business into
account. Boston has four agencies, New
York two; there are several in the West, and
all are doing fair business. The Redpath
Lyceum has Il list Of over three thousand cor
respondents, with all Of whom it does bust
ness. They have extended the system from
Maine to San Francisco, and even in some
er flourished, courses have been inaugurated.
They have sent lecturers as far South Us Mo-
bile; the Dominion OF Canada has been inva-
ded, and lecture courses established in every
town from Halifax to Windsor. There is no
likelihood then of thesystem dying out, espe-
cially as the competition between the Lyceun
bureaus draws all the available talent of the
country to the platform.i
The King of the Lyceum-judged by the
test of SUGGESTS Jno. B. Gough.-IIe is the
most popular lecturer, not only in the United
States, but in the world. He has held this
position for twenty years, during all this
time, although thousand famous men ard
women have entered the list, he has never
been approached in popularity. Mr. Beech
er is the only man who has ever ranked kim,
and he, it should be remembered, has never
subjectad himself to the severe test of lectur.
ing every night during the season, while for
several years he has never ectured at all
The story of Mr.. Coughs life is Il romance
idyllic in its beginning, desperate in later
years, but saved from total wreck by an i'll
terpostion that even Il sceptic might call di-
vine. His career has been one of the most
remarkable in the annals of American life.
He was born in ar obscure village in York
shire, of parents SO poor they could give him
no advantages beyond careful home training.
His father had been soldier and received a
small pension that was eked out by tue earn
ings of his mother as village school-mistress
and lace maker. Young Coughs home was
happy. He gives us some pleasant glimpses OF
it in his autobiography. How he went CLEAN
ing with his mother and sister; how he mount
ed neighbours white horse with back like
case-knife, was jolted to mill to the graft
fcatioa of his highest ambition; how he pull
ed the wig off Billy Bennet's head in church
and his father busted his jacket for that
freak.--all these are dwelt OH with the pleas
ant humor of one who loves to recall his
youth. How different from Dckins' NOR
bid recollection!
When he was fourteen years old he came
| to America. Here he learned the trade Of
| book binder, at which he worked with mod
crate success until he was able to send fol
his mother and sister to join him. His firs
great sorrow came to him in the death of his
mother. She died very suddenly, strucl
down in the midst Of her duties without
time for words of warning OF love to hel
children. She was buried in Potter S Fielt
Now known as Washington Park of New
York-followed to her grave by only thu
sobbing boy and girl, who in her lost thei
one friend on earth.
Then began the dark period OF Cough
life Among his fellow workmen he wa
very popular from his gift Of telling dramat
ic stories and singing comic songs. He wa
led into dissolute. company, fell into bal
habits, and finally became confirmed
drunkard. His marriage, the birth OF
child, and the death OF both wife and child
made no permanent change in him. H
sank rapidly until he reached the loves
depths. He walked the streets, ragge'
spectre OF his former self, haunted ever b.
fear of the s.drunkard's remorseless toFtur
| er,' delirum tremens, u wandering
wretched, worn and weary thing" appa
rently beyond hope or redemption or cure
One Sunday afternoon, as he WIS walking
moodily along, respectable looking ma
touched him Oh the shoulder and addresse
him by name. This man was Il waiter III
temperance hotel. After a little talk. Il
urged Mr.. Cough to sign the pledge ana oe