The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-19
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, APRIL 19, 1877.


rose and gave a snort account of himself
with so much feeling that many were il
tears. After this he was constantly asked
to speak at temperance meetings. 1t was
thus that his great work began. His sympa'
thetic nature and terrible experiences added
to his innate love of purity and his venera'
ton for religion, combined to make him the
most effective speaker that the temperance
movement called from obscurity. His career
from that time is tolerably well known to
the people of the United States, and has
been told with an almost child-like simplici-
ty and molesty in his autobiography. He
has spoken in nearly every town id the Uni
ted States, in the British Provinces, and in
England, Scotland and Ireland; and it is
safe to say that there is hardly community
in all these countries, where some citizen
has not been saved from drunkard's grave
by the zeal, sincerity and eloquence OF this
man believe he is not a fayorite in Chi
cago, and there are a few other cities where
he is not regarded as a great orator; but
these can be numbered on the fingers Of one
hand. Where else he appears, and as often
as he appears, he delights crowded audi
ences. For all this, it is the fashion among
certain newspaper men whose knowledge OF
their own times dates from their college days
to sneer AT the oratory of Mr.. Cough; yet
his success is undoubted, and while they
strive to belttle it by calling him coarscly a
mountebank, or more elegantly an evangel-
ical comedian. they cannot explain away his
popularity, nor render the peoples hero less
a hero. One secret of mis- success is I'M
doubtedy his intense earnestness. He speaks
at white heat. He absolutely glows with
his fervor of denuncation and energy Of ao-
peal. lie speaks to the hearts of his audi
ence, hence he is far more effective than
Phillips, who, while he INDUCES in fiery APP
peals to the passions, is himself cold ana I'M
moved.
Much llaz been written of Coughs man
ner on the platform, yet it is beyond descrip-
ton. The pathos or fun he can throw into
a single word shows his wonderful power OF
are, yet these are not inharmonious. Every
one knows about the German who wanted
to hear s'de man who talked nit his goat
tails''-that indescrbable performance must
be seen to be enjoyed, as must the ridiculous
fling of the left leg, with which he illustrates
some telling point. He is so loosely put to-
gether that lie can throw himself into any
shape. have seen him looking exactly like
a section of a rail fence.
Since the beginning of Mr.. Coughs work
he has heard but one lecture. This is ac-
counted for by the fact that he himself lee
lures five times week, from the first Mon
day in October to the last Friday in May.
Nothing can persuade him to lecture on Sat-
urday or Sunday. His energy and enthusl-
asm are very exhaustive, and he travels with
an attendant, who rubs him down Turkish
fashion after each lecture. His fees range
from two to five hundred.
Among the beautiful days like to remem
Der is one I spent astsummer at Nj. Coughs
home-a ''model FARM" about five miles
from Worcester, Mass We left the Worces-
ter station at ten o'clock, and after pleas
ant drive through highly cultivated coun-
try, we reached "Hillside,' as Mr.. Cough
has named his place, after the pretty Eng
fish fashion. The house is substantial and
roomy-looking, with an air Of solid comfort
and responsibility. A mans character may
be read by study of the house he lives in,
and the stranger at Hillside, " looking mere
~ at externals, could rot fail to recognize
the presence of refined and intellectual in
mates. In the exquisite neatness and order
OF the house; in the we'll filled book shelves
the folios of rare engravings, the pictures,
the graceful tribes scattered about. there is
the harmony and charm one would look for
in the home of the scholar, the artist, or the
poet. His library is delightful room, a
great, sunny, home-lke room, with books
everywhere, and sleepy, hollow chairs, that
sweetly WOO with invitation to rest an read.
In the parlor |. noticed two books with spe-
cial interest. One, a very elegant Bible, rich
in morocco and gold, with the inscription,
"Presented August 8, 1860, to Jno. B. Cough
on his leaving England for America, by those
who signed the pledge after hearing him lee
ture in Exeter Hall, Lon1en." Resting on
this splendid volume was an old battered,
dogs -eared book, that seemed strangely out
of place. But when Mr.. Cough said in a
low voice that it was his mothers Bible,
understood why it was so carefully preserved
and honored the filial love thai had kept her
memory green through more than a quarter
of century.
Mr.. Cough is great admirer of George
Cruikshank, the English caricaturist. lie
has one of his paintings, ''Scene in the Life
of Joe Grimaldi,' full OF the artists sly hui
mort is the only one of his paintings in
this country. For score OF years Gougq
has been making collection of his designs.
He has bought every book that Cruikshank
has illustrated, cut out the designs, and
bound them himself in a series ofsuperb vol
umes. He spends a great deal OF his time In
arranging this collection, which is his hobby.
His workshop is a large room a short distance
from the house, which is workshop and
gymnasium in one. Here are nine pin balls,
paste pots, half-bound volumes and scattered
engravings; and here any fine morning in
summer the orator may be found riding his
hobby at a furious rate-coat off, shirt
sleeves rolled up glue brush in hand, work
ing away at his dainty task, overlooking with
anecdote and pleasant talk of artists and art.
He has a more complete collection Of Cruik-
shauk's engravings than Cruikshank him
self, although the British Museum contains
some specimens that he has not been able to
obtain.
In conversation Mr.. Cough is genial ant
pleasant. His manner is the most sympa
thetic have known. In speaking of him
self he displays genuine shyness; to thi'
day he says that he never faces an audience
without shaking in the knees. He is rather
fond of telling jokes on himself, AMI men
tions with delight the Scotchman who intro
duced him as ''Mr. Cough, equally distin
guisheL for his sublime and ridiculous"
He has been twice married, and the pres
ent Mrs. Cough is one of those rare woner
sincere, earnest and pure-who seem borl
60 strengthen the weak and console the sor