The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-22
FRANCIS MURPHY AT WORK.
BLUE. RTBBON TEMPERANCE MOVE
MENT BRIsKLY STIRTED.
Erthusinsm Aroused In Large Audience.
mud u Thousand signatures 20 the Pledge
Obtainod-The First Addres. In this Cfty.


Erthus,nsm Aroused In "a Large Audience.
mud ~ Thousand signatures 90 the Pledge
Obtainod-The First Address In this Nty.
Francis Murphy, the temperance revival
ist and originator Of what Ia known as tho
blue ribbon movement" mndc his first
speech in Now York in the largo hall
OF the Cooper Union yesterday Every scat
was filled. and men and women wero
standing In tho aislcs. The platform was
occupied by the officers and members
of the American Temperance Union. and the
intimate friends OF Mr.. Murphy. Tho Rev.
Drs. Hall. Tying. Jr Corey. and many other
clorgymen wcro present Tho energetic re-
former was there long before the opening OF the
meeting. shaking hands and receiving the con-
gratulations Of his friends. Ho is little below
the medium height. thick set. SO years Of age,
docs not look so old and is light OF step and
active in his movements He has dark eyes
underneath projecting brows. iron gray hair
and moustacho. an aduiline nose. and small.
well-shapcd mouth He has genial express
sion OF face. and there Is "A merry twinkle in his
eyes. Ho wore n white cravat and a black suit
Protrudng from buttonhole OF his vest was
blue ribbon. and on his coat collar was large
gold badge.
President Mundy opened tho meeting with
the announcement that tho society proposed to
throw away the club Of the law. and ondeavor to
persuade men to become bctier. He introduced
mr.; Murphy who stcpped TO the front Of the
platform. and. extending his arms, said:
thank God for what sec. aud for what feel."
He WAS received with applause. Instead of
going on with speech. he began shak ing
hands with people on the platform. and smiling
nt othors in the audience, Pointing 10 one man
@ Ia Sns ir3n' @ roy % oi seats ne SAID oh G1lGnel
the editor OF tho Commercial Gazette OF Pitts
burgh."'
Mr.. Murphy at length began his address In
hcstating, disloinied manner. His voice WINS
honrsc. but after n few minutes II improved.
aud gradually II became strong. rich. and clear.
He has habit OF dropping into the Irish
brogue, and saying "btyant." raison." and
the like. lie gave sketch OF his early life Of
poverty and hard work. The beseting sin OF
honest labor. He advised the young men pres
cnt to work. live within their means and even
sulsist on sawdust II II was necessary; in order
to walk the streets untrammelled Mr.; Muir.
phys dcs'rfiivc powers are, remarkable. and
the picture that he made Of the starting Of
tho vessel that brought him 10 this
country was rewarded with enthusiastic
applause. An a-.'pnt OF his childhoods irou;
hlcs brought out his dramatic abilities and
power OF mimicry. When his mother hnd com
pany to dinner he was. always put out IN the
kt'hnn. In this connection he gave the advice.
Don't. beg invite friends To- your house Mt
the expense uf your chil,lren. II you have not
chairs enough when company comes, go out In
chance" Ho made u touching appeal 10 his
hearers to keep liquor away from children.
Sobs were heard IN the hall. and there
WIS a general application of handkrrchicis.
lic Wns sorry. he snid. that tho people who pro-
fessed religion were not more like the liquor
dealers in some respects He gave rcpresrn-
tntion of tho reception of u young man in
saloon; Halo, George. how are ye. old hl,oy2
young man cntcrs church. and how is he
received Mr. Murphy cured his lip. and
pointed with his thumb over his shoulder to
IN imaginary scat Religion was too much u
matter Of dress and Kid GLOVES People sat in
,hGir ,hir pews .!sMni d,d nq2ihins to. help the
YOU have been saved and salted down Iy
God the last twenty years, and you need not
worry about yours Ives TRY TO do some good
OF his career until he became u drunknrd. and
WAS couin"i IN the county iai Of Portland.
with seeming din,ury. He had frequent rr-
course TO- his handkrrchicf. and when hc be-
roll"d down hi- checks; lie did not r.. 'vrr
.gHgnimty until near the cnl of his adlr ~.
~ and women upon t'c platform nnl in the
rntir" Hu ti'n"r We're al ted.
II w. expected THAT hir Murphy would rnka
some cNt;"ri binary rh .or.'al effort at the
close; AMI nobody was disappointed. He pic
tending thoy" his head poisoning the mir. nni
the dead aud the dying beneath II. Tho
was poisoning the roots Of the tree. Pointing
up To- imaginary branches. he said | SEQ thn
stunc M 20 the hoait, but YOU shall never do 1t
again. ] hear YOU hiss. hiss hiss. Come down.
lor viii Mil you. Come down. pui viii ilght
YOU 10 tn" death. He wrcstlrd with an imagi
nary snake, got 1t down on the platform.
stamped on il. followed i around With his boot
heel. aud lhen. jumping high. brought both feet
on II with a trrm"udntf thurp, stiyiug: " Now.
thank God, am an lrishman. can handle
spade AMI ! moan TO bury you," He dug u
FrhNc, Put the snake into il, and extending u
blessing to the audience. said: " Good aiter-
noon
The people had become excited. and. while n
-rent many, tired of standing. quit the hall. all
those WHO hui seats remained.
Now, whnrc are those certificates, ana that
blue ribbon' said Mr. Murphy
1t was several minutes before these could he
saying To- the audience Come here | want
you; come along" Il was thcn proposed that
out. and Mr.. Murphy. taking these in his hands
oi II. calling Come here. come forward"
There was 4, great rush from all parts
Of the ban. Men. women. and boys by tho
hundred pushed To the front to obtain
the pledges and ribbons. Eight or ten
men with pledges and pencils hanled nut
the cards and tied ribbons in hutOnh0lcs
Many seemed dc-irouS OF Obtaining plclgo
cards for friends. and several old men slowed
was great confusion. On the platform nearly
all the women stood on chairs To- get u view Of
the enc. During half an hour the taking Of
the pledges continued, and President Mundy
estimates that nearly Il thousand persons signed
IN" following:
Nuo>N cm.ii'N 1tNrtR,Ncs I>ioN.
Win mahc' ovhri noHc with ohariu ior all,
Portrait o NurnlN
the undersigned do pledge iuN word amt honor
niod N,iling mVl
20 abstain from nll miHN' 'cnung liquors as h,ycr..
age, und that w'il.lt al honorable means, cncour
81 fI 4 = t