The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-09
A Scotch Criticism OF Cough.
AND POWER OF THE GREAT TEN
pERANCE LECTURER.

PERANCE LECTURER.
From the North British Mail, DC ober l3th.
When John B. Cough stepped forward
last night to address the nearly 1000 persons
who were assembled to hear "the greatest
hlstrionic orator" of the day, to those who
had neither seen nor heard him before he
must have been, both in appearance and
stYle, little disappointing. No portly tlg.
ure, no specially prepossessing face, no me-
lodious voice, greeted them. In place OF
these we have a man who is slXty-one years
of aee-and who looks it-a somewhat
clumsy figure, with no pretenslon to
fashionable costume, face OF rather salioW
complexion, high cheek bones, small eyes
slightly sunken, broad nder-lip, with thick
flowing white hair and beard, the slightest
perceptible lisp, little tendency to bur-
rish dialect, voice trltle husky from
wear and tear-fayored with the New
EnglandeI's nasal twang. AS be comes
forward easily, with his hands imbedded
in his trousers pockets, you rather fancy
he is q bon vivant than temperance lee
turer-a thoroughly downright, plain
spoben, lonest-hearted fellow, who will
grasp your hand, slap you on the back, and
show you all the hospitality his house will
afford. There Is not bit OF the polished
orator about him. For some time your I'M
preston will be an anxiety for "the bless
edness Of those who expect nothing For
at least q quarter of an hour his style scarcely
seems to soar beyond that Of refined stump
oratory. He declaims yehemently, with an
gular gestures, shouts, and seems inclined
| to tear his passions to tatterS. This slight
defect really never thoroughly wears off.
and at the close OF his hour and half's ora
tion last evening one rose with the convic-
tion that his appeals, denun ciations, and ex-
hortations we're, thoug b the strongest as far
as lung and gestures were concerned, the
weakest portion of his oratory. Mr.. Cough
has been spoken OF as 81 born orator." With
out doubt he is q born actor. The instant his
descriptions begin you feel you are listening
to one who has ''smelt the footlights," but
you feel not the less the greatness OF the
speaker. Although his pronunciation is
faulty you do not miss syllable. His most
coloquial portions, though scarcely above 8
"parlor" tone, penetrated the furthest re.
cesses Of the stupendous hall. To an ex.
perienced eye the tricks OF the orators
trade are at times apparent. No one who
saw and heard last night bis apostrophe to
tumbler could mistake it for spontaneity
Not the least marvel connected with MIR
Cough is his energy. Efforts which have
caused seemingly much stronger man to
collapse in half the time had apparently
little or no effect upon him. From his
| whrlwiad Of passion be was in an instant
calm, quiet, conversational, humorous. Al
times, for several minutes, the zeal and fire
were almost painful, as we thought OF the
reelection on the morrow; yet we iad that in
this styIe he has lectured, at one period OF
his life, as many as 3S5 times in 365 days,
In conclusion, it may be affirmed that ol
all the orators ever heard none made the
time appear so short as Mr- Cough, so that
when, ut the expiration OF an hour and
half. he apologized for too long an address,
the audience, by unanimous, hearty, and
continued round of applause, showed how
much longer they could haTe listened.
We may sum up this power OF Mr.. Cough
in very few words. He is so great an
actor that we are in dcuist as TO which is
the greassst-his loss to the Stage 'ar his
gain to the platform.