Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-01-10
Dan REoE,s FIRST.
4 Temperance Aecfmre Delivered
with Earneskmess and
spirit.

with EaxnesfMeMs nmfi
spirit.
St. Louis RepuDlican.
Dan Rice. the veteran circus man,
made his initial appearance yester-
day in the role of a temperance adj
voeiate. TheSt. Louis Sanitariuan
was the scene of his work. Three
O'Clock in the afternoon was the
time set for the opening of the meet
ing. Dan had arrived long before
the hour and had taken position
among the Sunday school children.
When the regular meeting was
called the folding doors were thrown
open and those who came to attend
II saw Dan surrounded by little
children. After singing and q few
words from DIR. Boyd, of Indianap-
oils, and prayer by Mrs. Cox, Mr..
COrdell arose and introduced a man
whom he said was known in every
! city and village in the United States
Dan Rice. The old Snowman
lstepped forward. He was dressed
in d dark suit of clothing that look
ed just little the worse for wear,
and an Overcoat which matched the
c0ll CAuCliVe Ills 11lC was SOl1lc
shades paler than usual, and the ro-
l,sy tint which has hovered around
the tip OF his nose had almost faded
away. The large sunken eyes looked
a shade brighter than usual. Their
owner, however, showed no other
signs of nervousness, but deported
himself In as cool and collected a
way as could John B. Cough or any
other veteran temperance lecturer.
Dan is good actor, and if he really
adopts the profession of an evangel-
ist will make a success of it. AS he
spoke yesterday he illustrated his
words, making gesticulatiOns with
his hands, twisting his face out of
shape, and Initiating the style and
speech of one in drunken condi-
tion- When he said ssThen grew
cunning" he put on a cunning
look. When he said ST felt very
sick, / needed some stomach bit
ters,'' he initiated the manner of a
man just in that condition. When
he spoke of his mother his, voice
faltered. When he said "Fr0m
this time on Temperance will never
have stronger advocate than Dan
Rice, he spoke like man who is
in earnest and who intended keep
ing the promise.
1t is rather an awkward position
| this to be in,u said Dan. RtIdidn't
expect to come here. The other
day l received a letter from Mr..
Cordell, asking me to attend this
meeting. ] told him I couldn't do
1t. Mr.. Cordell called upon me yes
terday and induced me to come.
My mind has been undergoing re-
markable, change recently. / have
not set down yet any direct or posi-
tive course for the future. have
been so mixed up with nay profess
sion during the past few years, that
in adopting this new course / am
moved by Impulse. / do not even
know what / am going to say now,
but / feel better than I have for
years. j am glad to- be here this
afternoon. 1T did nae good to be
with the little children before the
meeting. j felt honored at being
among them. have moral cour-
age and am not ashamed to face
any of you as some men would be.
Some would have too much dignity
to stand up here. Too much digni-
ty is not democratic. Laughter.
Solomon says that it is a. wise man
who conforms to the exigencieS of |
the hour. and as / nave always been
considered a clown, a zany and a
fool, I think it about time Il con-
formed to the exigencies OF sOme-
thing else. Laughter / have
been a minister, but not of the gos-
Hn n ftyffa IF fo4r4
My mothers family were all Meth |
odists, and my mother used to
prophesy that one day would be
minister, and she often prayed |
that / would become one. 7 heard
Moody the other night; the prayers
and songs made me weep like
child. Here Dams voice faltered.
When / heard that old song my
mother used to sing, / wept ike a
child. came away and resolved |
to lead anew life. The night be- |
fore Zach. Chandler's death in Chi
cagO we were standing hit bar to- |
gether drinking. He said This is
my last drink, Dan. / have full
filled my missi0n.i That was his |
last drink, for he died that night. |
/ have had my last drink, and /
trust to God that / taken ii in /
time. This is glorious work, and /
it is glorious to be in it. People |
may sneer at me if they like, but /
can bear the brunt of their scorn. If /
/ return to my profession -and / /
have not made up nay mind as to /
whether L will or Eot-I want to I
meet that heterogeneous mass with |
whom / have been accustomed to |
associate, and destroy that curse |
that ruins and sends so many of
them to early graves. Let them
sneer at me when get my harness |
on, Even in the arena and in my |
professional attire / will strive to /
reach these masses. / came unpfe- /
pared to speak here, but now feel |
inspired--morally great. I believe !
there is more manhood about me |
to-day than there has been at any i
time during the past forty years. /
Let people say what they will of I
me. / will go on. Let the press
say what it will. The press has had |
a good deal to say about me. 1T has
said some pretty hard things.
laughter When / was young / I
used to get mad at what they said.
/ rec0llect once an abusive article I
that was written against me and |
Barnum.-@ wanted to take it up,
and / wrote to Barnum about it.
He replied, My dear Dan, let 'em |,
say what they please. It's only an
advertisement. daughter. Bar
NUNS skin was thicker than mine, |
They abused me, but until of late /
they have had no cause. My CHAR I
acter has been good until the last
FIVE years. Since then every one in
st. Louis knows my feelings.
Trouble caused me to drink, and i
have been drunk five years all
those five years / have got drunk
to drown sorrow, 8.He
III used to go staggering along the
streets like this here Dan initiated
a drunken man. When / think of
it it makes me ashamed of myself.
Then thoughtit funny, very fun
NY. [Laughter.J / thought / was
a great man. 1 used to say to my
self:
"sGen. Grants a great man. Gen.
Grant gets drunk; j and Gen.
Grant have been drunk together,
Pm a great man, too. He's a great
man, som /, hie.i Laughter.
''Grant's great General in his
line. and Pm a great General i'm X