The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-01-12
0oUoH AND TIE OXFORD BoYs,


John B. Cough, In the course Of his lcctur.
ing life. has found himself in some tight
places, but his wit never failed TO bring him
out safely.
An amusing story is told of him when he
went to Oxford, England, to address the stu
dents on temperance. The students sent
word to Mr.. Cough that they would not
have any temperance and advised him not
to persist in lecturing, but he went to the
hall. For twenty minutes he spoke in pauto-
mime, amid the deafenIng cat-calls of the
boys.
Finally he stepped forward, demanded
British fair play, and offered to whip every
one of the five hundred students singly. This
offer was loudly cheered and promptly accept
ed, and big six-foot athlete was sent upon
the stage Cough, who is little man. back
ed off as the big fellow approached, and ex4
planned: my friends, you evidently misun-
derstood me. This is to be an intellectual
contest not prize-fght''
The students cheered again at this evidence
of Mr.. Coughs shrewdness, and ordered the
debate to proceed. The college lad was
therefore, oblige to discuss with the temper
ance champion. He was at disadvantage
but he quoted Scripture, and reminded the
plucky lecturer that it was one of the Apos-
ties who wrote to Timothy--a young man,
too, like themselves-to take little wine for
his stomach's sake, and for his often infirmi-
ties. The lads shouted vociferously at this.
Cough slowly examined the six-footer from
bead to toe, and then said: my friends, look
at this athlete--this fellow with muscles like
steel, who can WELD the club of Hercules, who
can bend an English yoeman's bow, who can
knock down an OK with the blow of ham,
mer. He is the personiHcation of health and
strength, but thinks Ire needs little wine for
his stomaoh' sakef'
Coughs inimtabie manner of saying this
had tremendous effect. The students fairly
yelled with delight, and their defeated cham
pion retired.
Another was sent up. He was the intellec-
tual giant of his class, In contradstinction to
the six footer. He, with much selfconfi-
dence, made finished argument for liquor
drinking, based on Christ's changing the wa
ter into wine at the wedding feast. His COM
panions cheered him to the echo, and thought
his argument unanswerable, and Cough was
chaffed for his defeat.
"Young men, said he solemniy, 81 admit
that your champion has forestaled me. He
has said to me Just what came here to
charge you to do-Drink all the wine you car
find that Is made ,antigelx ont of water. .
THINK A MINUTE, FIRsT .-Apropos to tn,
sayings of the little ones, am reminded of al
incident which touched the very much at the
time, and may find responsive chord in the
hearts of some who are parents. Twas sitting
on my porch on pleasant summer morning
when up runs little Belle, intent on a visit to
little playmate across the way. "Papa,
she asks, "may go over and play with
Carrie awhileP' and then, as If she seemed
to discern dissent in my face, she put her
little rosebud lips close to mine and quickly
pleaded, "please don't say no think min
ute, first" Was there ever more charming
protest against hasty and inconsiderate an
swer? OF course, the little girl had her wish.
We are all perhaps too ready, thoughtlessly
to deny many of the little ones things that
seem trfing to us, but are everything to
them--and when their little appeals come,
before letting the " Nos " rise to our lips, let
us think minute.-Harper's Magazine.