San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-01-26

won't YOU give us speechp Something
about Shakespeare, you know-hes the
fellow ~
aNobody, OF course, imagined that
the old man would have the nerve to
get up and say anything, but he did.
Well. sir, in the course OF my expert
ence / have heard q great many clever
people talk about the immortal bard
but on this occasion heard In htteen
minutes the most intelligent exposition
of Shakspeare's genius that it has ever
been my fortune to listen to. And the
whole thing was done so easily, and
with such an entire absence OF effort,
that IL was not until he had finished
that we all began to realize that we
had been under the spell OF q profound
critic and m accomplished orator. And
those who came to scott remained to
pray. John Mccullough rushed over
and erasped his hand enthusiastically,
and thanked him for the honor Oh ms
presence, and begged his name that the
company might know to whom they
we're indebted. For the first time the
old man seemed to lose his self-posses,
sion. He artitulated a few words, but
IL was plain that his emotions we're get
ting the better Of him. Crane filled
him up glass of wine, and the old
man : drank it, and after a little
pause, rose slowly and with difficulty.
His manner has been changed. de no
longer looked the keen critic and fluent
orator. but weak, infrm old man, who
in spite of every disadvantage OF APP
pearance. still retained a certain dlgnl-
nv an elusive but unmisSakable some
thing that pronounced hiQN to be gen.
tleman. y! s., a
said friend to me asthe old mangot
upon his feet, Bob, this don't look Ike
art, this is nature Gentlemen sald
the unknown, in voice tremulous and
full of pathos, 81 owe an apology 10
YOU all. 1 have no excuse to ofier 1or
having intruded upon your festiVlty,
but I can at least make the amend OF
confessing that 1 am no Intruder. L
came TO this house this evening on the
invitation of man l once knew ana
I stumbled by accident into your pan,
ouet. I came here hungry and cold
(and thought I could here the wind
whistling outside as he intoned rather
than pronounced the words hungry,
and coldO and I could not resist the
temptation. WANTED to eat and drink
and get warm
sand the old mans eyes dropped on
the table, as if overpowered with
sense of his degradation.
81 know this is shameful he con-
tined, but physical weakness sometimes
begets mantal weakness, and nave
eaten nothing for three days. For
three weeks past I have not slept Ill a
he'd. but stole q rest in door-ways OF IN
chair in the Office of some hotel.
Sometime have walked the streets tn
daylight. Such things, gentlemen, tell
heavily upon man OF my age. ,othef-
wise no man with remnant OF PRIDE
lift could have acted as [ have done to-
NIGHT But I thank God have at least
retained courage enough to tell the
truth. And now, gentlemen, SAID Inc
brave old man, Strengthening up with
wonderful dignity OF manner, accept
my gratitude for what l have received;
have eaten and drank with you, and
am refreshed and grateful. l trust you
will pardon my infringement OF hospii,-
tality and common honesty and permit
me to depart
The dinner party Immediately raised
purse Of $6S for their needy friend.
Robson will not tell his name, but says
that twenty-five years ago he was
Congressman from Ohio, and ne was
once a candidate for the Vlce-Presl-
dency of the United S's'es.