Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-07-05
THE LECTURE.

THE LECTURE.
"a lecture, eh7" said Deacon Hob
son. as he stood entranoed before the
bulletin board Of the Stub Mountain Ly.
ceum. "And upon the Rights Of Wom-
an?' Well, I swan Mrs. Hobson,
she'll be a-wantin' to hear it, an I
shouldn't wonder, il Jemimy Ann set
up her dsnder. she'd go into the bar
gain. Gals is always racin' after every
new idcc. And p'raps it's good thing
to stir US country folks up-a rousin'
good lecture once in a while. Tickets
25 cents. Wal, I'll think about It.
"a lecture? said DR.. Briggs. tho
newly Aedged NJ. D., who had just hung
out his glitter,ng blue-and-gold sign /;
"and respecting woman's rights? I can
not say that approve Of the subject !:
but newcomer like myself must show
himself in public, and there are SO few
opportunities in Stub Mountain. Upon
the whole, think that l will take .
ticket"
"Woman's rights?" said old Mrs.
Mix, who was always tormerting the
selectmen for the privilege of franchise
ON election day, and who went out to
gather her own hay, in harvest time,
with o mans boots and rather more than
mans strength. "Tm powerful glad
on'tl The subject needs agitation in a
place like this, where there's wus than
Egyptian darkness. I'll go il it costs
me whole weeks butter money /"
Aud thus, in various styles from vari-
GUS motives, the Stub Mountaineers
commented on and approved Of the lect-
ure which was to be delivered at the
lyceum on that Wednesday evening.
Squire Dooley stroked his long beard
as he checked his gray pony before the
village store.
81 suppose my girls will insist on
going" said he; "but there are 80 few
things going on at Stub Mountain that
it seems . pity 10 deny them little rec
reation."
And the landlord Of the Stub Mountain
hotel chuckled.
"It was an i'll wind that blew good to
nobody" he said, "and any popular SEN
saeon was good for business"
This was on Tuesday. Upon the
Wednesday morning stout gentleman
in q chaise drew up to the hotel and
strutted up to the bar, with . very rubi
cund face and little. fiery eyes.
"Mary Smith lectures here to-nightr'
said he.
II guess you're about right there,
Squire, " said the landlord, feeling in his
pocket for the bundle Of tickets which,
the lyceum proprietor had authorized
him to sell. "A poplar subject, too.
You can read ali about it on the bulletin
board ont there, and"
~ forbid i'll" said tho stout gentle
man, growing redder and more apopleo.
tic with every moment.
LAND o Gosheni" sjaculated the
landlord
"She Il my wife," said the stranger.
= Ny name is Smith -Zerubbabel Smith
and won't be disgraced by any Of
this public lecturing nonsense"
"Yes, know" said the landlord ;
"but I don't b'lieve the Law will uphold
ye in it, Squire. arter tho tickets are
sold and"
"Hang the Law /" shouted Mf. Zerub-
babel smith, bringing his gloved fist
! down omong the glasses with bang.
"I don't care two straws for the law
| NY wife is my wife, and won't have her
making Merry Andrew Of herself hrre
on anywhere alsei When do oyoa expect
herr"
"The room was engaged from II
o'clock, falter d the landlord; " but
Every well,' roared the redfaced
man, /" TIL Just go and stroll around the
village. and You let me know when shs
arrivas-d'ye hear
Mr.. ZerubbAbel Smith had hardly
| betaken himself 70 the shadow OF ths
old elms on The village green, when 81
J elderly woman oi starched appear
I ance canss n, Win : striped carpet-bal
on one arm, and carrying ginghau
umbrella N the other hand.
/ .s'Is this tho Stub Mountain Lyoenm7'
said she, primly.
"No, marm!s said the landlord
"This ores the tsvAfu. The lyctun
l amt open till 8o'clock. Want to bu,
Tickets for the lecture "
.CertaiAi- not u said the eldsl,
! 1ennale. IA ss n h b
P'raps yousa like q engage arodns'
/ ssid dc landlord. Win sisuce - -
1 earpet-bag.
Y Nothing III ths sost! r sid III lady
I The lont * ths lasdIoeds insainasio'