Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-01
HECTOR'S LECTURE]
a UoLoRED SOLDIER AND rnEAos,
Ito Tolls tne Oomicai story OF ITS Owr
Lite TO tho satisfaction OF q Ian.
caster Audience

aHe 70 tno Snustac1on OF n Ian
caster Audience.
Thoro was good sized audience in tho
court house to hear tho lecture last oven
ing OF Rev. John Hector, on ellis Own
Lifc.' The lecturer Is n colored preacherS
from York, and tho lecture was for the |
benefit Of posts "a and 405 q. A. II. Rev
Hector's lecture was ono most worthy TO
be heard, when the full force and excel
lence Of its humor aud pathos can only bo
appreciated. IL is largely composed of
anecdotes and blight sayings that defy
satisfactory reproduction on paper, ns they
must bavo tho inimtable quaintness and
expression Of the speaker himself to dem.
onstrate their raro Mit-aQd originalityu
Mr.. Hector's parents were slaves, 10 t
lived with their master near Harper'sa
Ferry, until q favorable moment came
when thoy escaped into Canada, aud after
much tmo and tribulations he, then boy
was received into kind home in Illinois
The various incidents With which then
recital of these journeys were enriched,
evoked shouts Of laughter. 1t is impossi
bio to do any justice to them by report,
but n few of his witty and original OK
pressions may DO given. Speaking Of his
hair being cut once when II was in most
deplorable state, he remarked incidental.
ly I: My hair is like some Christians,
whom 1t is cut 1t promises to come ont
straight bat soon that promise ends, for
the hair turns and curls and kinks about
and soon backslides amongst all tho rest"
Tho American ladies want their hair to
kink and curl like mine, so / need
not caro- about my hair--l am
the style :" HIS description Of hist
fear and wonder at his first sight of nj
railway engine was most ludicrOus and
enjoyable. He asked what the name of :
certain engine was. Great Eagle" fN|
was told. He asked, why that name? "Be.
cause, after she gets started she leaves tho
track and ties," he was answered and he
believed IL. An usher brought him n
glass Of water while speaking. As to(
picked 1t up he remarked : "You hardly
ever see windmill run by water
No part of the lecture was moro pleasing
and humorous than tho recital of hisI
experience and impressions in tho army.I
| In describing the first battle he saw I'D
| became very impressive and graphic, an
the audience listened in the utmost silenc
as he began There came up deep, dar
desire that welled from the depths of m
heart, that could not control-I wanto
20 90 home !" OF bis courage he said
l can say this FOR my own bravery
| never left a lone tree aloue--1 alwaJ
| got behind it," Another "My cOmfada
tried hard to win that battle. was on
of those who tried-l tried to got away
| The colonel made n speech once to u
soldiers, and his comrades took OIL the
hats and yelled "Wo will stick to yo
colonel-we'll stick = For himself
answered by addressing a big sycamo!
treo Yes I'll stick to you-I
| stick ~
All through his lecture such humorousl
expressions were made and thoir value am
effectiveness wa3 augmented by the ma
| ner of tho speaker. Mr.. Hector is
!, pleasant, genial looking man, and MAD
I himself a favorite with the audience
| once.