St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-03-27
Rev. Joseph Cook on the Ram
page.
Is HE CRAZY, OR WHAT IS TT

| to the lecture. Mr.. Cook was met at
the depot by Mr.. Price, and the two
walked arm in arm to the hotel, where
it was agreed that Mr.. Price should call
for Mr.. Cook ut 7.I5, so as to reach the
prayer meeting at 7.30. Mr.. Cook in Il
published letter tells what happened
| next:
~ hurried through supper and my
toilet and lay down with but fifteen
minutes left in which to rest. Before
that time was half over Mr.. Price
knocked at my door. The time was
seven minutes before that agreed upon.
and 1 was wholly broken of the rest
absolutely necessary to me before the
lecture. My duty required me to pro-
tect my opportunity to meet my ap-
pointment with the lecture committee.
| opened the door and said MIR. Price,
| cannot see YOU until rs and then
shut the door ald bolted it, and again
tried to rest. He pounded on the door
loudly. He continued to pound.
made no response. He knew the case,
but continued to pound on the door so
loudly, and long, and violently, that
feared he would break the lock. All
this was an outrage on my rights in
my room, as it would have been in my
private house. After waiting n con
siderable time for him to come to his
| proper sense of what decency required
and fearing that he would burst open
the door, opened it and said mir.
Price, you must cease trying to force
open this door, or | shall report yOu to
the keeper of the hotel He did not
desist, and so | took him by the collar
and pushed him away, saying: '1ou
are the rudest man have seen in six
months. | am il good -natured man,
but know when | am abused This
is the strongest language ! used. 1t is
utterly false that ! ordered him out of
the hall. No thought of so doing crossed
my mind. | did order him to cease
pounding on my private door, and To
report him to the keeper of the hotel
this is all. went alone at the hour
agreed upon to Mr.. Prices meeting.
At his request took a brief part in
the devotional exercises. To my great
surprise he said to the assembly that
he hoped Mr.. Cook would speak if the
spirit moved him. To save the meet
ing from any awkward waiting, as
resolved not to be forced to speak,
rose and quietly left the room. | am
now informed that Mr.. Price imme-
diately gave the meeting Il full ac-
count of what occurred at the hotel.
He made Il public attack on me. |
regard this as ineXcusable."
Mr.. Price has also made Il statement
of this matter, being forced to do so
| by the publication of Mr.. Cooks letter.
He says:
Il went with him to his room and he
requested me to call for him i'll time to
reach the church 10y 7.l5. About the
time agreed upon--l cannot say the
exact minute, Mr.. Cook says exactly
7.0S-I called at his room and raped
upon the door, as | would at any pri-
vate door. | did not pound the door
| Mr.. Cook opened the door in Il terrible
rage and sprang upon me, and would
have precipitated me down the stairs
had | not been his superior in physical
strength and resisted him. In a burst
of eloquent passion, as he was trying
to push me down stairs, he used such
| language as 'YOu have spoiled my lee
ture You are a nuisance y What are
you here for 2 What are you doing
here 2 You are the rudest man | ever
saw = Il will report you to this hotel,
you barbarianf
Gas soon as got hold of Mr.. Cooks
hands and brought him to a standstill,
| said quietly:
"'Why, Mr.. Cook, what's the mat
ter? Don't you remember you told
me to call for you in time to get to the
prayer meeting by 7.l5F
'Is it 7.15q' said he.
/ L, .
| Just 7.I4. Mr.. Cook rushed back into
his room and said Il will be there in
| ten minutes
"'Mr. Cook said |, If you feel too
tired to go to the prayer meeting and
wish the time to rest before your lee
ture, will excuse you to the people
and it will he all right
Ono said he, | must go to that
prayer meeting, and ! will go. will
be there in ten minutes
II walked rapidly to the church, and
in less than three minutes Mr.. Cook
came in. How he found the way | dc
not know. ! called upon him to lead
in prayer, as we had agreed, and ht
arose and prayed. After singing 8
hymn, | called upon him in a cOurte-
Gus and complimentary manner tC
make a few remarks. What was my
: surprise, he took his hat and walked
out, making a vast deal more noise anC
distuI bance at my church door than
had made at his private door,
"Mr. Cook says "My duty required
me to protect my opportunity to meet
my appointment with the lecture com
mttee.'
~ and another gentleman were th'
lecture committee. Whatever duty Mr.
Cook owed to his lecture committee he
owed to me as one of that committee
He would make it appear that was
third party coming in intrusively t.
interfere with his engagement will
others, which is not the case. Mr.
Cook, in an imperious tone, ordered
me from the hotel. Leave this hote
, at once were his words"
3 Mr.. Sherman, proprietor of the Ches
t hire House fully substantiates the ac
E is concerned, as does DIR. OlcOtt, VIII
2 occupied the next room. ...... -.-
q The editor of the Student at the con
: cIusion of Mr.. Cooks letter, which
Z published, states that portion wa
] omitted, owing to its scurrilous char
4 acter 1t is the opinion of people i
i Keene, says reporter, that Mr.. Cook
0 behavior was that of spoiled, con
D ceited, ill-tempered child. How muc
T may be excused for his fatigue an
+ feebleness the charitable may decide
J.. Mr.. Sherman says that he looked an
= acted Ike crazy man.