Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-16
Went to Hear Talmage.

The Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage delivered
lecture in Little Rock several days ago,
to one of the largest audiences that ever as
sembled in the State. Old Tom Blahorn,
who lives over in the "cut-off district, and
who was in the city during the visit of John
L. Sullivan, entered the opera house, ex-
pecting to see ''some mighty fine knock
in'." Before the lecturer arose, old Tom
remarked to some gentleman who stood
near
'I'n be dinged if I'd like for him to hit
me.''
''There is no danger Of his striking you, 4"
replied the gentleman.
"NO, you are mighty confed thar amt.
A thousand dollars is heap o. money, an
I'd lik to take that amount home with me,
but fifteen hundred wouldn't persuade me
to stand up in front O. his mauls."
The Rev. Mr.. Kennedy arose and grace
fully introduced the lecturer. Old Tom, af-
ter listening a moment, shook his head,
and as Mr.. Talmage, with one of his char
| acteristic gestures, squared himself, twist
ed himself, threw back his head, shook
himself, squatted, stood on his tiptoes,
rockedS back on his heels, sawed the air,
and then, straight from the shoulder, struck
at the audience, old Tom "nudged' the
gentleman, and said
'tBy grip, that was thousand pounder."
sHush"
"Wall, it just was. A steer couldn't
stand up ergin such jolt"
"Hush, l tell you.'
eff you want to bet anything, put up"
The gentleman moved away and old
Tom, punching preacher who had come
too late to get seat, said
''Bet he could down Sullivan, don't
you?"
ri don't know" whispered the preach
er, who knew nothing of Sullivan.
cpd put up my little wad on him. He's
got the action, you see. Look ct that will
you? 1t was a regular jig"
"Hush," said the minister.
"Wall, it just was"
The preacher moved away, and old Tom,
after listening awhile, and laughing hearth
ly at Joke which Mr.. Talmage had clipped
from a newspaper, and run in without cred
it, turned to sedate-l looking man, and said:
"When's he going to take off his shirt
I want to see his muscle %
"Don't know"
''When does the knoclzin' begin?'
"When some Christian defender of de-
cency knocks you down; and if you don't
shut up, I'll be the one to do it. ="
''You belong to the combination, reck.
in. Wall, won't argy with you, but If
had you out whar / could slash aroun'
nachul, I'd make you take back them
words calclated to raise steam in the bllel
of any voter. Go on away; don't care. -
MY friend" said some one, who saw
that old Tom did not understand the situa-
ton; 'this is not prize fight. 1t is lee.
ture by Mr.. Talmage, the great preacher y
"Wall, pcdner, you must excuse me, full
I thought this was sort of prize fight.
amt got much education, but can git as
much fun Outen a sermon as the next
man."
He became an attentive listener. "Yes, .
said Mr.. Talmage, ''please deliver me from
the long-face Christian. | once knew an
old brother who had not laughed for ter
years. He approached me one day, and il
his impressively sorrowful manner, Dor
rowed twenty-five dollars, and he was Sc
sorrowful and delicate in manner, that ht
never spoke of the money"
Old Tom threw up his hat and ex
claimed
''Thar! If that don't drive the nail clar
up, Pm a sheep"
"Hush, or I'll put you out" said po-
liceman.
''No, you won't, for I'll go out. I've
got enough to last me till COIN gethern
time. Come on, and let's take drink"
The policeman looked slyly at the may
or, and seeing that the lecturer was hold
ing his attention, accompanied old Tom tx
neighboring saloon. Traveler