The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26
JOHN b. COUGH.
What he Told an Audience About s'Cir-
eamstanees."
A &c nervous Abstract of His Grafton, with
several Apt and Humorous
Illustrations



and pears out eta bs, ksf," said John B
Cough to reporter last evening, in dress-
ing room at the Opera House. [ came int
town." said tee great orator laughing, ION
an express packet running FIVE miles an
hour. went down 10 Schenectady and rode
en- railroad twelve miles an hour and
thought it was terribly swift" Mr. Cough
is growing old, though despite his years he
has wonderful amount of vivacity left.
His hair and beard are as white as the snow,
but his step is firm ana quick. More people
probably know John B. Cough as a lecturer
than any other man who makes public speak
ing profession. de is kLo1n by every
body and admired by al Who know him.
AS 6 story teller he has few equals and all
his narratives have point and illustrate the
subject in hand. BE has a wonderful
amount of magnetism ard swsys an audi
ence at will. 1t is often said that Coughs
lectures are bundle Of stories, and yet no
one ever heard him, failed to be entertained.
John B. Cough is John B. Cough, and he
has no rival. Ths inclement weather pre-.
vented large audience from being present
last evening, but Considering the intense
cold, the aud ence was good. Mr.. t10ugn
was introduced by Chairman JJhn S. Cap.
ron. An abstract of M Coughs lecture on
Circumstances" Is given
Circumstances is term 50 common as to
be on most mems lips every day. Inc word
Is lever hermit. and is always dependent
on others. Ii Is always an adj 1nct. and
never principal. LIST Us zee what there is Of
interest and value in this well trodden path.
Sometimes uifng circumstance may give
Lew turn TO ones whole life. | well re-
member one night while in Glasgow, Scot
land, | was the guest OF one OF the merchant
princes of the city. spoke that evening to
, 500 people. lC was my last night but one
IN Scotland. When the lecture vas over my
fIiend babe me take my seat IN his Carriage,
while waiting for the ladies. Several men
and women gathered round TO shake my
hand. One OF the men who approached me
ives covered with rags and dirt. His face was
almost ghsstly. His white lips parted shows
the whittier toURge. Holding out his dirty
4 embling hand he asked me do you know
meP' placed my hand in his and looked
INTO that miserable face. I called him os
name. In 1912 he snd l worked together n
book bindery at Worcester. reme nberel
him well for Ne was better workman than
/. as sat there ia that gorgeous CARR ,g'
drawn by silver capsriEoned horses, sur
rounded by luxury on every hand, with tie
applause OF the people still ringing In nv
ears and my hand still warm with the grasp
of iIienCs l could but think Of our changed
condition, of the gulf that separated us.
nv mir went back sixteen years 10 single
c. c1mstaI &C that made the difference; it
Va tie dart Of pen on temper
a. &c pledge. Applause. That chang, d
Ny Cestinv fer time and etern-
ity. Circumstances change our relations 10
man once told me. Said be. Three years
81 o l subscribed s. 10 the church and every
booy took of their hats when they met me
aid called ne Bother Dixon The next
year | subscribed So, and they said how do
you 90 Dixon@ The next year l had sick
ness in the family and was unable to give
cent and when they came around l pat
Gown nothing. Now they say, there goes
old Niger Dixon. Laughter
Chcums ances often change quickly. 4
learned professor met a sailor On boat and
fell into conversation with him. Have you
studied philosophy" asked the professor.
mo" was the answer. Then You have lost
q quarter of your life" Have you ever
studied tie Natural Sciences?" No" re-
piled the sailor. "Then half your life is lost
IN few minutes the boat began TO sinK
and The ss'lor assed he professor, 'can you
swim ~ NO" said he Then all your
life will be lost" retoIted the sailor. Laugh
Ter
Fs cts can never be altered by circun-
tsnces. 1t is an advantage 10 be able to
make the best of circumstances. Sometimes
it is hard 70 do this. am reminded of the
old negro woman who was asked how she
could live IN such a smoke. She answered
that she was thankful to have something 10
make smoke with. Perhaps you have heard
of the young man who was TO be married By
the Episcopal service and learned the re-
sponses. Unluckily he Learned the responses
in the baptisnal service and when the par
son asked DO you take this woman TO De
your welded wife?p the 5ashf0l you b :
sponded. Il reBounce thsm all" You are
fool" interrupted the minister. ALI rhs
/ do believe vas the Young mans
response. Laughter thought
less word has often stained a rep1-
tation and parted friends. Faith has been
changed to doubt through word Of scandal
al the miserable mutterings of gossip. Tbs
nearest thing on earth is a scandal zing, gos
sIping man or woman. Applause Don't
touch pure reputation. Character can never
be touched. A man is what hs IS not what
men say ne is. Reputation is for time, bat
character is for eternity. Young men. it IS
important to keep clean record. IL you
have a spot on ii your enemies will % to il
aud magnify it am sixty seven years Of
age. l have lived sixty years. lost seven
years and more than wasted it in strong
drink. Ore can never wholly recover from
such thing. A stained reputation will
stai you in tie face when you don't want it
to. Often an unkiDd word has crushed am
bition and e generous word has made a man
successful In 1912, forty-two wears ago last
October on the morning after l bad signed
the pledge, began terrible struggle, but
conquered. Z. U. Bailey. city missionary
in London, was once prize fighter. MAJ
said kind werd 10 him when he signed Il Q
pledge and gave him lodging.
Change of circumstances sometimes oc-a
STOP, a change of conduct. IN a sleeping car
n, on nj oils ~
bac hslor and you know some old bachelors
are Cross and crusty and most of tfem hate
babies On the same csr was baby who
cried and yelled 10 the annoyance Of every
passenger. At length the old bachelor, I'M
sble TO star it longer, put his head out of
the curtains and said tnst he wished the
n other of that child would take care
IL - al -oarrALo rhann