St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-10-29
w. III. III. MURRAY.

The town hall was fairly filled Mon
day evening when Mr.. w. III. II. Muir
ray entered and, unannounced, began
his reading of the story Chow John
Norton kept his Christmas" Mr.. Muir
ray has grown gray since he was here
some years ago. 1t was not easy to
imagine that the somewhat pOrtly,
business-like man was once the Muir
ray of Park street church. The story
which he read has intrinsic merit. No
effort at rhetorical effect was made and
the attention of the audience was held
to the close.
After the reading Mr.. Murray, III
answer to a local newspaper article
which characterized his as ''wasted
life," made a statement putting his
foot on what he called "a few scraps OF
pious slang and hypOcritical character
stabbing." He first gave bit of auto
biography, recOunting his early strug-
giles for livelihood and for an educa-
ton. Then came the story of his ser
vice in the ministry ; one year at
Washington, two at Greenwich, Conn.
two at Meriden, seven at Park street
and three in Music hall, Boston. "At
this point of my life l stopped" he
said, ''for reasons that seemed good
and sufficient to myself and which the
public have no right to ask and no
right to know. | retired from the cler-
ical profession and from public life
Thus far my mind had devoted itself to
the study of religious subjects. Hence
forth ! decided to address myself to
the study of secular and literary sub
jects. AS | had given seven years tC
be graduated from the ministry of let
tiers, decided to give the same num-
Der of years to study in the great uni
versity of public affairs. This is what
fools wonder at. This the great 'mys-
terry of my life.n Then he recOunteG
his travels since he left the ministry
Following with-"But it is charged
| dressed in green velveteen jacket il
Boston It's lie. | dress like a gen
tleman and act like one. | have beer
interested in buck board wagons. Ger
tainly. | am to-day. What of it
Show your hands, gentlemen, but wasl
them first, please. ran sawmill il
Texas that's true. My father ran /
sawmill before me and | learned to dc
it under him. Are You VermOnters
ashamed of running sawmill But
kept cafe or restaurant in Montreal.
Most assuredly and good one, where
the stranger found clean table anC
good food, and hOme-like quietnes:
when he came there and where not ;
drop of liquor was to be had for love OIL
money, thank God. But not to me be
longs the credit due the management
of the place. My sister, God bless her
and two other noble girls, pure us she
deserves the praise and if any one o
all the swarm of sneaks who have
bruited this item cOarsely around tn,
country, as if it were dishOnOrable fO
men and women in the pinch of forum,
to earn their bread by honest, hOmely
toll if one of these scOundrels, | say
should ever dare couple the name o
these women with disgrace, in my
presence, | would kill him on tn,
spot" "FOr six years." he con
cluded, 81 have studied to fit mysel
for other kind of work, than | once die
among you. | am now gradual
ing the second time. Some say hav,
dropped down and ont from among
forceful men and powers. Perhaps
they will live to hear me drop mp an'
in among them before | die"