Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-25
SOME EARLY EXPERIENCES
OF the Great Lecturer John B. Cough
How He Earned SI.SO in SIX Nights.

OF the Great Lecturer John B. Cough
How He Earned SI.SO in six Nights.
In one ut the first towns in which
spoke outside Of Worcester. said John B.
Cough relating his early experiences once,
Il labOrrd for three evenings and was told
Oy the committee at the conclusion Of my
last address that they had no funds in the
treasury and did NOT like Ia take up a col
lection. but that if | would come again and
give three more lectures Iwould be- literally
paid | consented and shortly afterward
began my other course of three lectures.
At the termination of the second one a gen
tltman aruS, and said that a. Mr.. Cough
had not been paid on the occasion of his
previous visit to that town he suggested
that Il collection be- taken up for the pur-
pose OF remunrratiug him.
II object to collections said another
gentleman: but if We must have one let il
be tomorrow night. when we will all come
prepared.
The next evening was very rainy and a
collection amounting to Sl.SO was taken up.
\ gentleman near the table remarked when
the money was counted: The amount i
very small. do not mind making it up to
- out of my own packet for the laburer i
worthy of his hire and he very emphatic
ally laid down two silver dimes. | refused
tu take - for >iN days work, during which
my personal expenses had been -. and de-
parted. The next day | received from three
liquor sellers a - bill enclosed in letter,
in which they said that they thought had
worked hard enough to be- better paid"
''Omr Of the most terrible >crmt> | ever
Witnessed throughout my forty wears career
H. public speaker. said John B. Cough
once. ''and Yet one with 4 very ludirrOu>
side to il. occurred in DR.. Herron'S church.
the First PTr>bytcrian PittShurg. in lNjl.
| WAS speaking To- Il den~rl crow ded house.
when all of sudden there was 4 terrific
crash in the gallery. \ trightful panic ru-
sued. The people thought the gallery was
falling and made a stampede t" escape from
the building. Some threw themselves from
the gallery To- the floor below. Others
iump Il from the windows. In the midst uf
the confusion the stove was upset. For
tuuatrlv the firr in it was very low and II"
ruutiagrati"n followed. but the occurrence
trrrinrd the already frantic people. Above
the din could hear the >truturlan tones of
three, or four powerful men in the front of
the gallery. who seemed To- hetryiug to Qurll
the panic by shouting AT the top of their
voices. while they ge>ticulatrd wildly with
their hands and arms. The fiddle, it was
the fiddle the fiddle hut what on earth
fiddle could have To do with it was more than
| could make out At length some good broth
rr near the pulpit struck up From Green
lands lev Mountains. Others Joined in the
familiar hymn and order and quiet We're al
length restored The meeting did not last
long. though. after that. When the audi
rnre had dispersed the floor was Strewn
with false hair. hair-pinN, hats. bomets.
ovrr>hueS. gloves. skirts. canes. capeS and
wraps of all kinds. oyrrcoat> and every CON
crivahlr article of wearing apparel \
large ear load uf these things was taken to
the mayors office the next morning to await
the claims of their owners. After the /
trouble was all over learned that the crash /
which created the panic was caused by some .
mems stepping upon the biz bass fiddle. /.
which WAS at that time used in the choir and .
which. when not in rrquiSitUm. was al /
lowed to rrpO>e on the floor. This was
what the men in the gallery whom heard
shouting about the fiddle were trying To eN- .
plain Ia the fright-Crazed people below"
Sunlight has been put TO odd use at BruS-
sells Falling Oh a small shaft the rays
.ause an upward draught of air which sets
fan in motion. and that in turn starts ma