The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-07-15
PLATFORM ECHOES.

This new and splendidly illustrated
volume is the last book written by the
world famous John B. Cough, and was
completed by him just previous to his
death. Everyone is familiar with the
story of his early life, and of his rescue
from drunkard's grave, and how this
once wretched and despised sot became
one of the most famous men of our time
Fer seven years he stood amid the hor
rors of dehrium tremens, an abject
slave to the bottle; and his condition
and wretched appearance were such
as to cause people TO exclaim, "There
is the man who has been in he'll. !"
The rich and poor, the high and low,
the learned and unlearned, have been
alike thrilled and moved by his burn
ing words. He swayed brilliant audi.
ences of royalty and fashion spoke in
state prisons, jails, poor houses, peni.
tentiaries, reform schools, and houses
of correction /; to the deaf, and dumb.
and blind; to audiences composed
wholly of outcasts and to audiences
numbering thousands of children. At
his feet more than ten million people
sat and listened in admiration and
wonder. In his library may be seen
a set of large volumes-a far better
memorial of his life and labors than
any monument of marble or bronze
containing the signatures of one hum
dred and fifty thousand men and wo-
men who were induced to sign the
pledge through his personal efforts.
These names-many of them tear be
dewed and written with trembling
hand-represent stories of happiness
and woe, of blighted hopes and wasted
lives, of battles fought and victory
won. To give some of these thrilling
life histories to depict scenes of joy
and sadness to lift the curtain on life's
stage and show its tragedy and come
dy and to draw L" living truths" from
the lessons thus taught. and bring
them home to every heart, is the prime
object of this volume. 1t also contains
the history of Mr.. Coughs life and
career with the story of his death, by
Rev. DIR. Lyman Abbott, the eminent
editor and divine.
Platform echoes" is John B Cough
in print. In it he has given to the
world in permanent form his best
thoughts, his most touching tales, his
most thrilling anecdotes and incidents
his most telling stories. AS a story
teller he has never been equalled. But
whether he narrates a story of mirth
or sorrow, it is always 10 illustrate
great aud living truths. Stranger stO
Iies are here told than romance ever
dreamed Of, every one of them drawn
from real life by a master hand. In
every chapter he weaVes in anecdOte
after anecdote, incident after incident,
story after story ,and underneath them
all lie Living Truths" that stand
out as beacon lights. He plays upon
the readers feelings as with an en-
chanter's wand, at one time filling his
heart with gladness, at another blind
ing his eyes with tears. At his bid
ding hearts are melted, and stern,
strong men as W ell as sensitive women
weep tears of compassion, are aroused
to indignation, or moved to uncon-
trollable laughter. in spite of every
effort to control their feelings.
Now that the silver tongue is silent,
" Platform Echoes" is the richest lit
erary legacy of John B. Cough. The
aroma of his inimitable humor, the
felicity of his descriptions, the adroit-
ness and skill which enabled him to
captivate and then capture hearts on
both sides of the sea are reproduced
upon these pages. The orator and
dramatist, the philanthropist and re-
former, for he was all these, are pOr
trayed here in the freedom and spon-
taniety of autobiography. The book
is what its name indicates-real
"echoes" " of the man whose death hu-
manity mOurns.
It's illustrations are the best we have
ever seen. 1t contains two hundred
and twenty-seven fine engravings by
all the best artists and engravers in
the world. Many of these illustrations
are too funny for anything" while
others depict wretchedness and woe.
Sixteen of these engravings are full
page ones, and are magnificent speci-
mems of art. Two hundred and nine
are text illustrations. There are two
fine steel plate portraits One is from
a life size full length painting, show
ing Mr., Cough as he appeared short.
ly after his rescue. The other is from
a photograph taken just before his
death. All in all, it is one of the fin
est ever produced by the American
press.
We advise our readers to buy Plat
form Echoes at the first opportunity.
They can, in our opinion, much better
afford to dispense with dozen other
books than not to possess this. Once
begun it will not willingly be laid
aside till the last page is finished.