The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-24
John b. Cough.

John b. Cough.
The death of the famous temper
ance orator, John B. Cough, which oc-
Cured, from apoplexy, in Philadelphia
on Thursday last, has caused much
sorrow among the friends of the tenn
perance cause everywhere. The cir
cumstances of his fatal attack were very
dramatic. On Monday evening he was
lecturing to a large audience in the
First Presbyterian church. "Peculiar
People" was his subject, and he had
spoken for about twenty minutes, when
it was noticed that his flow of words
was hindered and he seemed to have
lost command of himself to a certain
degree. Still he proceeded, and re-
lated an anecdote about two authors he
had known, supplementing it by say
ing that every man was an author and
made daily written record upon the
page of life that time, and perhaps
eternity, could not efface. "I," said
Mr. Cough, "have seven years in the
record of my own life when 1 was held
in the iron grasp of intemperance. l
would give the world to blot it out; but
alas 1 cannot" Stepping forward
with impressive gesture the lecturer
said; Therefore, young men, make
your record" He failed to finish the
sentence and staggered, as if about to
fall, when he was caught by friend
and supported to sofa. He remained
in an unconscious condition, wavering
between life and death to the end.
Mr.. Cough was born in Sandgate,
England, in 1917. His father was a
soldier in the British service, and his
mother school.teacher. They were
poor, but the boy obtained some educa-
tional advantages. When twelve years
old his father sent him to America with
a family of emigrants, that in this coun-
try he might learn trade. Suisse
quently he learned the book-binder's
trade at the Methodist Book Concern
in New York, and sent for his parents
and sister to join him. In 1884 his
mother died, and soon after young
Cough commenced the career of dissi-
patton which came so near wrecking
him wholly, and which, in his lectures
on temperance, he has so wildly de-
scribed. During the next eight years
he went from place to place, sometimes
appearing on the stage as singer OF
comedian, his powers of mimicry and
acting making him favorite, and some
times working at his trade, but sinking
lower in intemperance. AT Worcester
in 1912, he was induced to sign the
total abstinence pledge. He had two
relapses, but finally became a thorough
temperance man, and took the platform
as a temperance speaker. Since tha
time he had been in demand constantly
for temperance work in this country
and England; and no man ever rem
dered more effective service than he il
that cause, or addressed more people il
its behalf. His lectures on literary anC
other subjects have also been many
During his forty years as platform
speaker he had travelled more than {
million of miles and delivered over eigh
thousand lectures. His income from
his lectures has been large, and he wa
generous in his benefactions. He pub
lished his autobiography in 1916. and
volume of addresses in 1854. OF lat
years he had been a member of tn
Congregational church.
AT the time Mr.. Cough began hi
great work the cause of Temperance
was not honored as now. Its advo
Gates were generally regarded as fanat
les, and were subjected to much abus
and ridicule. He lived long enough t.
see radical change in public opinion
on this subject, in England as well a
in America. The reality and serious
acknowledged, and society does not tol
crate as formerly the open manifesta
tons of inebriety. Mr.. Coughs ora
tory was natural, and there were fey
indeed who could listen untouched t
the appeals which he made in behalf c
noble cause with such power, pei
sistence and eloquence. He leaves bt
hind him noble record-of high aim
worthily upheld, of thousands of HI
fellow-men saved from the blightin
effects of intemperance through h
efforts, of practical aid given to the sic
and suffering, of support furnished tn
weak and hesitating, and of unremittin
devotion to cause second to none i
Importance.
The Eight-HOur Movement.
1t is stated in Washington that