The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-04-29
Bob I~ngersOIl.

Up to 1876 lngersoH had been simply
reasonably successful lawyer of Peoria
Ill. He was one of the republican del
egates to the Cincinnati convention OF
1876. and a strong Blaine a He ar
rived in Cincinnati with several other
Illinois delegates several days before
the convention assembled. The city
was full of people, and they were hav-
ing a high old time. The Blaine mer
had meetings every day, and did every
thing in their power to 'boom" their
candidate. 1t was finally decided tc
have the nominating speech made by
some Illinois man, and the Illinois dele
CATION settled upon Ingersoll.
There was present in the city Bob's
favorite brother, who died q few years
later, and at whose grave the great
atheist delivered his world renowned
grafton. He Immediately told his
brother of his selection, and that he
had promised to deliver the speech.
The brother, who was somewhat ner-
vous, tried to persuade him not to try
it.
"You are not famous enough" he
persuaded. ''You are getting along and
making a reputation, but this is too big
a thing for you. fear you will make
a dead failure of it."
But Bob had promised and would not
back out.
"Well, if you are determined to do
this, YOU must do yOur best. You must
make a success. To do this you must
get at it Immediately. Don't wait a
minute. Go into that room and lock
the door, and begin the speech"
'Oh, tomorrow will do" urged Bob,
"and besides, L have promised to go
with the boys tonight"
Aud away he went. The next day
passed, and although his brother spoke
about the speech several times. Robert
did not touch it. And so the time
passed till the night before the conven-
ton. The brother, meanwhile, had got
nearly frantic, Robert came in late
that night, and, in answer, to his BROTH
er's solicitation, said:
"Oh, bother; let's get a good nights
sleep"
And so they retired. Ingersoll says
he never slept SO soundly in his life as
he did that night. Finally he woke up
suddenly, and felt perfectly refreshed.
He got up hastily and looked at his
watch. It was three o'clock a. m. He
went to the adjoining room very quietly
and closed the door, so as not to disturb
his brother. He turned the light down,
and, closing his eyes, imagined the con-
vention hall, and his All Hence before
him. Then he began to think of Blaine.
Finally he began to say his speech over
to himself. When he had finished he
took pen and paper and wrote it out
carefully as he had said it. He laid it
away in the drawer to the bureau, and
went back quietly to bed. He very
soon was fast asleep again, and did not
wake up till past eight, when his brother
was standing oyer him, vigorously
shaking him.
Rob, get up, get up! It's $50, and
the convention assemblies at 1880, l
thought you were going to get up early
and get your speech ready. 1t will be
a dead failure, and we shall be disgrace
ed. Blaine will not be nominated. 1t
is too bad, too bad.".
Bob slowly walked up, and rubbing
his eyes, urged that it would be best
first to get their breakfast. But the
brother insisted that he should not
leave his room until he got down to
business on the speech. By this time
Bob had donned his pantaloons, and re-
marked:
..WeIl you be the audience and sit
over there, and / will see what | can
do"
1t is, perhaps, needless to say that the
brother was completely captured.
When Bob had finished he rushed to
him, and putting both arms around
him, embraced him in the most en-
thusiastic way.
'It is simply sublime" he cried,
s'but when did you prepare itg"
"Oh, 1 scratched it off last night
when you were asleep Go to the
drawer there and you will find the
manuscript. While [ dress please read
it over and see if I delivered it cor
rectly."
The great point with Ingersoll is
thathe is always self possessed. He
never gets ratified. Some of the great
est orators in this country have trem-
bled before so great an occasion as this.
Bob Ingersoll never said anything that
gave him so much reputation as that
hit about the @'plumed knight" 1t has
been quoted ever since, both by Blaine's
friends and enemies. The convention
went wild over it. But it could not
make Blaine president