The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-30

despaired of keeping the promise they
had made the public.
So great an interest had been awak-
ened that they had decided to hold
their meeting in the evening in the
Congregational church, and, to en-
courage me, they told me that neither
Professor Agassiz, nor Bayard Taylor,
who had lectured in it that winter, had
been able to fill it with their voices.
Governor Kirkwood was to preside;
the governor-elect, Colonel Stone, who
was at home from the army with gun
shot wound, was to be in attendance;
so were the Acknowledgement, the at
torney- general of the State, the leading
members of the legislature Of both
houses, the Indian commissioner, and,
in short, almost all the magnates of the
State Of Iowa.
"You never could have better OPP
portunity to talk to all Iowal " said the
women all in one breath. "For every
county of the State will be represented
in the audience tonight, and every
thing is suspicious of large results.
How imm ensely fortunate that you
were able to cross the river!"
1 was appalled, and dumbfounded.
At that time 1 had never attempted
public address to promiscuous
audience. 1 had only addressed audi
ences of women, sitting in chair de-
corously before them, and trying with
all my might to keep my hands folded
on my lap. 1 was sure of one thing
that 1 had nothing whatever to say to
congregation so imposing in numbers
and in character, and fatty refused
to carry out their program.
"You never should have made these
arrangements without consulting mel"
was my frightened rejoinder. 81 am
not public speaker; have never made
a speech in my life, and never have adj
dressed any but companies of women.
l had something to say to you, ladies,
as the Aid Society, but it is not at all
worthy to be presented as an address
to the great audience that you have
unwisely called together. cannot do
i'll"
The ladies protested. They had ex-
tensively advertised the evening meet
ing, and the town was gay with color
ed placards, announcing in letters as
large as my hand, not only my name,
but "the title of my lecture"-"A
Voice from the Front!"-for so they
had christened my unborn speech.
They had not supposed it was necessary
to consult me-they had taken it for
granted that 1 could talk to three
thousand as well as three hundred
and to back down because men were,
in part, to compose the audience, why,
that was too absurd must not think
of such a thing. But the more they
urged and persuaded, the more coward
ly and helpless became, until, at last,
my courage took an utter stampede,
and 1 was hardly able to talk coherent
ly with them in the parlor. No shall
lop left on the shore by the retreating
tide was ever more helpless or inert
than 1 felt myself to be. There was
no float in me-and could not believe
there ever would be.
Gentlemen began to arrive govern
ors, generals home on furlough, COL
onels, adjutants, and they all joined
their entreaties to those of the crest
fallen women. But they might as well
have entreated post. The thing was
not in me. / dared not attempt it. At
last it was settled that Colonel Stone,
the governor-elect, in whose regimental
hospital l had spent some time, and
with whom had had an acquaintance
at the front, should make my speech
for me. l was to tell him what in
tended to say to the women-to give
him all the points which 1 wis he'd en-
forced-to transfer to him such phases
of my experience as would be particu-
larly interesting, and, above all, to &C.
quaint him with the sore need of large
quantities Of sanitary supplies.
The hour for the meeting arrived.
The church adjoined my place of en-
tertainment. The gentlemen came in
to hurry US, in advance of the adver-
tised hour, for the house was so packed
that not another person could enter,
nor was an inch of standing room I'M
occupied. Dreadfully chagrined and
depressed-but much less Inundated
than 1, the innocent cause of their
abasement-the ladies' of the Aid
Society went ahead to the seats re-
served for them. Then the dignitaries
of the State followed, while Colonel
Stone and brought up the raar. AS
we passed down from the parlor, he
drew me by the arm into the lower re-
ception room, the door Of which stood
open as we were passing. Closing the
door and turning the key in the lock,
he stood with his back to it and faced
me.
II have no expect ton, Mrs. Liver
MORE" he said, ''that l can in the
least change your decision concerning