The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-14
DOCTOR lAFFERTY'S HuMoR.
He Entertains and Delights a
Large Audience.
Very Humorous Description of Early Gus
toms and Conditions-NIa Good In
q. cidents Notwithstanding About the
Man Who Talked.

Rev. DR.. j. j. T4afferty, of Richmond,
kept large audience in an almost con-
slant roar Of laughter last night for two
hours and ten minutes at Greene Me
mortal Church.
The audience was not only one of the
largest, but also one OF the most intclli-
gent and refined that. has ever as
scmblcd in Roanoke to hear any man,
and everybody seemed delighted.
Not moro than half dozen had gone
out when the doctor closed his lecture OF
two hours and ten minutes length. THE
TIMES heard many remarks that they
would have listened to eagerly.
DR.. Laffcrty was introduced by Rev.
j. II. Boyd, pastor of the church.
lie is man slightly over the average
statue, like his portrait, but some hand
somcr. Ills iron gray locks and mus
tachc make him resemble Zeb Vance, of
North Carolina, when he was younger.
lie also resembles the great Senator in
his wit and humor and remarkable con-
troll over an audience. and his manner
of speaking. lie has broad, good
natured face, and fine forehead.
He would at once be taken as moro
than ordinary man anywhere, and the
audience who heard him last night
doubtless bear out the assertion OF
Southern journal, that he is the equal
of any humorist living or dead.
Sam Jones oxcels him in wit.
The argument of the lecture was that
what Is, is better than what has been,
and the humor was in the description of
scenes and the relating of incidents
fifty, seventy-five and one hundred years
ago, and contrasting thom with the
things Of to-day.
81 stand up for the people of 1882"
said DR.. Laifcrty
They are better fed and clothed more
intclligcntly, and better Christians than
any people who have lived before them.
know that it is in mems minds. as in
mythology, that the golden age is in the
past. We are like Il caravan in desert
that looks back with such leagcr ycarn-
ing to the springs and grass of the oasis
that is left i'll the trail. 1t is distance
that lends cnchantment to the scene
and doludes.
WHO wants to go back to the days of
Washington who was dead month be-
fore it was known in North Carolina?
the father of his country once had
occasion to order TWO pounds OF candy
from his factor in Liverpool, and his
mouth watered for it six months before
he got it.
"llow could you girls wait that long
for candy kisses? You would take the
kisses without the candy"
Life is not in the multitude of years.
man in America 80 years old has
lived longer than Mcthuselah.
"Why. now You ride in palace cars
with Il little chamber all to Yourself.
read your papers and get better nights
rest than you would at home. that is
you who are not widowcrs and bachelors.
and have your wife's sharp elbows
punch you i'll tho short ribs as she asks
when you will buy her new fall
cloak
Take tho wonderful advancement in
the medical science
doctors are tho most abused by
healthy people and the most longed- FOR
by the sick of all others You saw tho
doctor kills folks, hut when who ret
sick start Il horse Tor him at break-ncck
speed
The doctor described at length the
saucer of black molasscs and other in
gradients and other remedies kent in
the rural districts. and the old-timc
manner OF administering other bad
doses to unwilling patients
''llc said the church was etter and de-
scribed the primitive houses OF worship
in the rural districts of Virginia. con
trasting them with the present
lie referred to the growth Of the tenn
perancc r1ovement and to the fact that
the Methodist Church started by pro-
/ hlbiting preachers from dealing in IL
quor, and the Presbytcrians by prohibit
ing treating, except on extraordinary
occasions.
lie related many amusing incidents
about ministers OF scventy-iive years
ago taking toddy, one Of which occurred
at Alexandria. and ended with the host
of half dozen preachers announcing
the horr of retiring and asking any OF
the company who felt able TO get or
knees and back to the chair safely, to
pray.
He discussed the early modes of travel
on horseback, by stage, and the earl v
locomotive, bringing out much that was
amusing.
Some of the best humor of the lecture
was drawn from early mail facilities. in
connection with which the speaker re-
lated his first experience in writing a
love letter. This part was unusually
interesting to the young people, and the
young men seemed 10 be satisfied that
there was sufficient evidence that the
Doctor '~had been there"
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