The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-17

or forgot what 1 deemed my boldest
matter and best hits. However, the large
majority of the audience being kindly
| disposed toward me. heard. applauded
and pronounced the lecture success. 4"
Some ventured, when it was over, to
advise me that the subject matter was
much better than the manner of its de-
livery. OF that there was Tot the least
doubt. In speaking had concentrated
matter enough for two hours proper de-
livery into one. and part of the mental
strain and anxiety during the lecture
was to race my words so as to finish
within the limits of an hour on time. I
feared wearying the audience, and SO
took one Of the best methods OF doing so.
The next day self esteem going up to
fever heat, and my comparative failure
not being so bad as the one l had antici-
pated when my estimates of myself were
| at zero, l determined on pressing my
newly found vocation and starring"
Tuolumne county. Carried by this tran
siert CLEAN of self conceit beyond the
bounds of good Judgment, and over
whelmed with another torrent Of COM
position, / wrote still another lecture, and
advertised that. The curiosity, complais-
ance and good nature of nv friends
mistook for admiration. Indeed. during
the fever, planned a course, or rather
constant succession Of lectures, which
might, if unchecked, have extended to
the present time. But on the second at
tempt talked largely to empty benches
character of audience have since be-
come accustomed to, and with whom I
am On terms of that friendship and SYM
pathy only begotten of long acquaint-
ance. The benches were relieved here
and there by a discouraged looking nearer
who had come in on free ticket, and
who, l felt. wanted to get out again as
quickly as possible. Then knew that
my friends did not care to hear me any
more. This was bitter, but necessary
and useful.
next gave the lecture at Columbia.
Columbia, though but four miles dis
tant, was then the rival of Sonora as the
metropolis of Tuolumne county, and it
was necessary to secure Column ian in
dorsement before attempting to star it
through the provincial cities of Jimtown,
Chinese Camp, Don Pedros and Pine
Log. | billed Columbia, hired the thea
ter for $3.50, and, after my effort, had
the satisfaction of hearing from friend
that the appreciative and critical mag
mates of the town had concluded to vote
me a success" Then spoke at James
town, Coulterville, Mariposa, Snelling's |
and other places with very moderate
success.
Perhaps might have arisen to greater
distinction or notoriety than that real
lied on the Tuolumne field had l better
known that talent of any sort must be
handled by its possessor with a certain
dignity to insure respect. Now. trav-
eled from town to town on foot. | was
met, dusty and perspiring, tramping on
the road, by people who knew me as the
newly arisen local lecturer. l should
lave Travelled in a carriage. l posted
my own bills. | should have employed
5he local bill sticker. lectured for ten
cents per head when l should have
,harged fifty. Sometimes l dispensed
With an adnittance fee altogether and
ook up contributions. In Coulterville
he trouser buttons of Coultervillians
anne back in the hat mixed with dimes.
looking back now on that experience, |
an sincerely say to such as may follow
ne in any modification of such career,
Never hold yourself cheap" If you
'ut a good picture in poor frame it is
My the few who will recognize its
merit.
Once in New York l spoke to fair
udience in a hall on the ground floor.
'hings went on beautifully till O'Clock. !
vhen big brass band struck up in the ,
igger hall over my head and some fifty
ouples commenced waltzing. 1t was an !
arthquake reversed. 1t ruined me for .
he night. =,
On another fearful occasion l was
peaking at Bridgehampton, Long Island, ,
n the subject Of temperance Ilectured :
n temperance occasionally, though | !
ever professed teetotalisln-for any
ength of time. One can lecture on tenn
erance just as well without being total :
perhaps better Now,
7as born, and they attempted to bring ,
le up properly, near Bridgehampton.
very one knew me and my ancestors, 6
Immediate and remote. Ihad not spoken =
yer ten minutes when man we'll known
the neighborhood and much moved
the whisky he had been drinking all
ay, arose and propounded some not very g.
Ineligible queries. / answered him as
ell as | could. Then he put more Nay. .
g took possession Of the meeting. No :.
le ventured to silence him. !,
They are a very quiet, orderly people
Bridgehampton. Such an Interrupt
on of a meeting had never before been
card of there, and the people seemed Il
tally unable to cope with the emer- II
ency. The wretch delivered himself of {.
great variety OF remarks, but ever and "
ION REQUIRED to the assertion that Il
he'd vouch for my character, because a.
} not only knew me, but my parents p
fore me-" He was present" be said, f.
1t their wedding, which he remembered W
ell from the fact of wine being served o;
ere, as well as rum, gin and brandy" m
nat for me was laborious evening. | b
'metimes | spoke, and then the inebri- IL
e would get the floor and keep it. He
mbled about the aisles, allayed cuta- o.
Gus disturbance in his back by rup- n
ng himself against one OF the fiuted n
liars, and. when | had at last finished, of
ide his way up 70 the choir and, inter- 81
,lating himself between two 0ausels -
ng everything and everybody out Of
ne from temperance hymn book.
PRENTICE MILFORD. az
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