The advocate., 1894-03-14

u6hI 10 pass DclOIb bllo eyes Vi oO Alouy
ladies, he being the only man in the
room, and he was glad when he reached
his seat. Mrs. Offrick almost immedi-
ately arose and introduced him thus:
'Ladies, we have tried to learn from
books. Tonight we are to be in
structed by the living voice. Weboast
in these days of the power of the press;
but it remains true that the most po-
tent instrumentality of human progress
is the speech of inspired men. The
gospel had its first and most remarka-
bic promulgation by evangelists. 1t
was the earnest, palpitating eloQuence
of the visible SavOnarola which con-
quered the frivolous women and more
frivolous men of Florence; and the
platform labOrs of Wendell Phillips,
the gifted orator of the anti-slavery
cause, did most to break the fetters Of
the blacks of this land.
81 have the pleasure of presenting to
you this evening genuine working
man, who this very day has performed
his hard days work as blacksmith in
the railway shops, and comes to us, no
doubt, weary in body, if vigorous in
mind and soul. He k3lOICS-knOWs by
bitter experience-the social wrongs
which we are organized to discuss and
combat; and if l am correctly in
formed" bowling to Mrs. Delorme--
"he is a living illustration of that
WickednesS which doOms the gifted to
drudgery while mediOcrity lives in
ease amid the untasted intellectual
pleasures which better men in cramped
yearn in vain to enjoy.
The gentleman will, by special request,
discuss the relation Of the new party's
doctrines to socialism. Ladies, l have
the pleasure"-taking John by the
hand as he rose-"Of introducing Mr..
COtterell, who will now address you"
The lecturer was greeted with a
well bred clapping Of hands, Lena, who
sat near the opposite wall, meantime
her neck trifle in order to
get a good view of the orator. 1t must
be confessed that John did not feel
fully at ease. What man would have
felt at ease in such a presencep l
once dined at a female college, and !
sympathize with John. He would
have felt more comfortable if his hands
could have been induced to keep out of
his way; but they insisted on being
taken care of whether the speech ever
got started or not. Even experienced
orators never get entirely over this
and to address club of
ladies only in drawing room will dis
turb any mans nerves at first. But
Ii nVly, inf II
consciousness wore off as he proceeded
and soon disappeared and were for
gotten.
Ladies' and" (he had almost said
"gentlemen'O he began, bowing stifily,
81 don't think it will be necessary for
me to tell you I'm not much of
ladies' man"
GAN the BETTER" interrupted the
president "We are glad to hear it.
Ladies' men are more than abundant.
1t will be a treat to hear words from a
mems man for once"
This was greeted with applause. John !
smiled slightly and proceeded. He had |
been trying to gain courage to pull
from his pocket the elaborate notes he
had carefully prepared, but the presi
dents remark gave him a good cue for
an exordium and he soon forgot all
about the notes.
Ladies, the president states it right. |
am a mems man. i am slave"
"Oh, nor exclaimed Lena.
"Yes, l am a slave. Not slave of |
any one man, but of class of men
the employing class"
81 assure the gentleman l had no in
tention of wounding his feelings"
said the president, much worried. II
did not mean what l said in that
sense"
81 hope you'll not think took it that |
way at all, said John turning to the
president. II knew you didn't mean