The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-24
JOE JEFFERSON'S FIRST.
Makes a Funny Stump Speech at 8
Library Dedication.

Buzzard Bay, June 24.-At the ded-
icatiOn of the beautiful library at
Bourne, which building was given by
Miss Emily Bourne as a memorial of
her father, the late Nathan Bourne,
Joseph Jefferson, the veteran actor, was
the principal speaker.
When Mr.. JeIferSOns turn on the pro-
gramme arrived the crowd outside was
as dense as that inside, and he asked
everyone out on the green, where
from the steps he gave them one OF his
characteristic speeches He said:
This is the first time I was ever call
ed on to make a stump speech. There
are so many of you, and your limits are
SO far-reaching, that doubt my ability
to have my voice reach you all, but
those who cannot hear will perhaps be
all the better pleased. One gentleman
has suggested that, although this is my
first experience at stump speaking, per
haps with one or two trials I may be
able to run a camp meeting, and then
I can get along nicely.
1.-The previous speaker, Mr.. Julian,
has referred to a saying of Charles
Lamb, that it is appropriate to say
grace over a table filled with books as
one laden with a Christmas repast-
am reminded of another of Charles
Lambs sayings, that the world is made
up of two classes, one born to borrow
and the other born to lend. And if it
happens that you are one of the latter
class, it behOOVes you to do it cheer
fully. There are also in the world two
speeches and those born to get out of
it. And if you are in the former class
you must do it cheerfully.
There was once a school established
way up in New Hampshire, not a kin
dergarten, where children are taught TO
learn by their amusements, but one of
those severe New England SchOOlhOuses
fearfulIy WhiteWaShed outside and de-
cOrated with a StOVepipe on the inside,
with hard benches and an unsympathe-
tic teacher with a sympathetic birch rod
after the school was running they
held a town meeting to see about hav-
ing a public library in the town. But
1T was not to be; the Selectmen wouldn't
have it One of 'em got up and talked
like this: We don't want none of your
book -larnin' in this here place OF
course it wasn't a donation, but was to
be paid for by taxes. That may explain
the opposition. I'm agin it, he declar-
ed. It only takes a boy away from his
natural chores. Why, once we had
boy here, a good, bright, likely boy, but
he got an idee in his head that he must
go down to Boston and git some book
larnin' Let's see, what was his name?
Daniel Webster, I think. So he went
down to Boston, and what was the up
shot of it all? Why, he got his larnin,
and then no one ever heard of him agin-
So say we don't want no book larnin'
in this here town..
LAS this is gift to you all, you won't
have to go to Boston to get your book
Iarnin' in this here town. but stay right
here in this village, the birthplace of
this great man, whose noble daughter
gives you this building.
Il don't know why I am asked to
come here to speak, unless it is because
of my incapacity for such a thing. l
am president of the Players club for the
same reason. 1 was elected because L
didn't have the faintest idea of parlia-
mentary affairs. But l have got so late
ly I can tell the difference between
resolution and an amendment But L m
not Just sure now which comes first. l
once took a certain theatrical paper-or
rather, an uncertain theatrical paper
for it came out once in awhile or went
in again without any apology to the
public for so doing. Once it rested
awhile, and came out with the state
ment: This paper was suspended
year ago for want of funds It IS print
ed again today for the same reason L
am also president of the Old Colony
club 1 presume for no better reason than
that l don't know much about things.
And I am invited here, 1 suppose, for
no other reason than have been called
to the other offices.
but let me say seriously that my
light remarks do not denote any lack of
appreciation on my part of the munih-
cence of this gift We shall all feel
better tonight, as we lay our heads on
our beds. because this town has thus
been favored. And this noble donor will
need nothing to lull her to slumber to-
night for the remembrance of this gen
erous gift and the spirit which prompt
ed il will be in her lullaby, not only
for tonight, but for the rest of her