The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-04
GOV. 0GLESBY'S
ELOQUENT SPEECH
An Impromptu Response to a Toast
at Harvest Home" Festival.
REPRODUCED FROM MEMORY,
MIR. Vernon W. Foster, of Chicago, Re-
calls Speech with Accuracy Aitera
Iapse of Ten Years-BeautifuI
Tribute TO Our Native Cereal


Ten years ago a party Of congcnial spirits
were gathered at the Fellowship club in
Chicago on the occasion of the Harvest
Home Festival Among those present
were Joseph jefferson. Governor Ogles-
bv. Vernon W. Foster AMI Che present
Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Charles
O. Dawes. Governor OGlcsby was called
on by the POSTMASTER. lie made an elo-
quent response I'm an imprompu speech,
but his remarks were not recorded re
Gently Mr.. Foster, who is one or the
leading business men Of Chicago ana mas
Il marvellous memory. felt sure he could
reproduce the response of the Governor
even after the lapse Of time. ana ne
wrote out the following which was found
10 be perfectly accurate. Here Is what
Mr.. Foster wrote:
THE TOAST.
Governor Oglesby sat 40 the speakers
table at the south end of the room ana
had been in earnest conversation up 10
the moment Of the call of his name. inc
POSTMASTER was Mr.. Franklin il. Head
AMI the toast that he gave 20 eacn
sneaker was. What / know about idfm-
ing
Tbe Governor rose slowly and was
seemingly waiting for an inspiration.
He looked deliberately upon the harvest
and finally his eye seemed 20 rest upon
the magnificent stalks Of corn that adorn-
ed the wall He then slowly and im-
prossively said.
"'rhe corn Tho corn, The coru' That
I'm its first beginning and its growth has
furnished aptest illustration OF the tragic
announcement of the chiefest hope of
man. IL he die he shall surely 1--we
again Planted in the friendly but SOM
hre bosom Of mother earth, II dies. Yes
Il dies the second death, surrenderlns
each trace OF form and earthly snapo
until this outward tide is stopped by inc
reactng vital germ when, pIedAlhs al
tbe bonds and ccrcments Of its SAD de-
zinc comes bounding. laughing, into life
and light. the httcst OF an the hFhu'ia
that makes certain promise OF the rare
nj man. And so it died, and tnen 10
lived again. And so my people died. Hy
some unknown. uncertain ana uhiiI'i.'l.
fafo found myself making my hfsl
tourney into life from conditions as lo"iN
as those surrounding that aWaheiiHs'
dying, living infant germ.
JOE JEFFERSON.
II was i'm those days when j. % Simple
t.o,. bad wandered from Indiana 10
Springfield that l there met in.s , soogV
rian-Ioseph Jcherson-Who kiHd "''
gertlc words to- me We're as water 10 "
| tbirst,, soul. as the shadow Of a rock
/ to a weary man. 1 loved him then
love him now. TWO fun generations
| have been taught by his sentleness ano
smiles ana tears have quickly answered
! In the command of his artistic miho.
! Long may Dee live 20 make us laugh ano
| cry. and cry and laugh by turns as ne
| may choose to move us.
| "But now again my mind turns 70 inc
| ,.1orioue corn. See 80 Look on JUS
| ripening waving field. Sec how it wears
| a crown. proudor than Monarch ever
| wore. sometimes iauntily and some liineS
] after the storm the disnined surNll oi.
of the tempest seem 10 view field or
! Slaughter and 10 pity a. fallen foe. Ana
! see the pondant caskots OF the corn field
! filled with the wine OF life ana see lhe
| silken frinccs that set q form for FASH
ion and for art.
a BEAUTIFUL PICTURE.
! And now the evening comes and some
| thing of q time to rest and listen The
| ecudding clouds conceal the half ano
then reveal the whole of the moonht
beauty Of the night and then the gentle
| winds make heavenly harmonies on o.
| thousand harps that hung upon te cor
ners and the edges and the middle OF
| the field Of ripening corn until my N,I}
| heart seems TO peat ifrN'itrAf' WIN ttt
| rising and the falling of the long melo-
! dious refrain The melancholy clouds
| sometimes make shadows on the field and
hide its aureate wealth and now they
move ana slowly into sight there comes
the golden glow Of promise for an IN
| dustriOus land Glorious corn that more
| than all the sisters Of the field wears
tropic garments. Nor on the shore Of
| Nilus or Of Ind does nature dress her
| forms more splendidly.
Nv God. 10 live again that time when
for me half the world was good and the
| other half unknown.
| And now again; The corn that in its
| Kernel holds the strength that shall On
| the body Of the man refreshed suhdue
the forest and compel response from
| every stubborn field. or shining in the
| eye Of beauty make blossoms Of her
| checks and jewels of her lips and thus
| make for man the greatest inspiration
TO well doing the hope Of companionship
Of that sacred warn and Well embodied
| soul, q woman"