The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-18

II was the president OF a suburban club
who was talking and he was reciung MS
experiences as purveyor in ordinary tor
the clubs lecture course, apropos or ms
present laDors, providing speeches ior the
coming winter. ,,
I'VE never make arrangements throush
the lecture bureaus" he SAID, because
many OF the lights in the world OF htera-
ture. art. science, the drama and pohtlcs
whom we desire 10 secure are Lot regular
ly in the lecture habit, and 50 could not
readily be obtained In that way. Nor 90
we as a rule depend for entire evening
Of entertainment or instruction on one IN
dividual, our custom being TO engage Two
sneakers known 10 hold opposite views
on some question of general interest 10
debate the matter before uS. In TINS way
we have been able 10 procure many
speakers who could nave been induced 10
appear before US on no other pfeteAt'
The rule is sometimes dIsregarded'
however. and one OF the first exceptions
was made in the case of Joe Jefferson.
AS Il happened the lecture ne gave US
was one of the first he had ever deliv-
ered and we learned after%drd that ne
was tremendously nervous over the mat
ter. In truth, though no had been APP
pearing constantly before the pubic on
the stage for many years he shrank
like any other novice from his nrst ap-
pearance on the lecture platform. Some
thing OF this began TO be apparent 10
me at the dinner table before the lee
lure. He didn't say as much. Out ne
was evidently exceedingly nervous all
through the meal and his nervousness
increased on the way TO the clubhouse.
He seemed afraid before we started that
We would not be IN time. and we there-
fore called the carriage so early that we
were seated in the little Withdrawing
room, back OF the platform, fuli halt
hour before the schedule time for his
talk TO begin.
JOE JEFFERSON'S NERVOUSNESS.
That half hour was evidently one OF
acutest torture 10 Jefferson. we mac not
been seated i've minutes before he jump
ed M impulsively and began TO walk up
and down the floor. fidgetlng with his
hands meanwhile in a way that showed
much excitement.
Well. he said. after one or two
turns I'D and down the room, isn't II
time 10 80 on
No, Mr. Jefferson. replied. ii won't
be time for a good twenty minutes yet.
Then he paced from end to end of the
room for perhaps three minutes more.
"'Now. Mr.. Blank" ne said, stopping
short before me. 1T must surely be time.
1
not be able to begin at all
1T was only with the greatest difficul-
" that ! was able 10 calm him, Dut by
dint OF telling all the old stories l could
think OF and assuring him that he could
have no trouble. | did manage 10 keep
him In fairly good condition until nve
minutes before the hour. Then i conclu-
ded TO let him go on ahead OF time. l
must confess that his nervousness had
communicated Itself 10 me in some de-
gree and | was almost as afraid as he
was that he might break down. But be-
yond a little sparrlng for time In the first
three OF four minutes he got along IA
mously. Before the NTH minute passed
he had completely forgotten his stage
fright. His lecture was. OF course. one OF
the star features OF the entire series. He
has since told me that he has occasional
attacks OF the blue funks just before go
ing on the lecture platform. though they
are nothing 20 the one under which he
labored on that occasion
A PORTEAN PROFESSOR.
MY own greatest embarrassment as
manager OF our lecture course was caused
BY the singular conduct OF professor in
Johns Hopkins University. He is exceed
<ngiy well known In the scientific world.
bur perhaps I ha6nt better mention bis
nans in telling this story.
MY duties include presenting the
epeakers 10 the audience. and for convcn-
3ence I always ask them 10 tako dinner
at my house. One OF the points of con.
veaianee n tAs plan u that u enables me