Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-28

about myself as q lecturer, but I will
tell you q thing or two concerning my
life.
Twas born in Edgefield, 8. c.. in 'o7,
became an orphan at the age Of eight
and the age OF twelve found me . waif
in the city Augusta, Ga. peddling Fab,
blacking boots. selling newspapers
At the age OF 16 was deck hand on
the Savannah river ard afterwards be-
came cabin boy. Then my mind be-
gan to roam. AT the age OF Is was a
pot washer on the old steamer "Ply-
mouth Rock" which ran from New
York to Long Branch. N. J. Before
the season was over / Was second cook
on the same steamer.
The life in New York City was too
full OF temptations for me, so then
went to Trenton, N. J., where / be-
came q waiter in the old Trenton
House. From that bseame q travel
ling waiter, spending our winters in
the Everglades OF Florida and our
summers along the Atlantic sea-board
and among the Adirondack mountains.
have waited on table In all the lead
Jog hotels from Boston to Denver,
from Denver to the Golden Gates. And
was always great tip gebter. All the
boys IN hotels know what tips mean.
In 1888, / was waiting in the Van
Dorm Hotel in Boston. When I was 81
years OF age, was "dude OF first
water" wearing a silk hat, patent
leather shoes, $40 suits and working at
the wages $50 q month. thought that
clothes made men, but an incident o.
Cured which taught Us different.
While waiting on q dinner party one
OF the young men of the party said to
ms Happy" as was commonly call
| ed, remove the 'Deabrease.' ]
scratched my head and began to fill
the glasses with water, and all the
| guests began to laugh. So I went tC
the next waiter and asked him what il
meant. Then he explained it to me
Then cleared my table aad prepared
FOR the next course.
Next day 7 went down town and
bought me spelling book and remain
ed in my room every night, all the
winter The following fall l was IL
school at Harpsr's Ferry. w. Va, there
L rem aiued three years and was theE
converted. From there, l went to Viii.
berforce in Ohio.
In the summer Of 'o2 / preached ml
trial sermon in St. GATHERINGS Onte
rior. lpastored a short time In Kau
sss. In the fall OF 'o3 goE small
Il OutuJ OI PICTURES OF the HOrlQH raj
views and gave my first illustrated lee
sure at Roger Williams College II
Nashville, Tenn. My first lecture wa
a success, which was to me a grea
mistake. soon got the ''big head.
But in six months time / was com
pletely bankrupt, laying hixh and dr.,
on the banks of the Mississippi, with
out q dollar.
l had to travel deck passage from Jack
SOC, Miss, TO st. Louis, No. To max
q long story short / was Just exactly
years finding out that l was q fool 40,
that l was indebted TO the world 70
sking care of me, and not the worl
indebted to me. On one occasion ate
preaching . sermon one hour and
half long, fnn of big words and no gos
DEL, q good old brother that followe
in prayer taught me the lesson of ID
life. He got dowa on his knees al
said: "On Lord ! Daniels God, teac
his young man how to preach God
Sord, for this morning our souls hav
oeen fed on wind"
After / had finished preaching, q
I'D fashioned sister said TO me, "Bo,
you will be q man some of these day
out now you are the biggest fool thi
,ss been in town since the last circT
vas here"
After that, always went on u
snees and asked tee / ord to teach I