The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-02
COMMEM0RATI0N OF
THEIR PATRON SAINT
IConcludcd from Page 81

ing To build q general theory to gov
ern all cases. and yet as l look hack
at the long line of unsuccessful orators
| have met and took the same with,
nv attention is arrested by the hgure
of a gentleman whom l knew years
ago, and who for a brief period en-
loved a newspaper reputation as an
orator second TO none.
had never attended political meet
ing, and one evening | was attracted
by u placard which in fiery letters an
nounced to the great mass of uneducat-
cd voters the fact that Mr.. -. VIII
cell him Chinwag, that Mr. Chinwag,
candidate for the state senate. would
address the populaCe on the issues of
the day. The hall was thronged. On
the platform sat orators large and ora =
tors small, mostly small. The prcsi e
dent of the club under whose auspices
the meeting was held in Il few words
requested the attention of the audience,
as the popular young lawyer, and ora
tor Mr.. Chinwag would address the
SONG ON FLAGS.
I see him now. Majestically he arose
from his seat. With his lightning
glance he surveyed the audience, stand
ing silent for a full moment, in SON
orous tones he commenced. Pointing
to an American flag which was hang
ing at the end of the hall, he said,
"When I gaze at that flag every fibre
which vibrates with liberty my heart
palpitates with JOY" He spoke OF the
land of the free and the home of the
brave, and when he mentioned the
names of the great men of his party
who had died and left an imprint on
the history Of their country the audi
ence howled itself into hemorhage.
4 night or two later l saw an an
nouncement that Chinwag was ready
to again enlighten the masses in a GER
tain hall. and again l went, only to
hear the gentleman point to the flag
and to discover that his heart was still
palpitating with unbounded joy. And
while Chinwag's heart was palpitatinS
with pure unadulterated patriotic joy,
his opponent was making the hearts OF
the merry voter palpitate with whiskey.
and when the returns were counted
Chinwag discovered that the masses
were not half as enlightened as he
gave them credit for being.
The popular orator had been defeat
ed. 1t was sad blow to his friends.
Today Mr.. Cfinwag sits upon the wool
sack of the Justice Of the peace giving
judgments with oratorical tlourisheS,
and occasionally he enlivens the mon
otony of his life by delivering q speech
at a flag raising where he and a motley
crowd as Artemus Ward says, deliver
themselves of sentiments which con-
Clusively prove that they are ready to
shed every drop of blood every relative
possesses in their country's cause.
The day for great forensic efforts to
my mind is past. Oratory has become
cheap. Every ass who can arise on his
hind legs and bray is denomirated an
orator. Every man who is announced
to deliver few remarks at a gather
ing is announced to deliver an Grafton
Every man who ever addressed meet
ing if he is fortunate enough TO be ac-
quainted with reporter is spoken OF
AS the eloquent Mr. Dash. Why gen.
tlemen, in these degenerate days it is
utterly impossible to throw a stone
without hitting an orator. and I might
suggest that it would not be unwiGa
for the fixing Of a day in each year
when we can have a general massacre
of orators, ana if within say ten OF
fifteen days after the massacre any
man is found harboring or aiding and
abetting any orator to escape the just
consequences of his sins that the per.
son so aiding and abetting be punished
by being branded as eloquent and as an
orator.
| doubt not but that in the time OF
Demosthenes or Cicero. or rather let
me say in the days when there was nc
daily press, oratory counted for some
lllnS' linen lne aDlllty TO talN III pas
sionate and thunderous torres meant
much. The people would congregate in
the forum and the news of the day
would be discussed Propositions of
the government would be advanced and
debated and he who was an orator, the
simon pure article could accomplish
either good or evil. Today the news
paper crates for ell of us. The opin-
ions Of the best and wisest men are
published on any topic of interest to
the public and so the necessity for the
old-time orator has disappeared, and
in its place we find an engine that can
disseminate news to tens OF thousands
and which contains the best thought
of the day.
MIR. WILLIAMS EFFORT.
To the toast 'Ivor Hael" Select
Councilman Richard II. Williams made
a neat response. One of his choices