Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-19
PRIOR TO HIS SPEECH
THOMPSON AND HIS FIRST AFTER
DINNER EFFORT.
Sensations of the Tyro In Post-Prau-
dial Oratory Before He Begins-Biil
of Fare Scarcely Noticed and Other
Speakers Gallop Through Their Part.

SSuSaS1Oub OF INC 1yrO IN fO0tsf ram
dial Oratory Before He Begins-Biil
of Fare Scarcely Noticed and Other
Speakers Gallop Through Their Part.
Gle takes his seat at the table, and
steals glance at his toast list)
''Third from the last speaker-and a
twelve-course dinnerto be lived through
first. Great Caesar! Well-Maybe I'll
die before we get to it. Hope SO, I'm
sure.
Elegant oysters, but no taste to 'em.
Perhaps it's my tongue-it feels sort Of
blurred.
Soup looks all right, but don't seem
to notice 1t as 1t goes down.
Ladies and Gentlemen'-no, no, l
mean-"Mr. Toastmaster and Gentle
men, Wonder If look pale? Feel
pale, I'm sure. Glad l got fish bone
in my throat just then. 1t changed the
current of my thoughts for time and
eased up some of the pressure on my
brain. Besides, it headed off the man
on my left from asking me questions
Which l haven't mind enough to spare
to answer.-'There's little story that
comes to my mind as rise to address
you.' BY the Lord Harry, how did that
story begin! Suppose 1t shouldnt come
to my mind!
is this game? Shouldn't know 1t
from chicken feed. Am l eating like
civilized being or am ramming 1t
down the way l used to do when !
knew thrashing was waiting for me
after dinner? Wish that idiot across
the table wouldn't look at the parting
of my hair so often. Wonder Ii got
- S,ooheu' aIter al!
oseu the wrong fork Tor my oysters
=. becomes eviaent' col 70 use oyster
iorh now lor tne roast. Giaa my VIE
,sn mere, gao I've got one 'hihs ieit
~ pe siad LOT. Ihere can pe no ques.
tlon that the issues which are involved
~ liiis matter oI-thats hol tight
mere can ne no issue invoi'eu ~ ,nis
lueseioh Which Is not-hy love- ou'
.h's room Is inIerhaiiy not! lhere GU
pe no question involved III this issue :
on, Which way does the con1ounded
tning got
WINE ! eat this salad I'm gong to
think TINS thing out calmly. lcertainiy
know this speech by heaft; I've gone
10 ped ana got up With 1t TOO long TO
forget 1t now. There's no use IN my
getung ratified. There can be no ques-
ton thatt this matter involves issues
Confound 1t, why can't that man let
me alone! he may have nothing to do
put eat MS dinner and ask fool ques'
lions OF men who have something on
thelr minds.
"By Jove, we're getting pretty well
through. My mouth is as dry as saw
dust; nothing seems to moisten 1t up
Never knew 1 had palpitation of the
heart-but l got 1t now, sure. I'll see
the doctor In the morning if Pm alive
which doubt.
"Guess won't smoke; don't think
could hold my hand steady to light up,
I'll have to take out more insurance ii
I've got heart disease-if can get any
company to take my risk.
"Great heavens! We've got to the
toasts. First man looks as calm as
mud. Wish could just look that way,
whether said much of anything OF
not. But l don't. look all colors-
blue, just now, think.
Second man up! Three more before
me. Wish could go home. Afraid
forgot to applaud No. l. Must remem.
Der that this time.
Two more! If my knees shake like
this l can't stand on my legs. that's
all. l see my finish; shall fall over
and be carried out and that'll be the
best thing that could happen-so long