The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-21

my boots whenever get up before an
audience, and I tremble until / have
begun to talk. This is always so, and
still have been making speeches for
% years.
DO you remember your first public
speech?" was asked
Yes, indeed; very Well" replied Mr..
Mckinley with a laugh. 'sIt was upon
my return home with the troops at the
close of the war. 1 lived in the little
village of Poland, near Youngstown
and a reception was given in honor of
the soldiers. One of the judges of the
county made the welcoming speech and
I was chosen to give the response. I
was then just n years Old
THE "BOB-TAIL'' HORSE
One night in his early political days,
as he was addressing a meeting in a
country town, just as he was at an
eloquent point in the speech, and his
listeners were most intense, a hoarse
voice cried out:
BILLY Mckinley on a bob-tail boss,
by geey'
There was confusion, also indigna-
ton, at the disturbance Shouts Put
him out" etc, were freely heard. But
the speaker smoothly quoted the tu-
multi It turned out that the man who
spoke out in meeting had strayed
into the village that evening
After visiting the drug store, or some
to the public hall. He did not know
what it was all about, nor was he in
the mood to care. particularly
Something said from the stand re-
freShed his memory. He saw in the
speaker an army comrade. The sudden
recognition prompted the salute
The tactful orator turned it all to
good account. His favorite mount while
on duty at Gen. R. B. Hayes head
quarters was t'bob-tai1 boss" He
took his audience into his confidence.
related some interesting war stories,
referring to the "bob-tail boss" and his
new-found cOmrade, concluding with
eloquent, impaSSioned remarks upon
patriotism not forgotten to this day
by the living men who heard it,
As a sequel to the incident. when the
votes We're cast that fall Democratic
township had been redeemed-the ma
jority was for Mckinley and the Re-
publican ticket.
DAME NATURES HARD LUCK.
Young Mckinley was once defending
a medical client sued for alleged NAL
practice in setting a broken leg 1t was
suspected, without means of proof be-
ing provided, that the claim was what
in the legal slang of corporation dam
age suits is called "a fake snap"
The plaintiffs case had ocularly ex-
posed the mis- or malpracticed leg to
the jury, and Ocularly showed the nodes
which were the alleged palpable evil
dences of the want of medical skill,
when Mckinley exclaimed as the plain
tiff was restoring the clothing of the
limb. Now let US see the other leg.
Which, after very excusable objections
as to policy from his attorney, was ex-
hibited.
The new exhibit, which proved to
have been duly marked with india ink
showed TIE same nodes that We're
upon the other leg; and proved that, as
Mckinley wittily remarked, it was
Dame Nature who had been guilty of
malpractice
GETTING HIS FIRST CLIENT
James P. Gardner of Ellerslie, Allie
ghany county Md. claims that he was
instrumental in securing for President
Mckinley his first law case.
A poor woman of Canton had fallen
into sewer, careIessly left open by
city officials. and sustained severe in
juries She was disabled for work and
probably too ignorant or too poor to
bring suit.
Mr.. Gardner. then a resident Of Can