West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-06-12

He Tells How lie Ran Q Panorama Of
the Holy Land and Caught the
Crowd.

Professor 'omcbody. who was the sole
proprietor OF Holy Land panorama.
There were so views. remember. with a
brief lecture to each view. The professor
had billed his show and got all ready for
the exhibition when his voice hoarsed up
and he couldn't speak above a whisper. |
heard some men talking about IL and |
went over to the village tavern aud found
him with rag around his throat and said
to him;
II you cant get somebody 10 deliver
your lecture tonight your show is busted,
:" Alas, IL is" he whispered. There
isn't man in this town how can take my
place. and I'm 40 out OF pocket
'Whatll YOU give me to tell the thing
through In hrst-class shapcp'
lou-a irampi
| Well. lets call n dilapldatcd gentIe.
man instead Perhaps know more abou,
the Holy Land than do about the Ioos
Ter STATE. At any rate. if you'll furnish
me with some clothes aud pay the BARRIERS $
bal and whack up on the receipts I'll have
airy al 1t. Let's see Your lecture.
"iic luceed out a manuscript which he
had committed to- memory aud had re.
peated TWO or three hundred times, but |
thought could better II aud told him so.
| lie wanted TO hear me speak and ! began
with his picture OF the city OF Ioppa. and
| led him across the plains OF sharon
When had lccturcd for seven OF eight
minutes. the professor got up with tears In
his eyes aud threw his arms around me
| aud said
| You shall have clothes and shave and
1 hqiF N nj
lecture. aud well divide the receipts
Doggone my cats IL you don't know more
about the Holy Land than the - ministers
who helped me to get up my lecturesl'
| I'VE struck hands on H. and after had
been bafherod he fitted me out In good
shape. He had man with him who was
used to the machinery. and when | was
ready TO take the platform the hall was
Jamiull oi people. II appeared that two
| clergymen in the town bad got into a little
dispute over the height OF Mount Tabor,
and both their congregations had turned
out to see II the panorama would settle the
| question shall always be bit proud of
| that lecture. There was nothing steroo.
| typed or monotonous about IT, told little
| stories aud rung in little AN, cdotes and
gave all opportunity To axis questions |
| don't remember who painted these views
or whether he was carpenter or black
| smith. but lie had taken the Job by the
yard and most any kind OF a hill was the
| Noun, OF Olives, and most any kind of
jumblc OF buildings was Jerusalem. I'd
been up and down Palestine twice and
knew something about localities. but the
audience didn't want facts. II preferred
| Mount Tabor with Chinese pagoda on
It's crest. as the painter had given il. aud
when tried TO make 'em understand that
| jacobs well was as miles from shiloh.
Instead OF being ip the center OF the town.
| they called me down
The show lasted for two hours. and
after hnding out what the audience wanted
went ~ to please. amuse and instruct
moved Nazareth 400 miles to the south
under the shadow Of Mount Giboa. and
picked up Samaria and carried IL 400 miles
north to the edge Of the valley OF Iezfcel
heightened the river Jordan by 1000
miles. and ] lifted Mount Giiead of her
pins and carried her 100 miles nearer the
Dead Sea. Then worked in some little
original stories about the Sea OF Gallilee.
the Mount OF Tiberias and the city of
TO Bethlehem and wound up at the tomb
ofDavid ran the pictures clear TO the
end and talked for ten minutes later. and
when closed got such curtain call as
would have made Edwin Booth smile clear
back to his ears In his proudest day. IL
was one night stand. but the audience
demanded a second night. and the hall
was picked until not another person could
wedge IN. | delivered the lecture again.
and it was just as much Of success The
gate receipts for the two nights were s7c,
! and the professor divided fairly with me
aud took me 10 his arms and SAID
Dilapidatcd gentleman. thou art a
priceless jewel and IL you'll only come
with me ~ give you half interest In the
old showl
1t was good lake but couldn't
accept. was success as panoramic
lecturer. but Eel, that couldn't he bound
DOVE as TO time and route The professor
almost wepi when refused his offer. but
consoicd him somewhat by writing out A
new lecture and posting him anew on the
landscape. On the third morning I got
back into my old duds pinned my money
to my shirt. and before night was X miles
away and a farmer was Offering me lodg'
ings and breakfast II I would cut and spIit
cord Of hrewood Couldn't leave the
road you know Might have been pleased
enough to jog around from town 10 town
With a show and wear o Prince Albert coat
aod live on friend chicken. but there
would have been few advcDtdfes and not
much human nature TO study"