The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-06-05
A Prophet is Without
Honor.

4 N OUTDOOR Chautauqua
~ Assembly was held last year in
~ a beautiful natural park, situa-
ted near ione of our growing
cities. Space will not permit us to
dwell upon the many beauties of the
spot, which then looked like the camp
of large army, The long rows of
white tents, arranged in streets and
avenues, denoted the temporary home
of enthusiastic .Chautanquans who had
gathered to partake Of the intellectual
feast prepared by a careful committee.
On the great day of the meeting all
the town people were there and trains
discharged steady stream of
visitors, for famous English
reformer and temperance advocate had
been engaged. 'Woman's Hail." the
"Hall of Philosophy, and other smaller
buildings were deserted, and the Main
Pavilion was filled with an expectant
crowd; seldom had more intelligent
and we'll read audience been drawn to-
gether. On the platform in addition to
the committee was seated the author
of the widely read Purity books, a
learned Harvard man who had demon
strated the wonders Of liquid air, an
eastern senator who had just finished
short talk on economics, and several
others with national reputation for
learning.
The famous Englishman arrived and
was greeted with cheers and applause.
He stepped on the platform, and, with a
disregard for the proprieties which
would be objectionable in an American
orator, he threw off his coat, and with
remark about the heat, commenced
his address. He was loud, uncouth
and acrobatic, we'll suited to the rough
Cornish miners, from whose ranks he
had risen by "gift of gab." His humor
was of the "patent inside" variety,
and his pathos-well it was of the
yellow journal kind. He exhibited the
most profound ignorance of the liquor
traffic of this country, and spoke of
the many "gilded saloons that are a
blot on your own fair city," forgetting
that he was speaking in prohibition
state and in town where the writer
had spent the whole morning in fruit
less endeavor to stir up even "blind
pig"-and he made long and thirsty
search.
The larger portion of the address was
devoted to a testimonial to Cook, of
excursion fame. He called him "Cold
Water Cook" and said all Englishmen
consulted him before making ajourney.
He argued that Cook was temperance
man, so people were safe when they
travelled on one of Cooks tickets;
whereas if Cook were drinking man,
wreck and disaster must be looked for.
"Whyw and he pounded his chest dra-
matically, 81 have travelled all the way
from London on-one of Cooks tickets
and am here safe." He sat down
midst laundering applause, for was
he not an Englishman? And renowned? :?
The audience was sure it had heard
something fine, and applauded gen.
erously.
Then the chairman arose and with
an apoIogetic cough said, "Miss------
of the local w. C. I. U. desires to say
few words" "A small, pleasant look
ing young woman stepped to the front,
and with but a few moments hesitation
commenced to speak in low, distinct
and winning voice. Before she had
spoken dozen words one could see that
she was passionately in earnest. Here
indeed was an orator, thoroughly versed
in her subject and with asplendid COM
mand Of language. Her story was Of
mans inhumanity to man, and she
described conditions as she had actually
seen them; she touched upon the
causes, vividly pictured the effects and
proposed remedies. startling in their