The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1905-03-03

How often dD we hear. AZ public din.
ncr8. ohairmou wanting In tact an.
uouncc the name u an after.dinnor
speaker coupled with the remark that
Mr. clever man has been Invited "es.
pociully to entertain u.s." The impIi.
cation is that the gentleman rs to pay
for his dinner boy making a speech.
telling a story or singing a song.
have in memory one OF the most anus.
lug Incidents ut the Kind that occurred
at Dolmouico'E Il was a dinner OF
commercial organization. Amos J.
Cummings. then a brilliant Journalist
who had just been elected to the
house OF representatives at Washing.
ton, had considerable reputation as a
funny" speaker. lie was. In some
respects. the Simeon Ford Of that day.
We all saw that Amos was down on
the llst Of speakers; but nobody WAS
prepared for the Kind Of a talk no
gave
4 fine old chap who knew heaps
about commerce but nothing about
professional pride" was acting as
POSTMASTER when he reached Mr.
Cummings name he began thus.
we have with MS tonight a gentle.
man who has been especially asked
for tho purpose OF entertaining us.
That he will do 80 let us hope. have
| the pleasure of introducing Mr. Cum.
minrs. who. ! believe, will amuso
YOU"
Those Of US who we're watching
/ Amos Cummings face while these re-.
marks were making saw the gather.
/ Ink clouds and knew their portont.
The storm broke. as soon as Amos
was ON his feet Joseph Howard. Jr..
was there that night and he chucklod
at the prospect OF a row.
80. have been invited. not as your
guest, but Az paid entertalner-paid.
say and my wage IN rated so low
aE the price Of dlnner7 Well, I rate
you az what you ara pack Of com.
mon money grabbors. incapable Of
having the instincts Of gentlemen
when "a money consideration inter.
,oncs. I can be- bought for price. Just
because you buy hides. logwood. rum
and tobacco II | omit any OF the com.
muditics OF commerce. l do not mean
10 discriminate In favor OF any OF you.
I always dospiscd this so.callod com.
mcrcol now declare my contempt
Tor you men who are engaged In Il.
Entertain you-you7 ! could best
do that by climbing down into tho
watts Of commences nlthy lanyard
You'd follow me there; you'd under
stand me. then. Entertain you, In
doodi am incapable. but. I thank
God can and have made you take
notice II aid not think that I had
|. ! amply paid you Tor your dinner w
telling you what | think OF you. I'd
send you my check for the price q
the opportunity II has been worth :
, years salary"
And then. Amos j. Cummings strod'
out OF the banquet hail leaving The
, most awestricken gathering Of men
ever bcheld. Some OF ms were con
yulsed with laughter. Cummings wal
lighting angry and the man who
would have stopped him would have
I, been llladyised,
. or course, that was the breaking M
N the dinner. Attempts were made Z,
I. continue the speaking. but, to para
a phrase the translators Of Boccaccio
a owing 10 the disfayor into which On
y tortainment had fallen" tho speaklnl
u was not listened 10 by the dIsorgau
=, ICED assomblage No possible doiens'
= can be offered for Mr Cummings II,
, would have scorned TO set up onI
himself There never was a momen
In Amos Cummings life when he wa
not a distinct personality, quite oapa
BILE OF standing mp and asserting him
d, self.-Julius Chambers In BrooklyI
~ Eagle.