The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-19

Soon after the war the temperance
cause was revived in Raleigh by the
organization of Council of the
Friends of Temperance, and quite q
number of temperance speakers was
developed These went out into the
country and to towns as well, and as
n result of such visits, the cause OF
temperance soon began to spread over
the State They didn't claim to be
orators but they made plain, prac-
teal temperance talks, which the
people appreciated, as was evidenced
by the fact that Council was or
ganized at almost every place visited.
We had however, q young man
here. who was not only full OF energy
and temperance enthusiasm, but had
quite sufiiciency of self-esteem, as
well. and because of that fact he de-
veloped very rapidly: and before his
friends had any idea that he could
make temperance speech, he mao
one written out, anecdotes and all,
and was ready to take the stump. NO
one knew it. but he had sent out
some appointments, the first of which
was up the Seaboard Airi Line. in
the direction of Moncure, and all I'M
known to his Raleigh friends, he took
the train one evening and started out
on his first temperance tour. l don
know whether or not the world would
ever have heard of that first trip IL
Capt Woodson, the city editor of the
DAILY News" had not got on track
of il and scooped it in. AT any rate,
the first intimation | had of the mat
ter l got from the News" and l as
sure the newsgatherers of today that
.Woodson made rich thing of it; for.
beginning with the young orators
starting from Raleigh, he gave in de-
tail, and highly colored, all the Incl
dents of the trip. He described the
Young mans appearance-his
thoughtful expression of countenancc,
as he walked to and fro on the plat
form. at the depot, while waiting for
the train to start; a book, containing
his speech, under his arm, and he,
in the meantime, saying over his
speech to himself Every now and
then he'd slap his hands, when, IN
Mis- speech, he would come to place
where he thought applause should
come in.
When, at last, the train moved off.
he opened his book and read aloud.
as il delivering his speech to great
crowd. stamping his feet whenever he
zane to the cross mark which meant
applause. and stamping and Shaping
his hands too. when he came to
mark which meant great applause.
When he had gone through the
speech. he closed his book, bnttoned
his coat. and putting on the dignif1ed
expression of Judge Pearson, he SAT-
bolt upright, casting his eyes. as if in
profound thought. on the floor of the
car in front of him. The train stop
ped. but so intently was he gazing
and SO deeply was he meditating. he
failed to notice that he had arrived
at the station of his destination. The
captain after he had pulled the bell
cord put his head inside and said:
Look here. Mister; if you are
going to get off at this station you'd
bettcf hustle. for the train is moving"
He sprang to the door. and instead of
using the steps and steadying himself
down. he jumped out and turned II
Somer-sault in Il ditch. When he got
up and looked about he was surprised
to see no committee of reception and
no carriage in sight as he expected.
for the place at which he was to
speak was a mile or two distant from
the road. But. just then he saw a
fellow coming full tilt on a bareback
mule, at u rate that indicated haste.
He rode right up to where the orator
stood. and without as much as saying
good evening he blurted out: lis
YOU the fellow that's to speak at the
school house to-night?''
Il ann Mr.. S.. the temperance
speaker. W no Is dONcTliSeu 10 ueIlNet
I'm address at the Academy this even
ing he replied in very dignified
manner.
"All right. Mr.. s., I've come for
YOU. Get up on that stump and
bounce up behind me; and he quick
about II for this burned mule won't
stand still minute. And mind, you
don't let your heels hit her in the
Hanks: If YOU do I'll be drat if she
don't spill us both"
The picture which Woodson drew
pf that mule back ride, the temper
ance orator hugging the fellow with
one arm. holding his book in the
other hand, while his legs stood out
ut almost right-angles, was ludicrous
indeed.
''Where am l to get SUPPER" asked
the temperance orator, as the mule
went Looping along in jack-rabbit style.
mo time for supper now. Our
folks all round here, done eat sup
per an hour ago. We are gwine right
straight TO the school house: meeting
begins at early candle light, and it's
that right now
Soon they reached the school house
and the orator found himself OH the
ground once more, much TO his re-
lief. A dozen people stood off at "a
distance and eyed him, as he was
pulling down his pants. brushing off
the hairs and otherwise adjusting his
toilet.
Mister said one Of the men
standing near the door; cts time you
were beginning your meeting; nights
are mighty short. and we farmers
can't set up like you town folks, as
hain't got nothing TO do"
But the house is not lighted up.
replied the orator.
twill be I'm n minute; / brought "A
candle along for the purpose" said
the man, and with that lie struck d
match. lighted the candle and stuck
it on a table. Of course the orator
couldn't read his speech by such u
light and that SO low, and he thought
he'd not try to do il. But when he
got up, he found that his tumble into
The ditch the shock he received when
he ascertained no committee With Il
carriage had met him. and the hui
initiation of riding behind a man OH
a bare back mule, had SO upset him.
ne couldn't think of word of his
speech. and he had nothing else ne
L.. ca. h. fttn., L. \,