New-York tribune., 1907-06-23

forever. These two, however, rallied TO the
occasion, constituting themselves a hospitaI
z house across the way. The doctor. who was
instantly summoned. found his patient suffer
ing from several deep gashes about the head
and otherwise badly bruised. But surgeons
plaster and Il few days of enforced quiet a.
home were all that the hero required to fix him
up.
FIRST POLITICAL SPEECH.
or course the world in general IS aware that
Thomas Reed must have delivered a first DO
utCal speech some time somewhere; but the
particulars are not widely known. II I
night in early September. OF season when a
tcrrid summer had conserved all Of its energies
and expended them in one final "go-on'
When the train, great hot, numbering
monster. putting and blowing with slow and
labored breath. pulled into the station az South
Buxton the face OF Thomas Reed might have
been at the window. MS hat off and
handkerchief tucked in TO preserve the dignity
of his collar While the engine was taking
few more languOrOUs and WheeZy breaths Mr..
Reed slowly gathered himself together and de-
HberateIy walked from the train Whatever
might have been the fire of Oratory which
burned within him, his outward bearing was
void Of all excitement. LeISurely he glanced
around the railway platform and out on the
winding. dusty road beyond. The town hall was
a mile and a half from the station. In those
DAYS political orators were not met with dele
cations of dignitaries and brass bands: they
selves else they had no place in the business
and Mr. Reed knew this. Presently a ricketv.
dust-buried hayrack pulled up TO the PLATFORM
Mr.. Reed looked at the driver perspiri0Giy-
Like lift" said the driver with tbs bot
weather. country dravl-
Yes thank you. I would answered Nr.
Reed.
BE you the feIer that's goin' ter speak up
to the town hall might? If you be l guess
YOU w'uut have nothin' but empty seats ter talk
for it'S zoe 'tarual no tniSht listen ter
p'litcal oratin'."
Mr. Reed smiled one of his inImItable smiles
and said:
Yes II is rather warm"
The old farmer gave Mr. Reed a fairly clear
idea Of the political situation at South Buxton
at least his version of it-during the ride Ihe
IurcheS of the hayrack punctuated the nioho-
tone of his voice and gave color to the rhstol'-
cal figures. .,
II yvos past . O'Clock and not person had
entered the town hall except Mr.. Reed He be-
gan 20 think that the old farmer had summer
up the situation CorreCtly-u was 700 taria'
hot"-but presently several boys shaIHoled ui
the doorway and slOuched intn a seat IN ths
rear IT was not exactly such constituents as
these that MIR Reed had jOurneyed 70 South
Buxton on the hottest night OF the season 10 in-
fluence; but he had made UP his mind 70 speaA
To somebody and speak he would. Craduaus
stray individuals began to stragSle IN, and tae'
finally they began coming BY 'woS and threeS,
till by s o'clock there was seated in the nan
about seventy or one hundred hot. perspn,,
ing mortals ready To have tho IRE or you'niu'
political oratory turned loose on them. n1.
they were mistaken They did not know their
man. Mr. Reed arose and, in the same det'
crate manner with which they had saunte'eu
into the hall, began 70 address them, WoFus
came rather slowly at first. and hts tone was ~
ianguorous as the day; but little by little th'
constraint of the weather and his SURROUNDINGS
wore or his voice grew earnest his words cams
faster and his sentences took element o.
conviction that made the farmers forget the neat
of the day in the field. forget the few last s'acA
OF hay that were stiu unhOused. the acres oA
corn that had to he cut and hauled and the mar
ness or wagon wheel that had broken that day
and left the days work in a snarl Slowly ous
cordially he won his audience till when ne hau
finished speaking seventy-hve persons nsu'
noise enough for two hundred with their cheers.
and the old farmer no longer conscious OK
the "'tarnal heat"
This was the last chapter OF Thomas heeus
Youth He was from that on and forcs
to reckoned with.