The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-08-20
WHY BOB TAYLOR
Followed Advice of Rev
Stuart in Distress.
LAW BUSINESS A FAILURE
EX-Gov. Sought Counsel
and Was Persuaded
to Lecture.

Just lots of people don't know that
Senator Bob Taylor got his start in the
lecture business right here in Chatta-
nooga, and that he was ushered on the
platform and started in the business by
the Rev. Geo. r. Stuart, of prohibition
renown, at that time the pastor of Cen
tenary church, says the Chattanooga
Star. It's so, nevertheless, that he be-
gan dealing ont sweetened wind at the
rate of one dollar per in this very place,
if the recollections of certain promi-
nent lawyer are correct.
Two lawyers were conversing at
Olympia park, at the same time listen
ing to the rendition of masterpieces by
the brass band that gives weekly con.
certs there. From music and public
concerts and local and state politics the
conversation naturally drifted to Bob
Taylor and his career-an embydiment
of all the others. Mr.. Lawyer No.
asked Mr.. Lawyer No. 2 il he knew
how Bob Taylor broke into the lecture
business, and when Attorney No, 2 said
he didn't know but would like to
be informed, Attorney No. proceeded
to inform him. A Star reporter was
eavesdropping, and took down the fol-
lowing excerpt from No. Is remarks:
When Bob Taylor went out of the
governors Offices at Nashville he came
to Chattanooga and set up law office.
OF course, he was hail fellow we'll met
to everybody at all times, and his office
was always crowded with persons list
ening to his yarns. Bob was pretty
popular as yarn spinner, but neither
he nor his partner was rushed with law
business. In fact, he remained in his
Office eight months, and his first suit
came at the end of that period, when
local furniture house started a replevin
suit against him to recover desk pur-
chased on the installment plan. The
governor, that had been and seuator
that was to be, defended that suit, and
so far as is known, had no other legal
matters to engage his attention while
he stayed in Chattanooga.
One day Mr.. Taylor went to see Geo.
Il. Stuart, his pastor, and told him
plainly that he was politician without
a job, looking for way to make liv-
ing. The minister told him that for
years he had been the best drawing
card in Tennessee democracy, could
tell hundreds of yarns, and suggested
that he go on the lecture platform.
Bob protested, claiming he had never
charged anybody in his life % hear him
talk, but accepted the min ster's advice
and invitation to consult him again
next day. George Stuart was one OF
the few preachers who could boast OF
business acumen and foresight as we'll
literary and spiritual ability, and when
Bob called the next day he said he was
prepared to follow the advice.
Mr.. Stuart then told the ex-governor
to go off and write his speech, putting
all the Jokes he could into it. In few
days Bob returned with the manuscript
copy of the "Fiddle and the Bow" Still
following the ministers advice, he went
away and committed it to memory
then returned to his PASTORS study and
recited il to him.
Upon Mr.. Stuart's advice, he deliv
cred the lecture in the opera house
The place was filled with his friends
who came to help him out. They pait
a dollar seat, knowing he needed thf
money. The lecture was wondroul
success. Still following MIR. Stuart''
advice, he made series of dates up thu
Southern railway. At each place HI
met with great success. At the end o
! month he saw he needed manages
to attend to the business end of hi
windy aud witty invasions of the coun
try, and placed himself under the di
rection of DeLong Rice and his lyceun
bureau. The rest of his history i
known.
When he started out, Bob Taylor wa
Just about $25, 900 in debt. He said tina
when he made his race for the senate
He paid the debt off and accumulatet
, property, as we'll as enough money t.
conduct long fight against Senate
Carmack. Now he is one of the mos
famous lecturers in the United States
and senator besides, but he doesn'
have to be either one unless he want
to. "Hot air" has placed him on eas
street. He deals out sweetensd wind
and at every breath the sheckels faI
plenteously into his exchequer.