The Washington herald., 1909-01-24
HE'S The DOG FORAN ORATOR
Plight Of Young Man Whose Room
mate Is a Public Speaker.
Am bilious Person Who Tries TO see
Whether HIS Jokes Are of
Standard Quality.

We hear" said the young man 70 the
View York Sun reporter. about their
trying new plays on the dog Wen. In
not exactly public audience. but still
just the same, I'm the dog for an orator
my roommate.
Hes an ambitious young man. wants
70 be a public speaker, belongs TO about
fourteen different clubs and societies
and he makes efter-dinner speeches and
he tries those speeches on me. II you
should happen TO see him at some dinner
that you so 10 rising with seeming dfH-
dence and hear him saying modestly.
'Nr- Chairman and Ladies and Gentle
men: I had scarcely expected 10 be called
upon this evening
Why, don't you believe him. He had
hoped and expected that he would be
called on and that speech that he now
proceeds to deliver he had carefully pre-
pared and rehesTsed and tried on ne
I suppose Il he roomed alone he would
make his speeches to his chair, his bed. OF
MS chidonier. but as II is he makes them
10 ne come Up TO the room some night
after dinner and sit down and try. 10 read
the paper with him there poring over
something on the desk. and then the frs,
thing know just as I've got all locked
Up in what I'm reading hear him
speaking. and 1 see he's making ze the
dog again
Mis-tah Chair-man.' he saws. faster-
ing his eye upon me with great serious
ness, Following. as I DO. the nIustrious
speakers who have already addressed vou.
i would scarcely be becoming in me 10
address You at great length. but
And then he goes ahead aud talks and
talks. and what can do? I can't choke
him on; he's nice chap and he's got this
bug He's all wrapped up IN IL, and I
can't throw him down. can u can't tel
him 70 go down cellar or up on the roof.
He wants some living being u talk 10 for
his own encouragement, and so he makes
me the dog and stand for IL
he goes at me with the most solemn
earnestness. and II he raises a laugh our
of ne or makes me interested and se-i-
Gus, why. then he's more tickled than
you can tell. for he thinks he's got EN-
cinched.
I'm the dog in that way about three
nights IN the week, the rest being the
nights when he's out speaking. He
heaves stories at me and jokes and senti-
ments, and he's so earnest about It that
I have to SIT and listen. 1 find him sit
ting at his desk pOring over things. and
then / hear his chair slide back 7 Law
down ny paper and face him, and then
he rises and begins:
ladies' and gentlemen, As I look
around me or this auspicious occasion
there come 20 ne the words OF the poet
- and then he goes ahead and recites
the poetry.
'Or maybe this night he starts his
speech with a story. or a joke, all de-
pending. OF course. on where he's going
10 speak: but whatever It IS he ALWAYS
tries it first on me, and then he scoots
for the dinner
I've been 10 hear him myself once
or twice. and do you know he does very
well2 Yes. sir, very well: and I couIdn' :
help feeling a sort OF proprietary pride
in him and his speech. And when he
brings down the house, which I am
bound TO say he does. I cheer with the
rest Of them. nobody more heartily. and
I'm interested more than ever in seeing
him get on.
still. do you know If I was going to
get another roommate. think I should
try 70 get ore who was not a public
speaker. think so. for much as enjoy
It now, don't think I'd Ike 10 keep on
always being dog for an orator"