Evening journal., 1912-04-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Famous Orators Most
Inspiring Meeting
By Holland

] yesterday told the story of the
manner in which Henry Ward Beecher
introduced Colonel Robert G. Tnger-
soil to an audience of six thousand
persons who packed the Academy of
Music In Brooklyn TO more than its
capacity on the Saturday night before
the Presidential election of 1880.
Ingersoll himself was so greatly af-
fected by the exquisite felicity of
Beecher's address Of introduction and
by the demonstration which followed
that Introduction that he afterward
said that with a single exception, it
was the most impressive demonstra-
ton which he had ever witnessed.
The exception to which Colonel In
gersol referred was an incident which
took place in Wall street New York.
the same day Ingersoll delivered his
Brooklyn address.
After Colonel Ingersoll took law Of
fees in New York, he was a familiar
figure In Wall street and upon Broad
way. but there never was a time when
he walked upon either thoroughfare
that he was not conscious that per-
sons by the score turned TO look at
him or pointed him out to friends. His
New York offices were upon the upper
! floor of a building diagonally oppo-
site the United States Treasury De-
partment Building at the corner Of
Wall and Nassau streets. One day
was calling on him at his Office and
asked him, as we stood looking out Of
the window, If he did not deliver an
address in the Garfield presidential
campaign from a platform erected
over the steps Of the United States
Treasury Building.
YES" replied Colonel Ingersoll.
"and / never look from this window
over toward the statue of Washing
ton. which stands on the spot where
Washington stood when he was first
inaugurater President. without pictur-
ing forth that wondrous demonstra-
tion that took place on the afternoon
of the day when l spoke for Garfield
and Arthur from a platform erected
over the sub-treasury steps. On the
whole, | think that was the most i'm
pressive demonstration that I ever
witnessed, although | sometimes think
that one which occurred i'm Brooklyn
that night was almost as impressive "
II had been announced that Colonel
lngersoll would speak to the business
men-bankers. brokers. and others
who cared to hear him--from the
steps of the sub-treasury building on
the afternoon of October 80 1880. But
long before the time set for Inger-
soils address the street in front of the
sub-treasury on either side began to
throng. Not only bankers clerks and
messengers, but bankers whose
names were good for millions were
numbered in that throng. The crowd
increased until It reached far down
Broad street. which runs .southerly
from the front of the sub-ueasury
Nothing but mass of faces was seer
in that part OF Wall street which
stretches from Trinity Church to the
sub-treasury. A great company from
the Produce Exchange, and its vicin
ity a third Of mile distant, tindini
that they could not approach 10 with
in hearing distance OF the sub-trea
sury by either Broad street or uppe
Wall. made detour Of nearly a hal
mile so that they sprung into Wal
street from the east side. Every win
dow looking down upon the sub-trea
sury was curtained with human faces
Colonel Ingersoll was escortel
through the rear door Of the sub-trea
sury building to the platform Accus
toned as he was to facing great au
diences, he nevertheless for a momen
seemed almost overwhelmed by III
sight Of that ocean of human faces
Turning to Mr. Jackson S. Schultzt
who was to introduce him. Colone
Ingersoll said:
81 have never seen anything lik
this"
"Nor l." replied Mr.. Schultze. "No
even when We had war meetings here
AZ the time OF the Civil War. wa
there such demonstration tina
equalled this
After a moment Colonel Ingersol
pulled himself together, having be
come inspired by the spectacle. and h
said to one man who stood near him
These people shall have the Dest tha
Is in me TO give"
They stood there for nearly an hou
listening 10 him Even after Inger
soil finished they still stood for som
moments silent, so wonderful haC
been the effect Of his eloquene and OF