Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-05-23
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Speech That Cured a Great Ora
tors Severe Headache.
no" Rufus Choate, Though Suffering
Agonies, Delivered Eloquent
Address and Speedily Re-
covered from Attack.
BY {. !. EDWARDS.


When Zachary Taylor was nomi
mated by the Wings for president in
1913 one of the great orators Of that
day who today is famous in history
as one OF Americas greatest orators
was Rufus Choate. cousin of Joseph
II. Choate. formerly ambassador to
Great Britain. Rufus Choate had also
long enjoyed the distinction Of being
one OF the cOuntry's leading Wings.
ana because of this fact and his great
oratorical powers he was besought to
take part in the presidential cam
palSn as supporter Of General Tay-
Ior- Though his law practice was then
almost overwhelming him. Mr.. Choate
promised to make a few speeches.
Among the places where he was as
signed TO speak was one Of the impor-
tant suburban towns near Boston
Brookline. But when, on the day for
the speech to be made there. the COM
mlttee called upon Mr.. Choate at his
nail in BrOOkline. the great LAWYER
was found to be suffering from a rag
ing headache. The agony was so
great that he could hardly speak; and
IN the hope OF getting some relief
from the pain he nad saturated his
long curly hair with some sort of
counter irritant, the odor of which
was very palpable TO the members of
the committee.
Notwithstanding this physical
agony. Mr.. Choate. saying nothing.
went from his house to the carriage
that was awaiting him. and the Jour
ney to the hall was begun. All the
way there he pressed his hands to his
temples. supporting his elbows upon
his knees; and he gave other signs of
such deep distress that the commit
tee was afraid that he would be un-
able to make his speech. In fact. the
members advised him not to attempt
IT, saying that they would procure a
substitute speaker But to his sug-
gestion Mr.. Choate shook his head
most decidedly, and that without re-
moving his hands from his bursting
temples.
With great misgivings the commit
tee escorted Mr.. Choate to the plat
form, and as he stepped upon il It
seemed to them as though the great
lawyer was on the verge of collapse.
The whole expression of his face was
that of a man suffering almost I'M
bearable pain, and he was most un.
steady on his feet
At the moment of his introduction
to the audience he stood leaning
heavily with one hand upon the speak
er's table. In that position he re-
NAMED for the first minute or two of
his speech, and his opening sentences
were delivered in voice so faint that
even those nearest to him were
scarcely able to catch what he had
said. The committee. who knew Mr.
Choate's condition. were sure that he
would speedily be compelled to de
slst, when, suddenly, he was observed
TO stand erect, and che next moment.
to their intense astonishment. he had
gained his voice. and soon was in the
midst of one of the finest political
orations which had ever been deliv-
cred in Boston or its vicinity. And
until he had spoken his last word he
held the great audience enchanted.
Then, while the applause was still
filling the hall. he turned to the COM
mittee, saying that he was ready to
go home. \ member asked him if he
did not feel like taking a little rest
before undertaking the trip.