The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1912-05-02
THREE BIG EXCEPTIONS.


oratePs etaismshf.
A score or more Of years ago
three notable Americans crossed the
ocean in one another's company,
determining 70 tour Great Britain
and Europe together, but because
Of a personal peculiarly that made
them "ihe observed Of all obsery-
ers" wherever they vent they soon
decided 10 separate and even sought
different lodgings. Any reader who
wildly remembers Bishop Phillips
Brooks Of Boston (he was not then
q bishop, the Rev. DR.. McVickar
Of Philadelphia and H. II. Richard
son, the builder Of Trinity church,
Boston, win easily guess Why they
decided not 70 travel much To-
gether. However, they all CHANGED
70 be in Leeds At the same date
and saw the advertisement Of Q lee
tuFo 70 workingmen on America
and Amesieans BY q locally popu-
lar speaker. and, wondering what
the man would nay about the States,
the three Americans decided 70 at
tend. But they agreed 70 20 20 the
hall separately and 10 sit IN differ
ent parts Of the house.
In that day English speakers and
writer's often showed abyssmal IL
norance Of the United States, and
showed 4 boldly, for there vas no
one 70 correct them. The story Of
the English newspaper writer who
spoke Of the New York people fear
ing 70 travel as far a. Harlem be-
cause Of the Indians and the hunt
ing Of buffalo in the outskirts Of
the famous city near Niagara falls
vas not al q joke . score Of years
ago. But the speaker At Leeds was
q particularly ignorant fellow and
seemed 10 have a strong bias
against the English speaking breth-
rem across seas. Finally be touched
upon the size Of Americans and I'm
ished q perornfion with the four
ishing statement that Americans
were proFerbially short Of stature
and that the tallest Of them never
exceeded Eve feet ten inches IN
height.
This vas adding insult to injury
ia the case Of The three Americans
present Dr.. Brooks could not keep
bis seat He rose suddenly and
cried out: NY friends. that last
statement Of the orator Of the even
ing 4 too. too muchl l am an
American. and, a. you can see, am
rising SIX feet" and, being a big |
man, be looked gigantic a. be stood |
there deiying the lecturer with his
hand raised. IF there are any 9TH |
er Americans IN the audience hope |
thoy viii stand up. too, and rcfuto
this mans Wild statements"
Expressions Of surprise we're fol-
Ioued By q litter Of laughter when,
slowly and majesiically, Mr.. Rich
ardson rose from his seat. Il am
az Americsn,v he said in bis mel
low tones, Annd my height Of six
feet one inch causes no remark IN
nv own country. II there Is an
other fellow connlryman in the
house I hope he viii rise"
The audience was nov on the Qui
rive. and when, after an impressive
wais Of q few seconds, DR.. McVick-
~ began to unlimbcr every eye was
axcd on him. There was scarcely
another man in the American pull
pit Of bis day that made 50 impress
i've a figure AZ the good doctor, for
be vas four inches over six feet in ]
height. He began, i am an
Amer
But he got no further. A burst
II laughter and applause welcomed
he notable exceptions that certain
N disprovcd the lecturers rule, and
he lecturer himself was boocd of
he platform. New York Tribune.