Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13


2NuN& meeting he and were discussing the joys
G0SsMgSY and woes of the lecture platform.
GSgS0 must admit that in way | sympa-
thized with him; for knew something
of the suernes endured for days and nights prior to
ones own public appearance.
There was time many years ago upon which look
back with wonder that through it without
nervous prostraton, when suffered those selfsame
mental agonies the hour approached tor the fulfil
ment of of those rash promises which men fond OF
the sound of their voices make months IN advance
to those subtle atteers who would lure them from the
easv solitudes of silence into the uneasy nelght of
after-dinner oratory. Not without reason has GER
tain wit whose name is unfortunately lost to fame,
ferred to the chairs behind the guest table the raised
platform at reveres of this nature as the Seats OF the
Mighty and Miserable"
These serings involve loss of appetite for days in
advance of the event; complete arrangement of the
nervous system, with chance of recovery for at
least days preceding the emergent hour since sleep
either refuses to to ones relief altogether or COM
ing brings in its train species OF nerve-rackng dream
which leaves the last estate of the weary sumberer
worse than the first. The complication is far more
difficult to handle than that involved in the maturity
of promssory note which is unable to meet; for
there are conditions under which tender-hearted
creditor will permit renewal Of the latter sort of obi
CATION and this thought provides some sort of rift in
the cloud of debtors despair.
But in the matter public speaking there is such
comforting possibility. Nothing short of inglorous
fight painful accident, serious illness can save the
signer of that proissory note for twenty-five hundred
personally conducted after-dnner words from being
called upon to pay full the moment the note falls due
He can't even plead to be permitted the payment of one
paragraph account, and the balance IN thirty days.
The contract can neither be evaded, postponed,
subet. 1t is then with him, and while no
great harm would to the world if ninetynne and
seveneghths per cent of the afterdnner speeches OF
the ages had gone unspoken, of the right for
wardlookng, outstanding Sort whether his speeches be
good bad or like the of them merely Indifferent,
may wilfuly comfortably permit promise OF that
nature to go to protest.
Yes, l sympathized with that excellent gentleman.
have known him take to his bed three days before
the ordeal tremblingly approach the banquet board,
rise his feet, his taut string, his knees
uuaking the mercfu seclusion of the regions under
the table and then, with hardly glmmering of con-
scousness of what he doing or saying his whole
being thrilled with terror acquit himself brilliantly, to
return home at the conclusion of his trial physically
and nervously Frustrated.
nNE of the happiest recollections of my platform
- work, nevertheless, had to do with just such
shivering quiverng condition 1t many years ago
back the mid COS of the last century, that socaed
crazy -thecentury PERIOD which inspired Max
Nordau's depressing treatise on Degeneracy and yet
glorousy in contrast to what gong
on in the world at the present time.
In some mysterious fashion had succeeded in writ
ing what the literary world is pleased to term best
seller" and in consequence enjoying taste OF that
notorety which inexperienced youth often comounds
with immortality One result was toerably persistent
demand that exhibit myself at of those then popu
lar functions known as Authors Readings. This was
form of entertainment almost barbancaly cruel as
those ancient ceremonies in which Christian martyrs
thrown into to demonstrate their powers
combating rritated tigers, and such other blood
thirsty beasts of the jungle the ingenious fancy of
the management might suggest. 1t was in man
ner of speaking sort of Literary Hagenbeck Show,