The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-08-01


lress, approached the edge of the
platform and in a clear ringing voice,
announced that he had the pleasure
Of introducing the greatest soldier
speaker in the world.
The next moment a youthful figure,
clad in a strange, almost story-book
lniforns, limped on to the platform.
People gasped. How could he be the
greatest orator Of the war? Why, he
IS just boy" they said to each 9TH
sr. A few of the more observant,
noticed the two gold wound stripes
Ind the service chevrons on his arm.
who is he? What is his uniform.
Where does he come from were a
few Of the many questions asked.
TIE naxt moment he started speak
ing. Quietly, clearly, earnestly, as
though feeling his way; then as he
'elt the audience with him, he seemed
10 warm up, and the phrases came
faster and faster. His diction was not
perfect. His eloquence was Of the
Impassioned type. It simply swept
he immense audience of its feet.
Tho audience thrice In quick sue
session rose and cheered to the echo,
Is he told Of unparalleled bravery and
devotion to the cause. His climax
vas dramatic, thrilling. electric. Ris-
ng to the supreme pitch Of match
ess eloQuence, he raised his hands
nigh and said:
Arise, arise, We sons of America.
The foe is at the gate. The scales
Of victory and defeat weigh in the
balance there. The flower of this
worlds manhood, hand to hand, steel
to steel, fight as men have never
fought before, but they are not ma
chimes. they are not supermen. They
ire only human like you are, and
hey want your help; SO, prepare, pre-
pare. because-AMERICA PREPARED
Is GERMANY DEFEATED"
AS he rang out the last words, the
audience went wild with enthusiasm
cheering. clapping and shouting. The
next moment the speaker asked the
people present to prove the sincerity
IF their applause by giving to the
Fourth Liberty Loan Drive. The re-
,ponse was staggering. Ten million
dollars was poured in, in the first four
minutes. Mr.. John d. Rockefeller
started the ball with two million dol
airs. This was quickly followed by
mother and another. Then came the
single millions, and then the halves,
md then the quarters, and so on down
% q thousand dollars. The audience
vas now stirred to frenzy, but the
Foung soldier never lost his self-con-
:rol for a moment. For nearly two
hours he was on the platform, and
lot q soul left the building. He sim
ply held them spellbound. No such
money giving had ever been heard of
n the world before. The final count
vas twenty-five million dollars.
Next morning the New York Tri-
oune, in a column article on the first
page referred to the meeting as 'The
greatest demonstration in the history
If the war loan campaign, in any ma.
ton" Another New York morning
paper, referred to "The spell Of the
eloquence of the wonderful young
speaker" and still another summed
up the young soldier as the Great
est orator that has come out of the
war"
The young speaker was Signaller
Tom Skeyhill, the Australian Soldier
poet and Orator, who speaks at our
Chautauqua on the closing night. He
has spoken in all the best auditoriums
in the United States, and he has taken
the platform with both Theodore
Roosevelt and William Taft, and on
one occasion he spoke before the
President
Single-handed he has raised over
forty millions OF dollars for war funds,
thus establishing worlds record.