His First Attempt.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2935, 12 July 1878, Page 2

His First Attempt.

I paid a visit to a friend the other evening who is a very good hamd at entertaining his friends with a gennine story, either in his own experience, or sombody else's. . Tbe conrersation turned on the subject of public speaking, and as he has had some practical 1 experience in this line himself, and in a certain circle is known as a speaker of some force, he favored us with an account of his first attempt on a public platform, which greatly amused myself and another, and which, if I can do justice to its repetition f is worth repeating. Many years ago hejoined the temperance movement in ' England and although he took considerable interest in it, be could not allow himself to be persuaded into taking a prominent position at the meetings furthering 'the cause, because of his modesty and diffidence in ap> eiaring before the public as a speaker, owever, there was one among his friend* who believed him capable of doing some* thing, and at last prevailed upcn him to prepare a-lecture to be given at a temperance meeting; but not! in the town in which he resided,-but an adjacent one; for if he were going to meet honor or be subjected to disgrace, he-chose " strange parts " for it. Well, he' had written hi« lecture —it was not all original; hehad carefully spiced it with clippings from popular works—and made endeavors to thoroughly commit it to memory, so as to give it. extempore. He read it over and over; askance, and horizontal; and at last the date was fixed when he should /give it. His friend had meanwhile-been making arrangements on a large scale, quite unknown to the intending lecturer. He had thought he was going to meet a score or so of persons in a small school-room, bul instead the public hall had been engaged, and the matter fully advertised* with posters, &c. At last they started (his friend accompanied him in the train).. On their arrival at W———, they .^ens/ accosted by a respectable person, who wished to know of them where the " gentleman from B was going to lecture," being apparently a stranger. He (tbe stranger) was answered by our hero's friend, and on they walked to the hall mentioned, while the gentleman fell behind, feeling as though he could have sunk into his, shoes, so surprised and unnerved was he at what he had heard. But there was no getting out' of it, and with unsteady step he entered the large building filled with some hundreds of expectant visitors. There. was to be some singing, and then he would be called upon. His time arrived, and the Chairman announced that Mr J-——

from B would then come forward. Alas! filled with consternation, and trying to collect himself, Mr J. did not bear the Chairmam's voice, but a poke in the back from vhis friend brought him to bis senses, and he ascended the platform. He scarcely dared to look at the assembly below, ncr at those in the gallery, but, casting a furtive glance at the. chair, he began : Mr Chairman—then an awful, dilemma—for the life of him he could not think of a word of his lecturenot a word. The night was icy cold (he assures me) ; nevertheless, great drops of perspiration rolled down his cheeks. At last these words came to his* bewildered mind, and he uttered them—" Blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed." He then continued for some time, and at last ventured to look up at the clock, and was surprised to find he bad been speaking f 'of an hour; but what he said, be avers, he never knew. —E.D.