Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 33

Case XIII.—A Story important to Public Speakers.—(18th Nov.)

Case XIII.—A Story important to Public Speakers.—(18th Nov.)

The indefatigable Mr. George Easton, Agent of the Scottish Temperance League, is subject to bad colds, which generally last several weeks; and as he has to address meetings almost every night, they are apt to go on from bad to worse. Such a cold shut his mouth (not easily done), and debarred him from all meetings during July and August of this year. On Wednesday last he caught such a cold. It was growing worse daily, though he was still performing duty, till he reached Biggar on Friday forenoon, for the purpose of advancing the cause of temperance. Having addressed a meeting at Skirling on Friday evening, on Saturday his cold was making progress; some huskiness or hoarseness was beginning to set in, which made him very concerned about the work before him next evening, to end probably in other two months' vacation. On Saturday night he happened to get hold, in the Biggar Temperance Hotel, where he was residing, of the First Edition of my pamphlet. He began to read; before being half-finished with it sent for me in haste; told me his predicament and fears, and asked if a little spray would not help him. 'Help you?' said I, 'only promise to keep silent till Monday morning, and I 'll have you cured.' For two nights past, he had coughed incessantly for upwards of an hour on going to bed before falling asleep. And the cough was none of your gentle things, but hard and pithy, stout and earnest, that reminded one of his own stentorian oratory! He would not promise to give up the meeting, but requested a few whiffs at once. After fifteen whiffs or thereby, I told him to have an hour of the fumes in addition before going to bed. That night he never gave a cough, but 'slept like a top' till morning. Coughed slightly during Sunday, page 42 but quite loose; addressed his crowded meeting on Sunday evening; felt nothing the worse of it, though the night was frosty; repeated both fumes and spray before going to bed; and after another night's repose, rose on Monday morning in great glee and spirits, found his gloomy fears of being torn from his work at once dispelled, and himself a great enthusiast in another cause besides that of temperance. With apostolic zeal this gentleman has long advocated what he considers a righteous cause; but let the League beware : even temperance now shares not his undivided affection. Note.—I insert Mr. Easton's name at his own request, because, being well known in almost every quarter of Scotland, he invites all who may doubt this case to ask particulars of himself.

'Edinburgh, 22d November 1867.—The foregoing particulars are correctly stated; and as the lady who showed me the pamphlet was Miss——, who sung two lines to the tune of Old Hundred (Case III.) I certify that her case also (by her own account) is strictly true.

'George Easton.'