. Platform echoes: or, Living truths for head and heart . tain town, you might haveseen a drivelling, idiotic drunkard seated upon a box, witha slouched hat drawn over his eyes and a fiddle in his to scrape out such music as would please thecompany of inebriates that surrounded him; and they, inturn, attempting to shuffle and dance, paying the miserablemusic-maker his wages in rum. No doubt they looked athim with great contempt, thinking themselves superior tohim. Just look at him; what a fool! See how he chucklesas the glass is presented to him, as he puts it to his blisteredl
. Platform echoes: or, Living truths for head and heart . tain town, you might haveseen a drivelling, idiotic drunkard seated upon a box, witha slouched hat drawn over his eyes and a fiddle in his to scrape out such music as would please thecompany of inebriates that surrounded him; and they, inturn, attempting to shuffle and dance, paying the miserablemusic-maker his wages in rum. No doubt they looked athim with great contempt, thinking themselves superior tohim. Just look at him; what a fool! See how he chucklesas the glass is presented to him, as he puts it to his blisteredlips and quaffs the liquor; now he wipes his frothy mouth,first with the back of his hand and then with his palm; whata fool! This was the man and his employment in man signed the pledge, and in three years he was arepresentative in Congress. In 1848 that same man wasnominated by his party as a candidate for the gubernatorialchair of the State; neither did those who have heard him as Ihave, when his form seemed to dilate with the great thoughts. WORKING FOR OTHERS. 287 to which he gave utterance in a torrent of burning wordsthat sunk deep into the hearts of his hearers, nor did theCongress that was occasionally electrified by his eloquence ormelted by his pathos ever dream that he was a fool. Yetthis poor creature of 1840 possessed the same mind, thesame genius with the man of 1848; and when his fellow-countrymen proposed him for and carried him into the highseat of honor, did they esteem him a fool ? It is drunkennessthat befools men more than any other vice. I remember reading that in the Bosphorus a beautiful jewelwas dropped in the water, and they desired to ascertain theplace where the gem had fallen, for it was valuable; but thesurface was so rough they could not discern it. Some oneproposed to pour oil on the water; they did so, saw thejewel, and obtained it. Now the drunkards breast is liketroubled waters, casting up mire and dirt. Let us drop theoil of sympath
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjecttempera, bookyear1890
