Modern Eloquence; Anecdotes. Indices (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...M. Depew. Anticipated the Order.--In a little town where I once studied, an old gentleman died. A member of the family went to the village undertaker and said that for some family reason the funeral must occur the next afternoon, and they wanted to give the undertaker, who was the sexton and carpenter also, timely warning, for fear that he might not be able to make the coffin in time. "Oh," the old man replied, "I will be ready; you needn't worry; I have had my eye on him for some time, and I have got out the stuff."--Henry A. Stimson. Sectional Treating.--The story is told as occurring somewhere in the West, we will say at the " Confederate X-roads," where a company were gathered in a barroom, and one of the number invited the rest to drink. As they stepped cheerfully up, he said, " This is a Yankee treat." "What is that?" asked one of the company. "Every man pays for his own drink," was the reply. They drank, and, a few moments of silence having elapsed, the man who had asked the question turned and said, "Now, friends, drink with me. This is a Western treat." As they took their glasses in their hands and solemnly poured the delectable liquid down, he put his empty glass on the bar, and with a wave of his arm exclaimed: "Charge it."--Henry A. Stimson. Our Country One.--Another lesson is that of national unity in spite of sectional diversities. These sectional diversities were sharply defined. Virginia was as thoroughly and proudly English as Massachusetts, and older; but more aristocratic and episcopal, Massachusetts being democratic and congregational. Each of these older States organized a sentiment and a section. And so we had a South and a North, which seldom...