SNEEZING


While campaigning in Iowa Speaker Cannon was once inveigled into

visiting the public schools of a town where he was billed to speak. In

one of the lower grades an ambitious teacher called upon a youthful

Demosthenes to entertain the distinguished visitor with an exhibition of

amateur oratory. The selection attempted was Byron's "Battle of

Waterloo," and just as the boy reached the end of the first paragraph

Speaker Can
on gave vent to a violent sneeze. "But, hush! hark!"

declaimed the youngster; "a deep sound strikes like a rising knell! Did

ye not hear it?"



The visitors smiled and a moment later the second sneeze--which the

Speaker was vainly trying to hold back--came with increased violence.



"But, hark!" bawled the boy, "that heavy sound breaks in once more, and

nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! it is--it is--the

cannon's opening roar!"



This was too much, and the laugh that broke from the party swelled to a

roar when "Uncle Joe" chuckled: "Put up yout weapons, children; I won't

shoot any more."



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