EDITORS WALLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 50

EDITORS WALLET.

"Quote Your Author."

General George A. Sheridan, the American stump speaker and leoturer, is said to have once delivered the axiom that the one thing which a stump orator does not need to burden himself with is facts. It is the general's idea that a facile speaker creates all the facts he wants as he goes along in his speech. In illustration of his meaning he told a story of an occurrence when he was out on tour with General Garfleld. He had made an assertion with reference **> the tariff which seemed to him to need s< me bolstering, and he said that his statement had been based on a decision of the highest court of the State of New York.

- He was about to pass on when a young man in the audience interrupted him and begged permission to ask where this decision could be found. The general was •« up a stump," and in the hope that Garfleld might help him out he asked the inquirer : • • Ate you a lawyer P " The stranger replied in the affirmative. "I thought so," said Sheridan; 'Jyou look like a lawyer and a smart and intelligent one. You have doubtless read this decision yourself many times."' By this time it became apparent to Sheridan thatGarfield was enjoying his discomfiture, and that he must get oub of his scrape as best he could. It flashed across his mind that there was a report in New York known as Denio's, and he said : " The report is in fifth Demo, page so-and-so." The young lawyer wavered a minute and then sat down, saying meekly : " Ah, yes, I do remember now having read it myself!" - Sheridan says that he had the curiosity to look up the page to which he referred the inquisitive young fellow, and found it was. the middle of a report of a case involving questions of idiotcy.