Page:Cyclopedia of illustrations for public speakers, containing facts, incidents, stories, experiences, anecdotes, selections, etc., for illustrative purposes, with cross-references; (IA cyclopediaofillu00scotrich).pdf/603



whereas it must have been only 2 sous. So I took out of my right pocket, in which I keep my silver, another coin, which that time really was a 2f. piece, and dropt it for the waiter to find. I did not want to disappoint the man after telling him, you see." (Text.)

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PROMOTION, HINDRANCES TO

He watched the clock.

He was always grumbling.

He was always behindhand.

He asked too many questions.

His stock excuse was "I forgot."

He wasn't ready for the next step.

He did not put his heart into his work.

He learned nothing from his blunders.

He was content to be a second-rate man.

He chose his friends among his inferiors.

He ruined his ability by half-doing things.

He never dared to act on his own judgment.

He did not think it worth while to learn how.

He thought it clever to use coarse and profane language.

He imitated the habits of men who could stand more than he could.

He did not learn that the best part of his salary was not in his pay envelop.—Success.

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PROOF

A Christian Korean who had his hair cut like a Japanese was met by a company of his fellow countrymen who were out looking for Japanese sympathizers. They accused him of being a traitor, but he insisted that he was not—that he was a Christian. "Have you a Bible and a hymn-book?" they demanded. He produced them. "Repeat the Lord's Prayer." He did so. "The Ten Commandments and the Apostles Creed; sing the Doxology." The Christian was ready with all these, and his captors were satisfied and released him. (Text.)

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Dr. Ogden, professor of geology at Cambridge, had taken a fancy to a lad, who had been in his service for some years, and used to manage the garden with great cleverness and skill, much to the admiration of his employer. The doctor, however, came, after a few years, to notice that his favorite cherry-tree never seemed to yield any presentable fruit in due season. At last, one year, some twelve cherries seemed to be approaching the long coveted fruition; but as the doctor was returning from a ride one day, what should he behold but these pet cherries gone! He accused the boy rather abruptly and warmly, but the latter with equal warmth replied, "I have not touched them, as true as God's in heaven." The doctor at once went to his closet, told the boy to wait, and gave him a strong dose of antimonial wine as a sort of treat. The boy, who was kept in some conversation, soon began to be uneasy, and wanted to go, saying he felt unwell. "No, no, my lad,' said the doctor; "sit thee still, I'll soon make thee better of that," and gave him a glass of warm water from a basin also at his elbow. Very soon nature was irresistible. The boy hiccuped, looked pale, and up came all the cherries.—, "Curiosities of Law and Lawyers."

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PROOF BY EXPERIENCE

In a military journal is related this incident of the ill-starred voyage of the Russian fleet to Eastern waters:

One day, during some gunnery practise, Admiral Rozhestvensky was greatly angered by the poor display made by a certain vessel, which he boarded in a towering rage. "Who is in command here?" he asked excitedly. "I am, sir," replied an officer, stepping forward. "Consider yourself under arrest," said Rozhestvensky; "your men are trained disgracefully." "It is not my fault," answered the officer. "Our shells won't explode." "I'll soon see whether you are right," thundered the admiral, and, taking up a small shell, he lit the fuse and held it out at arm's length. If that shell had burst, both men would have been blown to atoms. But the fuse spluttered out, and the admiral remarked simply, "You are right. The fault is not yours. I will see to it that you have proper shells in future."

The expedient of the admiral was exceedingly dangerous, but it was highly effective. This proof admits of no gain-*saying. (Text.)

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Proof, Sufficient—See.

Propagation—See.

Propagation of Life—See.