Twenty years on the lecture platform; an autobiography

Front matter

AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

JAMES HEDLEY

'The Most Entertaining and Inspiring Orator of his Time." 1 a lecture by dr. hedley is one of the treats of a llfe-tlme. 1 Minneapolis (Minn.) Tribune.

Author's Preface

\A7 HENEVKR the spoken words of a man prove i ^ i to be of value to the world, it is his duty to i &*%*&* preserve them in an abiding form, that something more than the memory of his presence and his speech may endure, and that others in after years may benefit by his thoughts and messages, his counsel and cheer.

To me, the work of the preparation of this book has been not only a duty but a pleasure. It has been a joy to live over again the years of my struggle toward the achievement of my hopes and purposes. At this remote distance of time, the rough ways I have followed seem to have been smooth; dark days seem bright; every despair a hope, every disappointment a realization, and every sadness and rebuke a blessing.

May I commend the lessons of my brief Autobiography to the young ?

The lecture which appears complete in this volume, "The Sunny Side of Life," has been delivered nearly one thousand times, in all parts of America; more than a half million of people have listened to it with never failing delight and have been inspired and strengthened by its spirit of contentment, hope and faith.

The book is submitted for the consideration of my friends everywhere, with the hope that it may find gracious acceptance, and continue an ever-present help, an uplift and a blessing.

James Hedi^ey.

cleveland, o.,

42 Afton Place, Month of Roses, 1901.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE*

W

K ARE authorized to state that the readers of this book are hereby given permission to read or recite the poems, the sketches, or any extract or characterization, such as "The Texas Courtship," "Lillian Addlepate Tattlewit at the Piano," "Patsy and Mike," etc. from the body of the lecture for purposes of public or private entertainment, providing proper credit as to the source of the several selections be given, but under no consideration must "The Sunny Side of Life" as a whole, be read or delivered at any time or place without the written consent of the author. All rights herein are reserved, and any infringement of the copy-right covering this book will be given legal consideration.

Contents

AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Chapter I. — The Philosopher's Stone. Seeking for the "philosopher's stone" — Wonderful discoveries — Desire to be an actor — High School graduation — My mother — A clerkship — Medical student — Acting in the woods — ' 'The Black Crook' ' — My theatrical days — Requisites for a lecturer — Keep up your price — The blessing of money • — A speech before the foot-lights — Madame Methua-Scheller

— A memory of John B. Gough — Shakespeare — My decision to abandon the theatre. Pages 7 to 21.

Chapter II. — Tried as by Fire

Omaha thirty years ago — My first lecture — A financial failure — A book that inspired me — "Drifting about" — Epictetus, and contentment — A composite entertainment — Famous borrowers — An entertainment at Plattsmouth, Neb. — An appreciative dog — A "mid-summer night's dream" — Rich on ten cents — A restaurant employee — Omaha Passenger Transfer Co — "Hosses, korn and otes" — A Swedish husband's welcome

— Olaf and Christine — My school— The Cardiff giant— Sol Smith Russell — Stranded — A rich repast — Luck and pluck — A dreamful sleep — Glorious garrets — "Lodgings for men" — Bran, the Irish Arc-angel. Pages 21 to 53.

Chapter III. — In Friendship's Name. A foolish rich young man — The blessing of poverty — Childhood's school-day memories — Dear old Will! — A letter

— Pawning my ring — The smoking-car passenger — Great friendships — Power and place of friendship — Holly and mistle-toe — "The movers" — "A song of the prairies" — "Good-bye", and off again. Pages 53 to 70.

Chapter IV. — Starting Anew. "The Egyptian tooth-powder man" — Curb-stone eloquence

— My street entertainment — Poetry and philosophy — Lowly beginnings of wonderful men — Moral backbone — Dollars versus flowers — Physiognomy — "The human face divine —

CONTENTS.

Allan Pinkerton and Lincoln — My discovery of James Whitcomb Riley — Physiognomical lectures — A tour of seven years — Walt Whitman and Edgar Allan Poe — Curiosities of criticism — A "Philosophian" — Lecturing for John B. Gough — Benjamin F. Taylor — "Motive Powers, and 'The river of Time' " — Martin Grover — The man who set me right — "The philosopher's stone". Pages 71 to 107.