If a stranger had been in Roseland to-day he certainly would have thought from seeing the livery stables crowded with teams from the country, and every vacant lot and square also filled with teams, and the crowds of people on the streets all going in one direction, that some great attraction was going on, and he would be under the impression that if he went out into the country he would not expect to see a person or a team, for there never was any occasion before that brought such a large gathering of people to Roseland. Long before the time of commencement, the seating capacity of the building was taxed to its utmost. Promptly at 2 P.M. the Mayor of Roseland and Penloe appeared on the platform. The Mayor opened the meeting by introducing Penloe in the following words: "Ladies and gentlemen:—It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you this afternoon a gentleman whom you all have heard and read so much about. Whatever your views may be about his teaching, I can positively assert the lecturer is a scholar and a gentleman, every inch of him. Very often a speaker's remarks fail to have the full weight they are entitled to because persons say he has an axe to grind, or, he is paid to talk that way. Now I have not the least idea of the subject the speaker is going to talk to you upon, but this I can say, he is here this afternoon only because he was invited to come and speak. He refused all offers of money for his services, saying, he wished his labors to be a free will offering to you. Therefore I hope you will give him your closest attention, remembering he gives you the best product of his mind acquired through years of study, thought and observation; and that is the richest gift one can give another.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I now have the honor of introducing to you the speaker, known as Penloe."
Penloe rose and came forward to the front of the platform; first bowing to the Mayor and then to the audience; and as he did so he faced a sea of upturned faces, who gazed upon one of the most remarkable men this country has produced. Not very many of the audience had seen Penloe before, and they were agreeably surprised to see on the platform before them, so distinguished a personality. It seemed a delight to look upon him. But few present could begin to size up such a man as he was. Some of the remarks which one could hear whispered were like the following:
A young lady said: "What beautiful clear eyes he has. It seems as if you could see his soul in them."
A gentleman was heard to say: "He has the most striking personality of any one I have ever seen."
A lady remarked: "Is he not handsome?"
A man said: "What a fine head and noble countenance he has. It seems as if the Almighty had stamped himself on him."
"Yes," said his wife who was sitting at his side. "And did you ever see a more perfect specimen of physical manhood than he is, so symmetrical in his build?"
Such was the man who faced the large audience and opened his address by saying: