So it was arranged, and thus at the last moment I was chosen.
I had barely time to write the required keynote speech, but not enough to commit it to memory; nor sight to read it, even had I been willing to adopt that mode of delivery.

It would not do to trust to extemporization.

A friend, Col.

J.Stoddard Johnston, who was familiar with my penmanship, came to the rescue.

Concealing my manuscript behind his hat he lined the words out to me between the cheering, I having mastered a few opening sentences.
Luck was with me.