(This was a test to try my faith.) The cloud
was lifted and I told Mr. Cook to tell the men that a "million a minute
would not catch me." My dear friends especially Mrs. Goodwin, Dr.
Eva Harding and others used their influence to have Stanley, the governor
pardon me, this he refused to do, the joint-keepers were those he
favored more than me.
I had never thought of going before the public as a lecturer. I
knew those people only wanted me as they would a white elephant. I
did not at this time see the stage as a missionary field.
At this time I was entirely out of means, was in debt and the duns
I got while in jail were a terrible trouble to me. The ten cents I got
for my bread and milk came in almost daily for copies of my papers. I
paid my milkman sometimes in stamps.
I never wanted to get out of jail so badly in my life, as I did at this
time, when the offers to make engagements were so many. Two days
after the New York managers were there, I got a letter from James E.
Furlong, a Lyceum Manager of Rochester, N. Y., who had managed
Patti and many of the great singers. He told me if I would give him
"some dates", he would assist me in getting out of jail. I hardly knew
what he meant by "dates". Mrs. Goodwin of Topeka called to see me,
I showed the letter to her and asked what this man meant by "dates?"
She said: "He may want you to lecture or you could tell of your experience.
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