From the Chenango Union of Norwich, NY
Thursday, December 19, 1878

   Theodore Tilton left this village on Tuesday afternoon of last week, via the Auburn Branch, for Cortland, where he had an engagement to lecture on "Heart's Ease" that evening. When near Truxton the train was stopped by the accumulation of gravel and rubbish washed upon the track by the freshet, and Theodore prevailed upon two laborers to take him to his destination, some twelve miles distant, on a hand car. It was a tedious ride, through rain and flood, and he was compelled at times to relieve his tired companions at the crank. Reaching Cortland at 8 p.m., he appeared on the platform wet, chilled and exhausted, and gave a fine lecture before a meager audience. Without rest he then hastened to Syracuse, to lecture under an order from the Lecture Bureau. Here he failed to find who had engaged him, as the person did not wish to be known, but it is hinted that the engagement was made by a woman.

NOTE : According to the Dictionary of American Biography (1936 edition) Vol. 18, Pages 551-553, Theodore Tilton (Oct. 2, 1835 - May 25, 1907) was a well known journalist and reporter for the New York Tribune. One of his regular assignments was to take down in short hand the sermons of Henry Ward Beecher, a noted Brooklyn, NY preacher and brother of author Harriet Beecher Stowe.