Solving Approach
Words in this cipher average roughly 4.1 letters apiece. Short words are common here, so scan for one- and two-letter groups first; they narrow the alphabet fast. At medium difficulty, expect to lean on letter frequency and word patterns rather than a single obvious giveaway.
About Robert G. Ingersoll
Robert G. Ingersoll was an American orator and freethinker who lived from 1833 to 1899, becoming famous for his passionate speeches advocating for secularism and religious skepticism during the nineteenth century. Known as "The Great Agnostic," he challenged traditional Christianity and promoted reason, science, and individual liberty through his eloquent lectures. Ingersoll famously declared that doubt is the beginning of wisdom and argued that people should think for themselves rather than blindly accept religious doctrine.
Did you know? Ingersoll was a close friend and admirer of the poet Walt Whitman, whom he publicly championed at a time when Whitman's work was considered scandalous by many Americans.