The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-31
ALeeturer,s Experience

Lecturers must have some funny expert
enees and adventures in their annual pere-
CARNATIONS. Holland once threatened to
write book on the subject, and Curtis, af-
ter his Tuesday night lecture, was Nremind-
ed of a little story" as he, with several
Trojsns, psrtook OF the hospitality of q
friend after "Politicsl InAielity" had end
ed. At town in Western New York,
which Mr.. @, reached one afternoon this
winter, the officers of the literary institu-
ton waited on him to hope that he would
not tslk on any political subject as there
were two parties in the town, and feeling
rather high. Mr.. Curtis expressed some
regret, as he had intended to speak on "Po-
litical Infdelity," but remarked that he
had in his carpet bag lecture on "Thack-
cray" which he would give. oa
HThsckersy2 Thackeray 2" said his in
terlocutor, "Who is ThackerayF
Mr.. Curtis explained that he was an en-
inent novelist now deceased writer of
books. ~
20, that fellow Well, we'll hear abont
him, them -l.---- T..
The lecture came oR-it was in the Court
House-the audience was slim, the enthu-
sissm. Simmer. The President, after a
long pause, said in sepulchral tone, GAre
you rssdS7" eyes sir, when you are"
" Well then, begin" And so, without any
introduction, Mr.. Curtis spoke of Vanity
Fair and the Firginians; of Olive New
come and Becky Shgtp, of Arthur Penden-
mis-, of fair Ethel and grand old Colonel
he SPOKE, too, of the mind, SO mighty vet
SO genial, Of which these WonderOus char
scters were bat the ereation,-William
Mskepeaee Thsekersy himself The
benches were unresponsive, ard Mr.. Cur
tbs cut the entertainment very short. He
sat down the audience waited q few min
utes, as If TO see whether CT not he was go
ing to recommence, then slowly retired.
There was dead silence on the stage; the
officers did not even pay the customary
congratulations thsc are about as offer az
tered in csses of failure as success-aven
this mock courtesy was not forthcoming.
At last man was seen climbing over
benches upon the platform. The Presi-
dent Introduced him as Sour schoolmss.
ter" Arr, thought Curtis, here is
man, no doubt who has read ThsckeTsy,
and has come to compare notes" But the
teacher abruptly exclaimed;
"Mr. Curtis, we've had little dispute in
our town this Water, and we think yeu sre
/ Just the msn 70 decide it,P 1a4-. -'
Mr.. @. modsstly asked to be eIcused, but
It wss no use-,aialfa,sZs .-7s - E- - y "a
''The question is" continued the peda-
gogue, whether or not LongfellOw is
dead r. ..i44 .-lv -.I 3D. -arsl-
Ole was not dad last week" said Mr..
Curtis, @for L had the pleasure Of seeing
aim a.f.. H3ir. 400 -.t s44 g.. 3
Tie interlecutor's under jaw dropped.
Evidently he was a champion of the party
that maintained the'poel's decease; and he
was disappointed to thiak thst his victim
lived, but, Frightening up, he said: 90
"WelL who the 49, is desd2 Is NO
body dead ?"
Mr. Curtis ran over the mortusry list Of
! the illustIious men--from General Price
/ upward, till he came to Nathaniel Hsw-
thorne. "Ah," said ne, "perhaps you
mean Hawthorne p rol SSH
"HaWthornel Hawthorne ?" said the
teacher, t9who is he ~ 5L.-
This was duly explained to him, and,
with the sentiment, Well, knew some.
body was desd,9 off he went to tell the
anti LongfelloW party that the poet still
lived. -saA .1sl -l18r f-- e.-~
As Mr.. Curtis Will hardly visit that vii
lsge sgsin, and the Times does not eircu-
late there, We may be psrdoned for giving
this e1Perience-Troy Times.
L