The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1865-06-02
A Lecturers Experience.

Lecturers must have some funny exper-
fences and adventures in their annual
peregrinations Holland once threatened
to write book on the subject; and Cur
tbs, after his Tuesday night lecture, was
reminded of little story" as be, with
several Troians, partook of the hospitali-
ty of friend after &c Political Infdelity'
had ended. At town in Western New
York. which Mr. G. reached one after
noon this winter, the officers Of the liter
ary institution waited on him to hope that
he would not talk on any political subject,
as there were Two parties in the town ,aud
feeling rather high. Mr. Curtis expressed
some regret, as he had intended to speak
on '' Political Infdelity," but remarked
that he had in his carpet bag a lecture on
"Thackeray," which he would give.
"Tnaokeray? Thackeray?" said his in
terlocutor, "who IS Thackeray? ?"
Mr.. Curtis explained that he was an
eminent novelist, now deceased writer
of books.
90, that fellow, we'll hear about him,
then"
The lecture came oft was in the
Court House-the auIience was slim, the
enthusiasm Simmer. The President, af-
ter long pause, said, in a sepulchral
tone. a." Are you ready ?? Yes, sir,
when you are" "WeIl, then, begin"
And so, without any Introduction, Mr..
Curtis spoke of Vanity Fair and the Fir>
Oipians Of Olive NeWcOme and Becky
Sharp, of Arthur Penlcnnis, Of fair Eth
ell and the grand old Colonel-he spoke,
too, Of the mind, so mighty yet 50 genial,
Of which these wondrous characters were
but the creation,-WiIIiam Makepeace
Thackeray himself The benches were
unresponsive, and Mr.. Curtis cut the en-
tertaiument very short He sat down
the audience waited few minutes, as if to
see whether or not he was going to re-
commence, then slowly retired. There
was a dead silence on the stage; the Of
fcers did not even pay the customary con-
gratulatious that are about as often ut
tered in cases of failure as success-evGn
this mock courtesy was not forthcoming.
At last man was seen climbing over
benches upon the platform. The Presi-
dent introduced him as 90 cur schoolmas-
ter" "Ah r' thought Curtis, here IS a
man, no doubt, who has read Thackcray,
and has come to compare notes" But
the teacher abruptly exclaimed
"Nr. Curtis, we've had a little dispute
in our town this winter, and we think you
are Just the man to decide it."
Mr.. c. moderately asked to be excused,
but it was no use.
"The question Is, continued the peda-
gogue, whether or not Lougteilow is
dead ?"
'Ho was not dead last week, - said Mr..
Curtis, L" for 1 had the pleasure Of seeing
him"
The interlocutor's under jaw dropped.
Evidently be was a champion Of the par
ty that maintained the poets decease
and he was disappointed to know that his
victim lived, but Frightening up, he
said:
" Well, who the d-eis dead? Is nc
body dcad?'
Mr.. Curtis ran over the mortuary list of
illustrious mcu-frOm General Price up
ward, till he came to Nathaniel Haw-
throne. "Ahw said he, perhaps you
mean Hawthorn ?'
Hawthorne? Hawthorne ?'' slil the
teacher, who is hep
This was duly expIainoi to him, and,
with the sentiment, :" Well, l knew some
body was lead," off he went, to tell the
anti-Longf.llow party that the poet " still
lived"
As Mr.. Curtis will hardly visit that
village again, aud the Times does not
circulate there, we may be Parloued for
giving this exPerieuce.-Troy Times.