Litchfield enquirer., 1879-06-26
From Harpers Magazinel A FREE LECTURE EXPERIENCE.
It came about in this wise

It came about in this wise
 A Society for the Relief of Hydrophobia Patients" in well-known philanthropc con- munity, had been running mad career of De- cuniary losses for several months. when it was resolved by the officers of that praiseworthy association to ''get up" a course of lectures for the benefit of the" Fund.-" as it was called So far as possible the lectures were to be pop- u5ar speakers, were to receive no emolument for their services, but were to appear in East Nineveh on "labors of love-" as such gratui- tous performances are somewhat floridly des- ignated.
 When the Honorable Secretary called on me to join the corps of distinguished martyrs chosen to aid the ''Fund,"I peremptorily de- clined to serve, on the ground that, unlike Messrs. Phillips and Cough, was neither pop ular nor distinguished. and because my name would attract no money out of the public into the societys coffers The H. S. smiled, aud immediately entered my humble cognomen on his tablets as if had fully consented to his re- qudst. He was deaf gentleman, and had, no doubt, been selected because of his infirmi- ty, to canvass for free lectures, not being able, or willing perhaps, to hear distinctly when n negative was returned to his application.
 'I will put you down." said he, in that muff1ed, feathery tone SO peculiar to deaf peo- ple 'tfor the 21st of January"
 Before could explain my decided intention of refusing the invitation, he got into his hat with bounce, and departed, thanking me most cordially for acceding to his request I called after him in vain he was gone irrevoca- bly, into space, flying rapidly toward East Min eveh.
 Talking the matter over with my wife that evening after tea, she strenuousiy advised me to be magnanimous, and ''go and do my share" of featuring for the funds in aid of so noble an object. After somewhat animated discus sion concerning hydrophobia and the appall- ing effects on the human system when attack ed by rabid cur, determined to shirk my duty, and proceeded to inscribe the follow ing entry on my lecture note book: JanuGry 21.-East Nineveh. Free lecture in behalf of the Hydrophobia Fund.
 The evening came: a wild snow-stermy night as ever shrouded New England land scape. Chimneys howled like wolves on Oona- laska's shore. Signs danced, and screamed, and blew away by hundreds down the street. Aolus was in his glory; all Bedlam was in. deed ''let out"
 The exact phraseology employed as shiver- ed into my lecture raiment on that occasion it is unnecessary to reproduce in this narrative; but it is no exaggeration to state that my mind was in disaffected condition, and that did not banker after the journey to East Nineveh on that particular night. Calling a carriage for the railroad station, started out on my mission to swell the "Hydrophobia Fund.- in distant province, an unknown land, so far as 1 was concerned. Two hours of hard trav elling by the aid of snow-ploughs landed me before low-spirited dingy little station. which the conductor denominated East Nine veh. Stumbling out of the comparatively cheer ful car into the thick fury of winter tempest made my way into the roadside dungeon
 Not human being was visible, inside or out of it. Opening the door at the other end of the sepulchral apartment, I called loudly for help. Only the hollow blast of stormy winds responded. At last a passer-by, nearly sui1ocated by the hurricane of sleet, halted and