Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-12-01
THE LECTURE.

"A lecture, eh p said Deacon Hobson.
as he stood entranced before the bul.
letin board of the Stub Mountain Ly-
ceum. Sand upon the Rights Of Wo.
men? Well, I swami Mrs. Hobson.
she'll be a-wantin' to hear it, an /
shouldn't wonder, If Jemimy Ann
set up her dander, she'd go into the
bargain. Gals is always racin' arter
every new idee. And p'raps it's good
thing to stir us country folks up-a
rousin' good lecture once in awhile.
Tickets twenty-five cents. Wal. plI
think about it."
ssA lecture ?'' said Doctor Briggs. the
newly fedged NJ. D., who had Just
hung out his glittering blue-and-gold
sign; sand respecting women's rights ?
! cannot say that I approve of the,sshpl
ject; but newcomer like myself must
show himself in public, and there are
so few opportunities in Stub Mountain.
Upon the whole, I think that I will
= 49,
take a ticket"
"Women's rights {" said old Mrs.
Mix, who was always tormenting the
selectmen for the privilege of franchise
on election day, and who went out to
gather her own hay, in harvest time,
with mans boots and rather more than
mans strength. ssrm powerful glad
ontl The subject needs agitation in a
place like this, where there's wus than
Egyptian darkness. I'll go, if it costs
me whole weeks butter money!"
And thus, in various styles from va
rious motives, the Stub Mountaineers
commented on and approved Of the
lecture which was to be delivered at the
lyceum on that Wednesday evening.
Squire Dooley stroked his long
beard, as he checked his gray pony be-
fore the village store.
Il suppose my girls win insist on
going" said he J; .'but there are SO few
things going on at Stub Mountain thatit
seems a pity to deny them little re-
creation"
And the landlord of the Stub Noun
tain hotel chuckled.
Tt wasan i'll wind that blew good to
nobody" he said, ssand any popular SEN
sation was good for business"
This was on Tuesday. Upon the
Wednesday morning, stout gentleman
in a chaise, drew up to the hotel and
strutted up to the bar, with very rubi-
cund face and little, fiery eyes.
"Mary Smith lectures here to-night?p
said he.
Il guess you're about right there.
squire" said the landlord, feeling in
his pocket for the bundle of tickets
which the lyceum proprietor had au-
thorized him to sell. "a poplar sub
iect, too. You can read all about il on
the bulletin-board out there, and"
Il forbid it r. said the stout gentle-
man, growing redder and more apo
plectic with every moment.
Land O Goshen ~ said the landlord.
'She is my wife. ".said the stranger.
My name is Smith-Zeru Smith
-and won't be disgraced by any Of
this public-lecturing business |"
Yes, I know" said the landlord
"but I don't b'lieve the law will uphold
ye IN it, squire, arter the tickets are
sold and"
Hang the law!" shouted Mr.. Zerub-
babel Smith, bringing his closed fist
down among the glasses with bang.
II don't care two straws for the lawl
My wife is my wife. and I won't have
her making Merry Andrew Of herself
here, or anywhere else When do you
expect her?'
''The room was engaged from twelve
o'clock" faltered the landlord sbut-"
VERY well, !" roared the red-faced
man, "l'll i'7st 60 and stroll around the
village, and you let me know when she
arrives dye hear?''
Mr.. Zerubbabel Smith had hardly
oetaken himself to the shadow of The
Did elms on the village green, when an
elderly woman Of a starched appear
snce came in, with q striped carpet-bag
on one arm, and carrying a gingham
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