Daily globe., 1883-08-04
THE LECTURE.

son, as he stood entranced before the
bulletin board of the Stub Mountain Ly-
ceum. "And upon the Rights of Wom-
amp Well, [ swan! 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 bar
gain. Gals is always racin' after every
new idee. And p'raps it's good thing
to stir US country folks up-a rousin'
good lecture once in while. Tickets
% cents. Wal, I'll think about it..
GA lecture? said DR.. Briggs, the
newly -fedged M. D., who had just hung
out his glitterlng blue-and-gold sign
"and respecting woman's rights? I can
not say that I approve of the subject
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 take a
ticket"
"Woman's rights?" said old Mrs.
Mix, who was always tormentng the
Selectnen for the privilege of franchise
on election day, and who went out to
gather her own hay, in harvest time,
with a mans boots and rather more than
mans strength. "I'm powerful glad
ont! 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 vari-
GUS motives, the Stub Mountaineers
commented on and approved of the lect-
ure which was to be delivered at the
lyceum On that Wednesday evening.
Squire Dooley stroked his long beard
as he checked his gray pony before the
village store.
81 suppose my girls will insist Oh
going, said he; "but there are so few
things going on at Stub Mountain that
it seems a pity to deny them little rec
reation."
And the landlord of the Stub Mountain
hotel chuckled.
''IV was an Ill wind that blew good to
nobody" he said, "and any popular SEN
saaon was good for business"
This was on Tuesday. Upon the
Wednesday morning stout gentleman
in 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?"
said he.
81 guess you're about right there,
Squire, said the landlord, feeling in his
pocket for the bundle of tickets which
the lyceum proprietor had authorized
him to sell. GA poplar subject, too.
You can read all about il ca the bulletin
board out there, and"
''I forbid it !" said the stout gentle
man, growing redder and more apoplec-
tic with every moment.
Gland O. Gosllen!" calculated the
landlord
"She is my wife," said the stranger.
"My name is Smith-zerubbabel Smith
and I won't be disgraced by any of
this public-lecturing nonsense"
eyes, 1 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 gloved fist
down among the glasses with bang.
ffI don't care two straws for the law
Ny wife is my wife, and won't have her
making a Merry Andrew Of herself here
or anywhere alse! When do you expect
her?"
"The room was engaged from 10
o'clock, faltered the landlord "but-''
every well," roared the red-faced
man, "Tn just go and stroll around the
village, and you let me know when she
arrives-d'ye hear?"
Mr.. Zerubbabel Smith had hardly
betaken himself to the shadow of the
old elms on the village green, when an
elderly woman of starched appear
ance came in, with striped carpet-bag
on one arm, and carrying a gingham
umbrella in the other hand.
is this the Stub Mountain Lyceum?"
said she, primly.
"No, marin :" said the landlord.
"This 'ere's the tavern. The lyceum
amt open till 8 o'clock. Want to buy
tickets for the lecture 2"
Certainly mott said the elderly
female.
Praps you'd like to engage roo1n,"
said the landlord, with a glance at the |
carpet-b4g.
Nothing of the sort l'' said the lady.
The font Of the landlords imagination