The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1884-01-15
LECTURERS BUGBEARS.
People Who Break Up Public Speak.
ers---"Queerers, Who Arc
a Terror.


4
'Did you ever hear Of a 'uueererf - asked a
well-known lecturer in the course Of II chat.
The visitor had not
"Well, If you should ever have the mis-
fortune to become a lecturer and run foul Of
one you will never forget him. A 'queerer'
Is a person who distracts your attention from
your lecture and gives you much trouble.
You know, about as soon as a lecturer takes
70 his feet he singles out a few persons in the
audience, and utterly Ignores all the rest 1
have often picked out one person at my left,
one in front, and another at my right before
/ had spoken a dozen words; and to these per
sons, or to one Of them at u time, ! addressed
5very word Of my lecture. The rest OF tho
audience seemed to be that sea of upturned
faces that some poet or other has written
about. never knew why it is that | always
pick out two or three or four persons TO rep.
resent the entire audience, aud then never
see anybody else as an individual, nor do |
intend to trouble myself now with searching
for the reason. 1t is easier ~ say it Is 50 and
let the why's and wherefores 60"
-But the 'queererF"
All, yes. Well, when one Of these persons
whom l pick out TO represent the rest Of the
audience happens to have any very noticea-
BILE popularity about his face or his clothing,
! call hun a 'queerer,' because he 'queers,' az
they say in slang that is, he distrncts my
attention from my lecture. Once 7 hit on IA
man whose necktie had hitched up over his
collar and was rubbing against the back of
his neck every time he moved his head. II
there is anything that makes me feel like fly
ing it is to feel anything of this sort against
the back of my neck, and so | got up u lively
sympathy for that man, though he was one
OF those neryeless creatures who wouldn't be
hdgety even If the back OF his collar
should be unbuttoned 1 could fAirly
feel that hot necktie rubbing against
the back Of my perspiring neck, mud it kept
nearly all of my attention. A dozen times
! pushed my own necktie down before and
behind, bur the relief was only momentary;
the feeling that 1t was bobbing up and down
and was about To chafe me came back as
soon as | removed my hand. l struggled on,
aud am not sure whether | talked to my
subject or switched Off to n dissertation on
misplaced necktics. Finally. when 1t seemed
as II 1 should jump out of my coat II that
necktie was not pushed down, | stopped short
aud said in a loud voice: win that gem
tlenan in the third row-right there Il
pointed dead at himl-will he push down his
necktief This provoked II storm Of laughter
aud ! went on just as II | frequently threw "a
joke like that into my lectures.
Il suppose those nerveless people would
not believe ma IL told them the truth that
that necktie broke me all up.
But the worst 'queerer' / ever had.p CON
tinued the lecturer, was one who knew me
and knew how to break me up. II | hiiu't
made n most determined effort TO control my
self no would have succeeded. | had had a
petty dispute with the man some time before.
aud rather worsted him nnallyin a lawsuit
that grew out Of it. He hated me as only a
few men in this world know how to hat4.
Not long after that | was engaged 10 lecture
III TINT city. and when | reached the railway.
-tation that man came up to me and tool,
my hand. thought IL was strange, but he
soon explained. said he: II YOU try 10
lecture here tonight I shall rattle YOU.
Now, mind what | say-Tl break You ali To
pieces With that he left me. knew he was
not u low-mindcd man who would throw any
thing at ne, or do any sort of personal VIC.
lence, AMI l knew be was a man OF consider.
able talent for public speaking himself. but [
could not think what means he would employ
to rattle me, as he called it. In a minute
after had begun my lecture, however. |
knew his scheme, and / was afraid of it. too.
Just ms arose 10 begin he also arose from a
seat right in front, and took OH his overcoat
That was to attract my attention TO him.
Then he sat down and looked me squarely ia
tue eye, making u ~hideously scornful face.
Try as l might | could not keep my eye OH
bin. He represented the entire middle
division OF the large audience, and our gaz,
meta dozen times u minute | was going to
say. Every time | looked at him he gave hi,
face a twitch that said to me, You are max
ing All Internal fool OF yourself and | really
felt Us IL | were talking to an assembly OF
bitter enemies; and to save me | could not
warm up To my work. II ever u charmed
bird tried to throw OH II spell I tried harder
TO get out from under the influence of that
bugbear-that evil spirit that sat on that
mans face. 1t took nl the power | had to
remember my subject, let alone becoming
enthusiastic over it. Several times thought
Of stopping and asking to have that 'quccrsr'
removed from the hall, but then | thought II
would bon virtual acknowledgement OF his
power over me, and also that the audience
would not understand why a quiet, reputable
citizen should he removed, 80 / struggled ON,
doing my best, sweating, and almost swear
ing, making IA very poor mess-n very cold
mes,, too, may say-of my lecture. Tho
papers said next day that | did not do myself
justice, ami, as they had all heard me lecture
under more favorable circumstances, they
laid the blame on my selection of subject.
one paper saying | was not en- rapport with
it,