The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-08-17
rIRsr APPEARANCE in BOSTON.
Popular Lecturers Story Of 10"
Was Agreeably Disappointed.

A Popular Lecturers story VI
Was AgreeabIy Disappointed.
A certain popular lecturer, whose
fame extends from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific, and even beyond, tells a
very amusing story of his first ex-
perience with Boston audience.
Il had heard horrible stories OF the
frigidity of a Boston audience, ne
said to Globe reporter, and as 1
was somewhat of novice in lectur-
ing then, l was prepared for any
thing. The lecture was to take place
In fremont Temple in one or the
popular winter courses there, ana L
was the recipient of every kindly al
tention it was possible for the man
ager and the committee to grant.
They met me at the depot, and, as
the carriage was driven toward the
hotel. one of the gentlemen re-
marked:
ooh, Mr.. Shocks, we just wanted
to tell YOU that our Boston audi
ences are very peculiar. You nave
doubtless heard something OF the
GOODNESS of the average Boston audi
snce?'
II replied that l had.
"sYou must not be surprised II they
rive no evidence Of hearing your
voice at first he continued, ana a
few persons may keep right on talk
Ing after you have begun, but yoV
mustn't mind that
"I solemely promised not to.
"tAnd. oh, / had almost forgotten
to tell you that many Of the people
live in the suburbs, and so have 10
catch trains that leave about $3.50 or
10 O'Clock. Don't imagine, therefore,
II you perceive a general exodus from
the hall, that it is because or any
thing you have said, or that there Is
a fire or anything of that Sort ana
then the spokesman breathed sign
of relief as if he had performed an
onerous but necessary duty.
Even after this multiple kindly
warning felt no alarm for my lect-
ture, but when, in the ante-room
during the half hour before the
lecture, the manager had improved
the opportunity to prepare me for the
worst by repeating in substance all
the admonitions | had heard before,
| began to think that voyage to the
north pole was a pastime compared
to a flight of fancy before a Hub as
sembly. Not content with his pre-
vious preparations, the manager had
Just preached some new horror with
Our Boston people, you know
when l rushed on the platform to es-
cape the warning and face the reality
Here 1 made the astounding dis
covery that a Boston audience was
very much like every other, and
while the applause that greeted my
appearance had that perfunctory
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
-if-you- do-well' sound,
it was not particle different from
that which had greeted me else
where. / was very anxious to please,
and the mental gymnastics my tor
mentors had put me through served
as a sort of Stimulant. was con-
scious that l was doing better than
usual, and that, strange to relate,
the reputed chilly audience was Won
derfully sympathetic and inspiring.
Moreover, it's applause was discrimi'
mating, enthusiastic, and frequent.
When o'clock came l watched fol
that great popular uprising, but it
did not uprise. 1t was after 10 when
the lecture was finished, but with the
exception of one or two who had
slipped away SO quietly that theiI
departure was not noticed, no one had
left the hall. So, you see, If on that
occasion the committee and the man
ager had left me unwarned, l should
have departed with the idea that
Boston audience, was one OF the
warmest and most delightful of any
on earth"