Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-25
Point Gained
From an lmpostor
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD

/ presume | wrote for the few whose
taste is refined. 1 entered the lecture
field and found the work much easier
and far more productive.
After having lectured in the princi-
pal cities of the United States during
several successive seasons l turned my
attention to foreign lands. One of my
books was of the popular kind and
was published all over the world. be-
ing translated into five different Ian
guages. This gave me good audiences
wherever | went. and my profits were
correspondingly large.
Having made engagements to lee
ture in Australia. | took a steamer for
Melbourne. but. owing to a break In
the machinery of the vessel that bore
me, did not arrive there till the day
after the date announced for my lee
ture. On driving to my hotel | saw
my name posted on the streets with
the date Of the lecture which had
passed. l wondered what had been
done about the matter.
On reaching my hotel the gentleman
~ clerk swung the register around for
me to enter my name, and / wrote
Ambrose Pemberton In large, round let
tiers with a flourish under the words.
as was my habit. When the clerk
wheeled the register back and read
what | had written he looked up ut
me with a surprised expression on his
face. | returned his gaze inquiringly.
but he did not enlighten me as to the
cause of his surprise. Calling a boy.
he handed him a key and told him to
show me to my room.
When l came down to dinner | took
up an evening newspaper. and what
was my establishment to read a report
OF a lecture | had delivered the night
before. Not only had | lectured. but |
had made a profound impression on
the audience.
1t was evident that ome n bad
been p~ersonating me. Either those
whom ! had instructed to make che
necessary preparations for mel had
no regular manager at this time-had
hired a man to give the lecture or some
person had taken advantage of my
name and. having all things at hand
for the purpose. had ~personated me
Having eaten dinner hastily | went out
into the general rotunda for guests
and others wherein the Office was sit
uated intending to make inquiries as to
the person who had lectured In my
name. On the way | passed three men.
one of whom was introducing the other
two: -,
Mr.. Williams. this is Mr.. Pember-
ton. who won us all by his lecture last
night"
| sank into an easy chair near by
and. pretending to read the newspaper
l had in my hand, listened.
II was one of your audience. Mr..
Pemberton." said Mr.. Williams. land
have TO thank you for a very agreeable
evening. Some years ago heard a
man of your name lecture In Hong
kong. Is he a relative of yours"
..That fellow is an impostor. He goes
about in places where l am known by
reputation, hut not in person and, TAX
ing advantage of the reputation, draws
an audience and pockets the proceeds"
That's a singular way of swindling.
! never heard Of such a thing before.
/ should think he would be an injury
to you. His lecture was a very dull
affair. | assure you"
Interesting Us was this dialogue to
me. | confess my amour propre was at
this point somewhat ruffled. l con-
trolled myself, however. and continued
to keep my eers open.
"As l remember the fellows lecture,
which was OH the pyramids of Egypt,
it was as dry as the sands of the des-
ert. Yours. On the contrary, was as
fresh as a meadow in springtime."
~ never go into those details that
are interesting only to bookworms."
replied mir. l'emberton."
This latter remark decided me as to
whether-or not ] should expose this real
impostor. | determined to use the adj
vice he had given me and pay no atten-
ton TO him In fact. | was indebted
to him for an excellent point. The dia-
logue had informed me of what l re-
ouired. | had been a close student of
the subjects upon which lectured. but
/ had relied too closely upon the body
Of my discourse. the information l ION
veyed. paying no attention to those
artful accessories upon which the sue
cessful orator relies to catch and hold
the attention of an audience of aver
age intelligence. Following "Mr. Penn
berton." l accssted him:
BEG pardon. sir. | believe you are
Mr.. Pembertcn. the lecturer. May /
ask when and where you will lecture
again? am DESTROYS of hearing you"
"Next week at Sydney"
81 am going to Sydney. shall hear
you"
The man looked at me suspiciously.
but l passed on without saying any
thing more. l was advertised to lee
ture at Sydney the next week and re-
solved to go there ~incognito. did so
and attended the mans lecture. for