The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-02-24
THE LOST WORLD
BIZ SIR Arthur Conan Doyle

get into bear-garden."
you might at least do him the
justice to hear him state his own
case"
well, perhaps it's only fair. All
right. I'm your man for the eve
ming"
When we arrived at the hall we
found a much greater concourse
than had expected. A line of elec-
trio brougLams discharged thei.. lit
tie cargoes of white-bearded pf vres-
sors, while the dark stream OF hum
bier pedestrians, who crowded
through the arched doorway, showed
that the audience would be popular
as well as scientific. Indeed. 1t be-
came evident to us as soon as we had
taken our seats that youthful and
even boyish spirit was abroad In
the gallery and the back portions OF
the hall. Looking behind me, could
see rows of faces of the familiar
medical student type. Apparently
the great hospitals had each sent
down their contingent. The be-.
havior Of the audience at present
was good-humored, but mischievous.
Scraps of popular songs were
chorused with an enthusiasm which
was a strange prelude to scientific
lecture, and there was already a ten
dency to personal chaff which prom
Used jovial evening to others how
ever embarrassing it might be to the
recipient of these dubious honors.
Thus, when old Doctor Medium,
with his well-known curly-brimmed
opera-hat, appeared upon the plat
form, there was such universal
query of Where did you get that
tile?" that he hurriedly removed it.
and concealed 1t furtively under
his chair. When equity Professor
Wadley limped down to his seat
there were general affectionate in
quiries from all parts OF the hall
as to the exact state OF his poor
toe, which caused him obvious en-
barrassment. The greatest demon
stration of all, however, was the
entrance Of my new acquaintance,
Professor Challenger, when he
passed down to take his place at
the extreme end OF the front row
of the platform. Such yell of well
come broke forth when his black
beard first protruded round the
corner that began to suspect Tarp
Henry was right In his surrnise. and
that this assemblage was there not
merely for the sake of the lecture,
but because 1t had got rumored
abroad that the famous Professor
would take part in the proceedings.
There was some sympathetic
laughter on his entrance among
the front benches of well-dressed
spectators, rs though the demon
stration OF the students in this in
stance was not unwe,come to them.
That greeting was, indeed, fright
full outburst OF sourd, the uproar of
the carnivora cage when the step of
the bucket-bearing keeper is heard
In the distance. There was an Of.
fensive tone in it. perhaps, and yet
in the main 1t struck me as mere
riotous cutlery. tie noisy reception
OF one who amused and interested
them, rather than of one they dis.
liked or despised. Challenger
smiled with weary and tolerant con.
tempt, as kindly man would meet
the yapping of a litter puppies. He
sat slowly down, blew out his chest
passed his hand caressingly down
his beard. and looked with dropping
eyelids and supercilious eyes at the
crowded hall before him. The up-
roar of his advent had not vet died
away when Professor Ronald Muir.
ray, the chairman, and Mr.. Wal
dron, the lecturer, threaded their
way to the front and the proceed.
ings began.
PROFESSOR Murray will i am sure,
excuse me IL I say that he has the
common fault of most EngIishmen
or being inaudible Why on earth
people who have something to say
which Is worth hearing should not
take the slight trouble to learn how
to make 1t heard is one of the
strange mysteries of modern life.
Their methods are as reasonable ms
70 cry to pour some precious stufr
from the spring to the reservoir
through a non-conducting pipe
which could by the least effort be
opened. Professor Murray made
several profound remarks to his
white tie and to the water-car.,fa
upon the table, with a HUMOROUS
twinkling aside to the silver candle.
stick upon his right. Then he sal
down, and Mr.. Waldron, the lannon's
popular lecturer. rose amid q
general murmur OF applause. He
was stern, gaunt mai. with .
marsh voice and an aggressive man.
ner, but he had the merit Of know.
ing how to assimilate the IDEAS. ~
otner men, and to pass them on In
way which was ineligible and
even interesting to the lay publ.
with happy knack of being funny
ABOUT the most unlikely objects. so
that the procession of the Eoujnox
or the formation of vertebrate
became a highly humorous process
as treated by him. II