IN THE CUSTOM-HOUSE. 185 



*' Saratoga " trunks, each big enough to receive a dress without 

 folding, besides boxes, bags, parcels, deck-chairs, &c. I had trouble, 

 enough myself, although an old traveller, and when I saw one of my 

 belongings in a truck I stuck to it, and would insist on the men 

 putting it in my corner. I should think that at least two acres of 

 ground was covered with luggage. Then, large females would sit on 



boxes which did not belong to them. Fortunately, Mr. P , who 



is a very great man here, introduced me to the chief officer. So 

 neither the frames nor the bundle were opened, and the trunk, 

 portmanteau, and bag were only opened and shut again. . . . As to 

 Boston, except the very modern part, it is as dull, dismal, and 

 squalid as any part of Deptford or Wapping, and if a square half 

 mile of each were transposed, I do not think that any one would see 

 much difference. The chief distinction is that the inhabitants live in 

 flats, and that the houses are red brick, with outside green louvre 

 blinds to each window. 



Next day, the 30th, the preparations began for the 

 first " Lowell " lecture, which was to be delivered on 

 the day following. Judging by the entry in the " log " 

 for that day, American hall-keepers are very much what 

 they are in England. 



Mr. Lowell called this morning, accompanied by Dr. C , the 



manager. We went over together and sent for the frame, which 

 was unpacked, and I told the keeper how to lay out the pieces, so 

 that after breakfast I could put them together. About 11.0 Dr. 



C came again, and said that the janitor had put up the frame, 



but did not quite know how to put up the canvas ! I found that 

 he had put up the frame ! All the screws were outside, and every 

 bit was wrong. He thought that it would save time. So it had to 

 come to pieces again, and the janitor said that he felt " real 

 mean." However, he is full of admiration now that he sees how it is 

 managed 



October 31st. Yesterday was taken up with preparations, so 

 that I could not write. There was an unexpected run on the 

 tickets, so that the applicants had to be formed in queue, two and 

 two, and get their tickets in their order. Dr. C said that it 



