THE LOWELL LECTURES. 203 



Room more crowded than ever, and the rush for front seats 

 tremendous. Three ladies, for whom I had contrived to obtain 

 tickets, said that they had been to these lectures for many years, and 

 that they had never witnessed anything like the rush. One lady 

 had her bonnet knocked off, and more than one thought that there 

 was an alarm of fire. When I opened the lecture by drawing the 

 whale, eleven feet long, in two strokes, there was first dead silence,, 

 and then such a thunder of applause that I had to wait. When the 

 little sailor was drawn a number of lads gave a shriek of laughter, 

 setting the example to the audience, who laughed and cheered in 

 the heartiest manner. After the lecture was over the platform was- 

 stormed by local science. 



Perhaps I may be allowed here to explain that the 

 drawing in question was that of the spermaceti whale, 

 and that the " little sailor " referred to was placed upon 

 the whale's back in order to show the comparative sizes 

 of the man and the cetacean which falls victim to his 

 harpoon. The sketch always proved a very popular 

 one, and was invariably received with much laughter 

 and applause. 



The second part of the lecture, given three days- 

 later, was equally successful : 



Audience still crammed in the evening. At the outset, Dr. 

 C , the secretary, told me that the audience had become so- 

 critical, from many years' experience of the best lecturers who could 

 be obtained, that an incompetent lecturer, no matter how able he 

 might be in other respects, would find the room gradually deserted. 

 However, exactly the opposite result has been obtained, the audi- 

 torium being one dense mass of human heads. Yesterday's lecture 

 was no exception, and it is really pleasant to have the platform 

 stormed by the best men of the day, all lamenting that another half- 

 hour at least might not be allowed. One of the professors was good 

 enough to suggest that I should go on for two hours more, and 

 was met by a general cheer. 



