THE POLICE AND THE TYPE-WRITER. 257 



lecture was soon afterwards given, so many auditors 

 were attracted that the room was filled to overflowing, 

 and a number of late comers had to be accommodated 

 on the platform ; an arrangement which proved highly 

 satisfactoiy to themselves, but highly annoying to the 

 lecturer, who objected even to the presence of a chair- 

 man upon the platform, and always liked to have as 

 much space as possible to himself. And the first 

 part of the season concluded with a flying visit to 

 Ireland, followed by an equally brief expedition to 

 Scotland. 



While at Armagh, on December 12th, an amusing 

 incident took place, in the form of a little friction with 

 the police, who entertained grave suspicions as to the 

 true purpose of the type- writer, which now invariably 

 accompanied my father upon his travels. One of the 

 periodical dynamite scares had just been running its 

 course ; detectives were everywhere on the watch for 

 suspicious characters and suspicious packages ; and one 

 of these enlightened individuals persisted in believing 

 that the instrument in question was a new kind of in- 

 fernal machine ! The little bell, especially, which gave 

 notice as the end of each line was approached, appeared 

 to rouse the direst apprehension in his breast. And 

 nothing would do but that the type-writer must be 

 examined by the proper authorities before my father 

 could be allowed to proceed. Of course, its real nature 

 was quickly demonstrated, and he was allowed to drive 

 off with it in triumph ; but the zealous detective evi- 

 dently considered that he had greatly distinguished 



