280 THE REV. J. Q. WOOD. 



of these additions, the lines from which crossed one 

 another something like the foundation-threads of a 

 spider's web; and as, moreover, corrections, alterations, 

 and interlineations would be scattered about in pro- 

 fusion: the state of the MS. by the time it left his 

 hands for press may be better imagined than described. 



Yet, strange to say, the printers made few mis- 

 takes in setting up his work. Whether they put on a 

 special man for the work of interpretation, or whether 

 the compositors at last grew so accustomed to his 

 writing that they found no difficulty in it, I do not 

 know. But certain it is that they rarely misread it, 

 and very often his proof-sheets went back to press witli 

 scarcely a correction marked upon them. 



Of his proficiency with the type-writer he was very 

 proud, and was always ready to show and explain the 

 machine to any friend who might come to visit him. 

 After a while he always carried it with him upon the 

 long railway journeys which his lecturing tours con- 

 stantly involved. Indeed, during the last four winters 

 of his life, almost the whole of his literary work was 

 performed while actually in the train. From the very 

 lirst he was perfectly careless of appearances, and utterly 

 indifferent to any attention or excitement which his 

 proceedings might arouse. He once walked through 

 the streets of London carrying a collection of savage 

 weapons, and on another occasion wheeled a barrow- 

 load of bricks from the builder's yard to his house, as 

 he wanted them for immediate use, and no workman 

 happened to be at liberty. So that he was naturally 



