TJie Scientific Lecturer. 87 



dead shot. Then my eye swelled and inflamed furiously, 

 and when I arrived here I was done for — helpless. The 

 committee crowded round, condoling, consoling, disap- 

 pointed, etc. Some one was aware of the state of my eyes 

 heretofore, and enlightened them on the subject. I thought 

 I should have to leave at once for home. After getting all 

 ready to go — packing baggage done, bill paid, waiting for 

 the stage — the lamentations of the committee were so ve- 

 hement, their protestations of regret at not hearing me so 

 vociferous, that I said : " Gentlemen, if you want to hear 

 me lecture, you can do it. I'll go in blindfold rather than 

 you should suffer. If you say another word, I'll take the 

 risk myself and lecture to-night." "Oh, it's too late now," 

 said they, referring to the evening paper containing extract 

 No. 2, which I inclose. "Very well," said I, "to-morrow 

 night, then." " Agreed," said they. I started out for lauda- 

 num, concentrated ammonia, and pills; put myself through, 

 and am round straight again to-day. But this (bless the 

 Lord !) affords excuse for not reading the Masquerade.* I 

 am going to give them the Sunbeam to-night and to-mor- 

 row night. I am now trying to fix up the other places by 

 telegraph where I am unhinged. It will probably bring me 

 home not till the 31st — Saturday night. If I can get to 

 Schenectady Friday morning I will run up for the day. 

 And now, from the receipt of this till I come home you 

 won't have much to do. They want to see you at Saratoga. 

 Suppose you slip up till the 31st — next week Saturday. I 

 will call, if possible ; if not, you can come down alone. 



I lectured at X last Thursday. My treatment there 



* He wrote out a lecture on the Masquerade of the Elements, which 

 his sister printed in large letters with pen and ink, that he might try the 

 experiment of reading, as most lecturers did and do. He succeeded very 

 well with it in places where he had never been before ; but people who 

 had heard his extempore Sunbeam lectures did not conceal their disap- 

 pointment. 



