TJic Scientific Lecturer. qi 



New York, December 2j, iSyj. 

 Mr. Franklin D. Locke: 



My dear Sir : I deeply sympathize with you in your 

 lack of early educational opportunities, but thank Heaven 

 that I was not thus neglected. My opening intellect was 

 most sedulously and skilfully cultivated, as is shown by the 

 fact that, when Alonzo Green came around winters in Sara- 

 toga County to teach writing school, I took a tallow candle 

 and some paper and quills and waded through the snow for 

 two miles that I might develop my precocious genius for 

 chirography. Such was my proficiency that I resolved to 

 pursue the destiny of a writing master, and if my eyes had 

 not failed me I should probably have ornamented that 

 itinerant vocation to this day. 



Yours with commiseration, E, L. Youmans. 



Here followed an " interpretation " of the letter 

 which had been " too many " for the chairman and 

 members of the lecture committee. 









Specimen of Youmans's Handwriting 



