CHAPTER XXX 



AN AMERICAN LECTURE TOUR — BOSTON TO WASHINGTON 



When I left home I had some idea of extending my journey 

 across the Pacific, lecturing in New Zealand and Australia, 

 perhaps also in South Africa, on my way home. But my 

 voyage out was so disagreeable, making me sick and unwell 

 almost the whole time, that I concluded it would not be wise 

 to extend my sea voyages except under very favourable condi- 

 tions, which did not occur. One of these was the success of 

 my American tour, but owing to my agent not being a good 

 one, or, perhaps, to my not being sufficiently known in Amer- 

 ica, I was kept throughout the winter in Washington waiting 

 for lecture engagements, which did not come till March and 

 April. 



On reaching New York (October 23), I had my first experi- 

 ence of American prices by having to pay two dollars for a 

 cab to the American Hotel, not a mile off, where I was obliged 

 to go for the night. The next morning (Sunday) I went to 

 stay for a few days with Mr. A. G. Browne, a gentleman on one 

 of the New York daily papers who had called on me at Godal- 

 ming in the summer. On the way to his house we drove to 

 the picturesque Central Park, in the company of Henry George, 

 the well-known author of " Progress and Poverty," who was 

 then a candidate for the important post of Mayor of New 

 York, and who had been invited by Mr. Browne to meet me. 

 The next evening I attended one of his meetings, and was 

 called upon to say a few words to an American audience. I 

 tried my best to be forcible, praised George, and said a few 

 words about what we were doing in England, but I could see 

 that I did not impress them much. 



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