430 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



be supposed here that on the day when I was made Professor of 

 Technology, there flowed into my head the whole Cyclopaedia of 

 Useful Arts, and all the Encyclopaedias and other treasures of 

 knowledge, and in a liquified condition formed a well full to 

 overflowing somewhere in my pineal gland, so that whoever is 

 ignorant need only put down his bucket and draw it up full. 



" One of my pupils asked me one day, ' What a harlequin's 

 dress was made of ?' This was in the pantomime season, and 

 the young man had been recreating himself at the theatre. 

 When I shook my head in reply and smiled, he interposed, 

 ' Perhaps I have put an improper question?" I hastened to 

 compose his fears, and promised a reply. But how was the mo- 

 mentous question to be answered ? I used to know a fiddler 

 of a chemical turn, who belonged to the theatre, but he and his 

 fiddle had long ago vanished, I knew not whither, and he was 

 my only dramatic oracle. What w T as to be done ? My charac- 

 ter as a technologist was at stake, and I was casting about for 

 an introduction to that mysterious entity Harlequin himself, 

 when help came from an unexpected quarter. The sun would 

 not rise in a proper manner in the opera of the Prophet, and I 

 was waited on by an emissary from the theatrical manager, and 

 requested to assist his Sunship, which by means of a lime -ball 

 light I was enabled to do to the satisfaction of all. I bartered 

 my light for light upon the harlequin's dress, and was informed 

 it was made of the India-rubber elastic tissues, with trian- 

 gular spaces at intervals of a pervious material to allow of 

 perspiration. . . . 



" After these experiences, I felt no surprise at being summoned 

 to the Town-Council to explain to them off-hand all about fire- 

 works, which, as one of our municipal rulers was pleased to ob- 

 serve, he did not doubt I had made special subjects of study. 

 After that it would have been a despising of dignities to have 

 hinted that a sky-rocket was above me, and I proceeded to des- 

 cant on Eoman candles with all the learning and precision, con- 

 sistent with my attachment to Protestantism, which were to be 

 expected from so experienced a pyrotechnologist as I am known 

 to be. Well ! well ! I did my best, and you did better than my 

 best, and I hand over the civic crown to you." 



