Show MUMBLING LECTURERS how english are Entert alneil by men of science nothing can surpass the patience of the british audience at certain of these lectures we have been present says a writer in the london globe on one such occasion when a distinguished but perfectly unintelligible member of the coyal society engrossed the attention of about nine hundred ladies and gentlemen from eight until ten what he was saying no one knew he mumbled on unremittingly and the company loudly applauded him in the intervals when he drew breath for a fresh lease of incoherence but he held a long rod in his hand and periodically he raised it and pointed at an enigmatic agglomeration of lines which were believed to be an illustration this of itself alone would have satisfied his audience coupled of course with the spectacle of his own respectable person and when the lecture was over the secretary complimented the old gentleman on his most instructive discourse there was a rush of eager of the resolution and the general public streamed out yawning and happy this gentleman received twenty five guineas for his effort and it is not known to this day what he was talking about there is no civilization in the world to equal that of the average provincial audience at a lecture it tolerates all things uncomplainingly we have known these kindly people endure a long series of lantern slides upside down without a murmur though their pictorial matter was believed to be of a very exciting nature i |