A Lecturer's Mistake

A New York oorrespondent writes: A literary gentleman, of this city, who is, perhaps, better known as a.writer even than as a leoturer, tells a ve.y good story on hiruself, whieh I think the public will enjoy as much as do his friends. A more popular author than tl) is gentleman does not live in America ; bis books are rcnd with equal pleasure by both old and yonnf,and he is looked upon quite as much as k teacher, as a poet and nqreliat. He has more lecture engngements offtiïed to hiin tban he could possibly fill ; ii short, the demand for liiin in greater than the snpply. In the conrse of 11 long and varied leeture exporience he has met with many very amusing adventnres, but none that he thinks much funnier than the incident I am aboiit to relate. It i his custorn wliile lectnring to select sorue one person in his audience on wliom to keep his eye, and to -whom he addresses all hia remarks. Actors, flinr:'rs and proaches havo Üi same hábil. IicKens always did i! when reading. Tliey feel as tbough they had au uppreeiative audionce in this pernon, aud they do not look aronnd at the sour and sleepy faces oí j the others. One night the gentleman of whom I nto was lecturing in a Western town, and, as usual, on stepping npon the platform, he ewept the house at a glance in search of this necessary J son. It was not long before his eve cansiht that of a brighfc, intelligentlooking lady, sitting in one of the front seats. There is my auditor, he thonght, as he turned over the leavea of bis manuscript. I will address myself to her, for I have nlready taken a great interest in that thoughtful countenance. As the lec+nre proeeeded, he becnme conscious of the effect he was producing npon tuis auditor. The lady never took her eyes off his face, and her prpssion dfiiotf-cl the mrwt enrnpst ligtcninf.; umi intensa sympathy. Whpn his pves twinkled, lmr fnoe was wreathc) in miles ; and wlien they fillpd with teura -it soaie tonching aoeedot bewas nl'ii'u', shn nsel lier bandkercbief fii-flv. Thia is cerlainly very flatterintr. fcltonjtht tint lectnrer ; I do not know '.hen I buve bad fo sympatlictic n liatener. I doolare, I must manago to niopt tl)i lady bf.fore I leave the t(!u. Aii'l he oloaed bis mnnnsoript,, feélinai very well satiftfled with himself mui h8 andienoe. As tbe people were leaving the house, he suid, rnnninr; his fiiijevs kbrongh lii hair, and adju: fcing hm neck.tip, "TPho 3 that yery ÍDtellis?enHookinft liulv in the blue bonnet, who H,it direotly in front of mp, aud listfupd so attentively to niy leetare?" "O; that wrb Miss Blank," was (ho repty ; "flhe ia a deaf mute, bnt she bas réad all jour books, and waa vcry anxions to tpe yon, although she oould liear uothing you said."