Longfellow Embarrassed At A London Banquet

Wlien Longl'ellow visitad London, a (linuer wás given to kim at the Langham Hotel. It was arranged tliat this dinner Blicrald Be nnlike tho usual semi-ptiblic bauquet, iuasmuch as there should be no aüdre.sgep aud no prcrpoeing of toasts, ïhero were many distinguislied guetsts present. They WeVé each in turn presented to Longfellow. Then carne the dinner. It was excellent. A bright and general conversation had spr .ng up uutrammeled by this man's foar that Ue would have to speak ou his legs, and the other man's fear that hè wouldu't. But there was a well-known oid gentlenwn at the table f'or' whom this soene of oontentment had 110 attractions. Mr. S. 0. Hall suddenly rose in the midst of this happy throng, and, thun dering on the table, began to speak. He would not be put down. Yes, he knew what the agreement was ; but he also knew that at their board sat the most eloquent of Englishmen, and he called upon Mr. Gladstone to say a few words in honor of the gr:itest American poet. Mr. Hall had done his ruthless work well. He sat down amid a loud cheer, and presently Mr. Gladstone roso to still louder plaudits. 'l'iii1 orator himself was taken aback, but he was equal to the oocasion, andhe paid i glorious tribute of eloquent praiae tc the poet. While Gladstone sat down Longfellow stood up. Thunders of cheers greeted the grand old man, but the grand old man was very miserable. If they had given him a pon and called on him for a poera he would havo done well enough ; but, asked f'or a speech, and without notice, Mr. Longfellow was nonplussed. Ho opened his mouth. No sound carne forth. A socond time he essayed to speak, with a like result. At last he said, "Gentlemen, I thank you, and it was understood that thëre