Some Reminiscences of a Lecturer. By Dr. Andrew Wilson. (jarrold
and Sons.)—Dr. Wilson began his career early, for he. delivered his first lecture—on the human frame—at the age of fifteen. Naturally he magnifies his office, nor are we disposed to argue with him. There is certainly no necessity for the accurate man to be dull, or the entertaining man to be inaccurate. At thW same time, lectures, however excellent, do often leave on the minds of listeners an impression of knowledge which they do not really possess. They are of the nature of "royal roads." Dr. Wilson? has, of course, some amusing things to tell us. Once. lecturing. on his first topic, he was ushered into the hall by a band playing the "Dead March." Another experience was having a very noisy. gallery. The lecturer complained and contrasted the conduct of' the gallery with that of two rows of ladies and gentlemen who had listened with unflagging attention. "These," said the attendant, "were lunatics from a neighbouring asylum." This reminds us of the experience of a clerked friend. He was to preach in the chapel of an asylum, and was a little nervous. "You would not think that they were mad," sold the chaplain reassuringly, "but that they are so attentive." Perhaps II or
quiet fun there is nothing better than that of the temperance lecturer who, from force of habit, blew away the imaginary froth from a glass of water with which he was about to refresh himself.
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