"Why," said the Mayor, smiling blandly, "I myself am not a man of
science, and therefore his lecture, though profound, was a little dry
to me."

"Must it not have been still more dry to your workmen, Mr. Mayor?"

"They did not attend," said Williams. "Up-hill task we have to secure
the Gatesboro' mechanics, when anything really solid is to be addressed
to their understandings."

"Poor things, they are so tired at night," said the Mayor,
compassionately; "but they wish to improve themselves, and they take
books from the library."

"Novels," quoth the stern Williams: "it will be long before they take out
that valuable 'History of Limpets."

"If a lecture were as amusing as a novel, would not they attend it?"
asked the Comedian.

"I suppose they would," returned Mr. Williams. "But our object is to
instruct; and instruction, sir--"

"Could be made amusing. If, for instance, the lecturer could produce a
live shell-fish, and, by showing what kindness can do towards developing
intellect and affection in beings without soul,--make man himself more
kind to his fellow-man?"

Mr. Williams laughed grimly. "Well, sir!"