far and wide the Comedian could spread the sands of lore that the winds
had drifted round the door of his playful, busy intellect. Where, for
instance, could he ever have studied the nature and prospects of
Mechanics' Institutes? and yet how well he seemed to understand them.
Here, perhaps, his experience in one kind of audience helped him to the
key to all miscellaneous assemblages. In fine, the man was an actor; and
if he had thought fit to act the part of Professor Long himself, he would
have done it to the life.

The two burghers had not spent so pleasant an evening for many years. As
the clock struck twelve, the Mayor, whose gig had been in waiting a whole
hour to take him to his villa, rose reluctantly to depart.

"And," said Williams, "the bills must be out to-morrow. What shall we
advertise?"

"The simpler the better," said Waife; "only pray head the performance
with the assurance that it is under the special patronage of his worship
the Mayor."

The Mayor felt his breast swell as if he had received some overwhelming
personal obligation.

"Suppose it run thus," continued the Comedian,--"Illustrations from
Domestic Life and Natural History, with LIVE examples: PART FIRST--THE
DOG!"

"It will take," said the Mayor: "dogs are such popular animals!"

"Yes," said Williams; "and though for that very reason some might think