2. Oratorical ability.  As already indicated, I was conscious of no mean alloy of the Demosthenic gold tempering the baser metal of my general composition.  My voice was deep and strong.

3. Facial brass.  I felt brazen enough to set up a bell-foundery on my personal curve.  My cheeks were of that metalline description that never knew a blush, before an audience of one or many.

4. Personal appearance.  I consulted my mirror on that point.  It showed me a young man of only twenty-eight, and tall and shapely proportions; a well-dressed young man, with light-colored hair, prominent nose, and heavy red beard and moustache.  I twisted the latter institution undecidedly, and ventured the belief that by shaving myself clean and bridging my nose with a pair of black-bowed spectacles I could pass muster.

The result total was satisfactory.  I resolved to disregard the preliminary respecting invitations, and to make a modest effort of my own to secure an audience, by going into the country, and advertising myself in proper form.  I commenced the work of writing a lecture forthwith; and in a few days I had ready what I deemed a rather superior production.

II.—­HOW HE PROCEEDED TO DO IT.

I gave up my lodgings in town, sold all my salable possessions, settled up with my landlord, paid my printers in the usual way (i.e., with promises), and, supplied with a satchel-full of hand-bills (from a rival establishment), started for the country.  My ticket was for Sidon—­a place I knew nothing whatever about; the only circumstance of a positive character connected with it was, that it was the farthest point from New York which I could reach by the Rattle and Smash Railroad for the net amount of funds in my pocket.  I stepped into the streets of Sidon with a light heart, and looked out on the scene of my contemplated triumph.  I made up my mind at once that if ancient Sidon was no more of a place than modern Sidon, it couldn’t lay claim to being much of a town.  The houses, including shops and stores, would not exceed one hundred.  I walked to the tavern, and delivered my satchel to the custody of a rough-looking animal, whom I subsequently found to be landlord, hostler, bar-tender, table-waiter, and general manager-at-all-work.  He was a very uninviting subject; but, being myself courteously inclined, and having also a brisk eye to business, I inquired if there was a public hall or lecture-room in the place.

‘I’ve got a dance-hall up-stairs.  Be you a showman?’

I said I was a lecturer by profession, and asked if churches were ever used for such purposes in Sidon.

’Never heard of any.  ‘Ain’t got no church.  Be you goin’ to lecter?’

I replied that I thought some of it, and inquired if it was common to use his hall for lectures.

’Wal, Sidon ain’t much of a place for shows anyhow.  When they is any, I git ’em in, if they ain’t got no tent o’ their own.’