I would look at the hall.

We went up a rickety stairway, into a dingy room.  The plaster had fallen from the ceiling in several places, and the room had a mouldy smell.  There was a platform at one end, where the musicians sat when saltatory fetes were held, and on this I mounted to ‘take a view.’  I didn’t feel called upon to admire the hall in audible terms; but as I stood there an inspiring scene arose before my mental vision—­a scene of up-turned faces, each representing the sum of fifteen cents, that being the regular swindle for getting into shows round here, the landlord said.  I struck a bargain for the hall, at once—­a bargain by which I was to have it for two dollars if I didn’t do very well, or five dollars if I had a regular big crowd; bill-stickers and doorkeeper included, free.

In the evening, I went to the village post-office, which was merely a corner of the village store, and inquired if there was a letter there for Professor Green D. Brown.  I knew very well there was not, of course, but I had the not unexpected pleasure of seeing the postmaster’s eyes dilate inquiringly, so that I felt called upon to say:—­

’I am a stranger, sir, in Sidon, at present, but I hope to enjoy the honor of making the acquaintance of a large number of your intelligent citizens during my brief stay with you.  I propose lecturing in this village to-morrow evening, on a historical, or perhaps I should say biographical, subject.’

The postmaster, who appeared like an intelligent gentleman, said he was glad to see me, and glad to hear I was going to lecture; and he shook hands with me cordially.  The store contained about half the adult population of the village, lounging about the warm stove, talking and dozing; and the postmaster introduced me to Squire Johnson, and Dr. Tomson, and Mr. Dickson, and Mr. Dobson and Mr. Potkins, who, five, constituted the upper ten of Sidon.  With these gentlemen I held a very entertaining conversation, during which I remember I was struck with the extreme deference paid to my opinion, and the extreme contempt manifested for the opinions of each other.  They all agreed, however, that my visit would be likely to prove of the greatest importance to Sidon in a literary and educational point of view.

I returned to the hotel, and retired with heart elate.

In the morning, it was with emotions of a peculiarly pleasurable nature that I observed, profusely plastered on posts and fences, the announcement, in goodly capitals:—­

LECTURE!!

* * * * *

PROF.  G.D.  BROWN,

OF NEW YORK CITY,

WILL LECTURE THIS EVENING, DECEMBER 14,

IN JONES’S HALL, SIDON,

AT 7 O’CLOCK.

* * * * *

SUBJECT:  ‘EURIPIDES, THE ATHENIAN POET.’

* * * * *

ADMISSION 15 CENTS.  DOORS OPEN AT 6 O’CLOCK.