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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1217, 5 December 1882, Page 2

A gentleman resident in TimaruHreoentlf received by post u number of silkworms enclosed in a letter. The useful little CfeatUres passed the ordeal of sorters) bags, mail-vans , and carriers, and arrived quite lively. Archibald Forbes tells the following good story of his early experiences as a lecturer ; —“ It is bad enough to realise that you are a failure, but it is quite too harrowing to be told so to your face, and all the more harrowing when your informant does not know whom he is addressing. Onct) long ago, I gave an isolated lecture in Manchester oti the Carlist war in Spain, from which I had recently returned, It was a poor subject, it was a poor lecture, and it was a worse lecturer. I felt rather miserable as I stood in the auditorium, trying to converse with the secretary, while the tag end of the audience s’owly dispersed. A young gentleman saunteied up, and not recognising me as the lecturer, addressed the secretary. ‘ Infernally poor lecturer,’ the friendly creature observed) ‘Don’t you think so, sir?’ he asked the seorec: ry. The official remained dumb in embarrassment. ‘ Don’t you think so, sir ?‘ he said, addressing ine. * 1 quite agree with you,’ was my reply, made in sad truth, ‘Of course he was,’ he continued. *We all know the fellow can write first-rate, buMhe ought to stick to his pen and not try to lecture, for he can’t lecture worth a blank. Isn’t that so, sir?* again addressing me as a previous sympathiser. Again I expressed agreement with him, and he was proceeding with detailed criticism of an emphatic character when the secretary, in a cola perspiration, clutched hold of him, dragged him to one side, aud whispered something to him. The next thing I saw of the frank and ingenious critic was his fluttering coat tails as he dashed headlong from the hall. He conld not rally himself even to apologise; and, besides, what had he to apologise for ?”