A CONNECTICUT AUDIENCE--MERRY MERIDEN--A HARD PULL.
_From Meriden, January 8._
A Connecticut audience was a new experience to me. Yesterday I had a
crowded room at the Opera House in Meriden; but if you had been behind
the scenery, when I made my appearance on the stage, you would not have
suspected it, for not one of the audience treated me to a little
applause. I was frozen, and so were they. For a quarter of an hour I
proceeded very cautiously, feeling the ground, as it were, as I went on.
By that time, the thaw set in, and they began to smile. I must say that
they had been very attentive from the beginning, and seemed very
interested in the lecture. Encouraged by this, I warmed too. It was
curious to watch that audience. By twos and threes the faces lit up with
amusement till, by and by, the house wore quite an animated aspect.
Presently there was a laugh, then two, then laughter more general. All
the ice was gone. Next, a bold spirit in the stalls ventured some
applause. At his second outburst he had company. The uphill work was
nearly over now, and I began to feel better. The infection spread up to
the circles and the gallery, and at last there came a real good hearty
round of applause. I had "fetched" them after all. But it was tough
work. When once I had them in hand, I took good care not to let them go.
* * * * *
I visited several interesting establishments this morning. Merry Meriden
is famous for its manufactories of electro-plated silverware.
Unfortunately I am not yet accustomed to the heated rooms of America,
and I could not stay in the show-rooms more than a few minutes. I should
have thought the heat was strong enough to melt all the goods on view.
This town looks like a bee-hive of activity, with its animated streets,
its electric cars. Dear old Europe! With the exception of a few large
cities, the cars are still drawn by horses, like in the time of
Sesostris and Nebuchadnezzar.
* * * * *
On arriving at the station a man took hold of my bag and asked to take
care of it until the arrival of the train. I do not know whether he
belonged to the hotel where I spent the night, or to the railroad
company. Whatever he was, I felt grateful for this wonderful show of
courtesy.
"I heard you last night at the Opera House," he said to me.
"Why, were you at the lecture?"
"Yes, sir, and I greatly enjoyed it."
"Well, why didn't you laugh sooner?" I said.
"I wanted to very much!"
"Why didn't you?"
[Illustration: "I WAS AT YOUR LECTURE LAST NIGHT."]
"Well, sir, I couldn't very well laugh before the rest."
"Why didn't you give the signal?"
"You see, sir," he said, "we are in Connecticut."
"Is laughter prohibited by the Statute Book in Connecticut?" I remarked.
"No, sir, but if you all laugh at the same time, then----"
"I see, nobody can tell who is the real criminal."
The train arrived. I shook hands with my friend, after offering him half
a dollar for holding my bag--which he refused--and went on board.
In the parlor car, I met my kind friend Colonel Charles H. Taylor,
editor of that very successful paper, the Boston _Globe_. We had
luncheon together in the dining car, and time passed delightfully in his
company till we reached the Grand Central station, New York, when we
parted. He was kind enough to make me promise to look him up in Boston
in a fortnight's time, when I make my second appearance in the City of
Culture.
[Illustration]