Applause and cheers, waving of handkerchiefs and pealing of the organ
were kept up, with now and then a fresh augmentation from some seemingly
impossible source, until the full limit and capacity of the audience was
exhausted. Then the doctor began:
“You will understand me when I say no English-reading man can approach
your city without pleased expectancy. Since our fathers taught us to
read, we have known this city of Boston, and we have become familiar
with many of the scenes and places of which your people have written.
During the few days of my stay here I shall try to identify all the
places the Autocrat has told us about, only sorrowing because I cannot
see his well-beloved face.”
Then he referred to his intention to say something of the traits of his
countrymen, of “an almost inarticulate nation,” and the audience
laughed, knowing now that it had come to hear a man of genial nature say
things genially.
“A recent writer, whom I cannot identify and whose name I do not want to
know, denies that there is anything in our humor that is light in touch,
delicate, and graceful. He asserts instead that there is much that is
austere and awkward, tiresome and unpleasant. Now each nation takes its
humor in its own way, and, as might be expected, the Scotchman, on the
surface, does take his seriously, severely, and austerely. None take
humor so carefully and conscientiously as the Scotchman.
“Whenever a humorous situation presents itself to the Southern mind it
is embraced on the instant, and it is taken home for the enjoyment of
the family, and perhaps the neighbors hear it through the doors. Then
for days afterward the man who captured it shares it with his
fellow-passengers in conveyances, possibly impressing it forcibly upon
them.
“In the Scotch mind, when a jest presents itself, the question arises,
‘Is it a jest at all?’ and it is given a careful and analytical
examination; and if, after twenty-four hours, it continues to appear to
be a jest, it is accepted and done much honor.”
His final lectures in Boston were Saturday afternoon and evening,
November 28th. Not even standing room was to be had at either of them.
When the readings were over and Dr. Watson had taken his seat, the
audience would not release him without a personal word. In response to
the Chautauqua salute he made a pleasant little speech. He had dreaded
to come to Boston--he had heard so much of the city, its high standards,
its severe judgment. But having come here he could say that nowhere that
he had lectured had he been more cordially and sympathetically received,
and he would return to his home across the sea with brightest memories
of Boston and its neighborhood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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