Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

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the first to lead the way; her devotion was rewarded with cheers,
such as seldom resound in any theatre. Upwards of three hun¬
dred followed her example. The number would have been
greater had not the evening been far advanced, and the weary
scene-shifters anxious to get home to bed.
The Committee of the London League were very desir¬
ous that I should speak at Oxford. On proposing it to the
friends of temperance in that city, they stated that it was
doubtful if such a meeting could be held. A certain class
of students had been in the habit of disturbing concerts,
lectures, and the like, and it was thought they could not
resist the opportunity of some “fun” at a temperance
lecture,—a subject held in contempt by a majority in the
class to which these Oxford students belonged; and their
“ fun” was occasionally rather rough. They had smoked
out a gentleman who came to lecture to them on tobacco.
Some scores of pipes and cigars were in full blast. The
Oxford friends stated also, that, though they would do all
they could to assist in the arrangements, and to promote
the success of the meeting, no person known in that city
would venture to preside, and the project had better be
abandoned. The London committee were determined to
make an attempt to get a hearing for me there; and I
having consented, and a gentleman from London having
agreed to preside, the evenings of Wednesday and Friday,
June 13th and 15th, were appointed. I went down to
Oxford on the 13th with three or four gentlemen of the
League. On entering the hall, I found quite a large num¬
ber of students, distinguished by their flat caps,and gowns.
The introduction passed off quietly, and I was received
with noisy demonstrations, not exactly complimentary. I
proceeded in my speech. The majority seemed to be look¬
ing at me curiously, as I suppose a pugilist looks at his
antagonist, watching the first opportunity to give him a