SHACKLETON'S GREATEST LECTURE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 113, 11 May 1909, Page 3

SHACKLETON'S GREATEST LECTURE.

Lieut-ein-ant Shackleton is much gratified, amd not a little surprised, at the 'great amount of interest displayed in Sydney in .regard to the doings of his Antarctic expedition, and paa'ticulaaiy on account of the interest shown in his lectures. _ Speaking at the Royal Society's dinner in Sydney he told a story to show that this has not always been his experience. It was after the return, of the Discovery expedition under Captain Scott that the ineideaiifc • oecuinred. "After giving several lectures for [ chairities," said Lieutenant Shackleton, "I thought I would give one for myself. , I was living in Edinburgh, and I engaged a hall to seat 600 people, and paid £5 foa- it. Wheox"'l arrived, at the place at a quarter to eight on the evening of the lectuire I found one drunken man, two old women, and a few boys in the hall, so I went out to the cabman who had driven me and asked him would he like to come into the lecture, and if he would to got someone to hold his horse. To my surprise he refused. Well, anyhow, I gave the lecture, and there were about twenty-five people before the close. When I got home I told my wife that there were' twentyfive people there, ana that the lecture cost me £6, and that I had only got twenty-five shillingsl back.. She said, "Oh, no you didn't, because I sent the cook and one of the maids there myself." When the laughter subsided Lieutenant Shackleton, added: "Judging by the way the subject is received hero that ought never to occur again, but I'm going to cut all the ' paragraphs and show them to her when I get home for fear she might (not believe it.