- description
- # CHAPTER XLII. HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE _CROSS_ OLD GENTLEMAN
## Overview
This is a chapter from the novel [Redburn: His First Voyage](arke:01KG8AJ9CVDS15WWAP46A9M4XP) by Herman Melville. The chapter, titled "CHAPTER XLII. HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE _CROSS_ OLD GENTLEMAN," recounts an incident where the protagonist, Redburn, attempts to visit the Lyceum in Liverpool and is unceremoniously ejected. The chapter spans lines 8133-8183 of the source file [redburn.txt](arke:01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF).
## Context
This chapter is part of the larger work, [Redburn: His First Voyage](arke:01KG8AJ9CVDS15WWAP46A9M4XP), which is included in the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. It follows [CHAPTER XLI. REDBURN ROVES ABOUT HITHER AND THITHER](arke:01KG8AJS9XB90CSQV2ZADZDR2R) and precedes [CHAPTER XLIII. HE TAKES A DELIGHTFUL RAMBLE INTO THE COUNTRY; AND MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THREE ADORABLE CHARMERS](arke:01KG8AJS9YFR12YJKJHFN968XA). The text was extracted from the file [redburn.txt](arke:01KG89J1GP71YDJ60P8SRH97MF) using a structure extraction process.
## Contents
In this chapter, Redburn describes his visit to the Lyceum. He is drawn to the building and the sight of "sedate, happy-looking old gentlemen reading." He decides to enter, believing he will be treated with courtesy as a "poor, friendless sailor-boy" from a foreign land. However, he is met with hostility. An "crabbed old gentleman" shakes his cane at him, and another man forcibly throws him out into the street without apology. Redburn concludes that "These Englishmen have no manners."
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- CHAPTER XLII. HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE _CROSS_ OLD GENTLEMAN
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- 8183
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- 2026-01-30T20:47:38.127Z
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- CHAPTER XLII.
HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE _CROSS_ OLD GENTLEMAN
My adventure in the News-Room in the Exchange, which I have related in
a previous chapter, reminds me of another, at the Lyceum, some days
after, which may as well be put down here, before I forget it.
I was strolling down Bold-street, I think it was, when I was struck by
the sight of a brown stone building, very large and handsome. The
windows were open, and there, nicely seated, with their comfortable
legs crossed over their comfortable knees, I beheld several sedate,
happy-looking old gentlemen reading the magazines and papers, and one
had a fine gilded volume in his hand.
Yes, this must be the Lyceum, thought I; let me see. So I whipped out
my guide-book, and opened it at the proper place; and sure enough, the
building before me corresponded stone for stone. I stood awhile on the
opposite side of the street, gazing at my picture, and then at its
original; and often dwelling upon the pleasant gentlemen sitting at the
open windows; till at last I felt an uncontrollable impulse to step in
for a moment, and run over the news.
I’m a poor, friendless sailor-boy, thought I, and they can not object;
especially as I am from a foreign land, and strangers ought to be
treated with courtesy. I turned the matter over again, as I walked
across the way; and with just a small tapping of a misgiving at my
heart, I at last scraped my feet clean against the curb-stone, and
taking off my hat while I was yet in the open air, slowly sauntered in.
But I had not got far into that large and lofty room, filled with many
agreeable sights, when a crabbed old gentleman lifted up his eye from
the _London Times,_ which words I saw boldly printed on the back of the
large sheet in his hand, and looking at me as if I were a strange dog
with a muddy hide, that had stolen out of the gutter into this fine
apartment, he shook his silver-headed cane at me fiercely, till the
spectacles fell off his nose. Almost at the same moment, up stepped a
terribly cross man, who looked as if he had a mustard plaster on his
back, that was continually exasperating him; who throwing down some
papers which he had been filing, took me by my innocent shoulders, and
then, putting his foot against the broad part of my pantaloons, wheeled
me right out into the street, and dropped me on the walk, without so
much as offering an apology for the affront. I sprang after him, but in
vain; the door was closed upon me.
These Englishmen have no manners, that’s plain, thought I; and I
trudged on down the street in a reverie.
- title
- CHAPTER XLII. HIS ADVENTURE WITH THE _CROSS_ OLD GENTLEMAN