and sometimes much more. I guess his lambs can take care
of themselves. I am not very fond of mutton anyway. Such talk
Mr. Lansing ought to be ashamed of. The idea that he is a shepherd
--that he is on guard--is simply preposterous. He has few sheep
in his congregation that know as little on the wolf question as
he does. He ought to know that his sheep support him--his sheep
protect him; and without the sheep poor Lansing would be devoured
by the wolves himself.

_Question_. Shall you sue the Opera House management for breach
of contract?

_Answer_. I guess not; but I may pay Lansing something for
advertising my lecture. I suppose Mr. Wilcox (who controls the
Opera House) did what he thought was right. I hear he is a good
man. He probably got a little frightened and began to think about
the day of judgment. He could not help it, and I cannot help
laughing at him.

_Question_. Those in Meriden who most strongly oppose you are
radical Republicans. Is it not a fact that you possess the confidence
and friendship of some of the most respected leaders of that party?

_Answer_. I think that all the respectable ones are friends of
mine. I am a Republican because I believe in the liberty of the
body, and I am an Infidel because I believe in the liberty of the
mind. There is no need of freeing cages. Let us free the birds.
If Mr. Lansing knew me, he would be a great friend. He would
probably annoy me by the frequency and length of his visits.

_Question_. During the recent presidential campaign did any
clergymen denounce you for your teachings, that you are aware of?

_Answer_. Some did, but they would not if they had been running
for office on the Republican ticket.

_Question_. What is most needed in our public men?

_Answer_. Hearts and brains.

_Question_. Would people be any more moral solely because of a
disbelief in orthodox teaching and in the Bible as an inspired
book, in your opinion?

_Answer_. Yes; if a man really believes that God once upheld
slavery; that he commanded soldiers to kill women and babes; that
he believed in polygamy; that he persecuted for opinion's sake;
that he will punish forever, and that he hates an unbeliever, the
effect in my judgment will be bad. It always has been bad. This
belief built the dungeons of the Inquisition. This belief made
the Puritan murder the Quaker, and this belief has raised the devil
with Mr. Lansing.

_Question_. Do you believe t