"The nights over here are long, but if Johnson started on a story they'd have to reach twice around eternity and halfway back to give him time to finish all he had to say." "He's not very witty, in my judgment," said Carlyle, who since his arrival in the other world has manifested some jealousy of Solomon and Doctor Johnson.
"That's true enough," said Raleigh; "but he's strong, and he's bound to say something that will put the audience in sympathy with the man that he introduces, and that's half the success of a Story-tellers' Night.

I've told stories myself.

If your audience doesn't sympathize with you you'd be better off at home putting the baby to bed." And so it happened.

Doctor Johnson was made chairman, and the evening came.

The Doctor was in great form.