The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-18 00:00:00

"MUM TWAIN" AS • LNCTUREIL

On Monday evening "Mark Twain" (Mt S.
Clement.), the well known American h
Amerada lecture on "Oar Fellow Swages of the
wich Lsiands," at the Hanover-square Roam h
London. There was • very large audience, use
many dramatic and literary celebrities, both zt
and American, among whom Mr. Barnxm, the
" Yankee " showman, now on a visit to this waft
was espeolally noticed.
The lecturer, on making his appearance upon pi,
platform, was warmly greeted. He stated that it wee
that evening to deliver, and on the four hi.
proposedo evening, and on Saturday afternoon to rep*,
a lecture upon the Sandwich Islands, the habits ant
matrons of the natives, the character of the country, lad
so forth. He should ask their permission to introdaes to
them "Mr. Mark Twain," a gentleman who varled
learning, historical accuracy, veneration for the weak_
anddevotion to 'dance were only equalled by kie
eonal comeliness, his grandeur of character, sod am*.
sweetness of disposition. It was of himself that top.,
that vague and modest desoriptios ; and, final pm
It was the custom in this country to iatroduce a
lecturer' and not wishing, though he disliked h.
to break through that custom, he had chosen to sage.
the introduction himself witn the object of settle'
ftaticialacte. In view of the libere of Eogkag,
sent to Amerioa all the lecturers that she sew
mare, he had felt it nothing but right sad fair that*
United States, in however impeded nm.!, =e.g.
Omega the compilmmt, and he u
voluntary into the bre. He ens
present t evening under these aironamienses, nel h
his own insignificant Individual c_sitett bet as aa.
presentative and exponent of the of Amid&
and so firmly was he impressed wTils %Tel:importune si
his diplomatic mission that to make amends for mg
neglect he should insist on sending to Great Briksh Is
future fourteen Yankee lecturers for every one Mu
left the.. shores.

_.titent.), the i
ibmptilit_litottle

Turning to immediate subject of his lecture, hi
said the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands was situated
2,100 miles south.west of San Francisco, but why they
were put away out there, so far from any other
and in such an Insignificant locality, had puzzledg
good deal. He felt, however, that the matter wee sot
open to criticism, and that he would be not Mriag
gracefully in dwelling upon it. The islands, twelve is
number, were of volcanic origin and oonstitutim sad
four were girded with • rich end productive belt el
silver. Eighty or 90 yeses ago the natives were 400,0 es
strong, but sines then the white people had 4•4
them, bringing in their wake trade, commune empli
ailed diseases, education, civllisetion, and all sorts d
similar calamities, the result being that they dwindled
to about 50,000. Meanwhile, seminaries and sit
siosaries were increasing, and he believed the wisdoms
would be extinct within fifty years. He described Si
natives as an may-going, idle, and shiftiest push
extremely hospitable, and not inclined to be Tian
As to their dress, he said the women were • sigh
long, loose garment; but the men contented that
selves with wearing wiles, peke of specials,
and other little things of that sort He ghoul
at the efforts made by American Widmann to
break down the inhuman laws by which women nd
children were in former times brutally treated; and is
expreesed his belief that the nation, for itemise, smarm
one of the beet educated on the face of the earth. All
that had been achieved by the American missionseies,
and paid for by the pennies of the Sundsyeebeel
children. He believed that he himself had invested
7s. for the bet thirty years in that way. In mattes
of trait, the natives possessed • good strong faculty id
lyine, being: not content with the common-plies he
which mbody could tell, but uttering falsehoods skid
awed by their very simplicity. There were about3,oN
whim people in the islands, chiefly Americans, eh.
owned the fruitful Nagar plantations. The helm
cot chided by giving a very amusing description of lir
King and his Gover rment, especially of his Rim
Minister, a New Hampshire mlo named Harris, mil
rpesetug iii glowiug terms or the extreme boa*
and grandeur of the scenery of the islands.
Throughout its delivery it was repeatedly and lady
applauded, and the aneedotes which the looters
narrated, and his quaint dry manner, and sexism
accent provoked much amusement.