The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-03
Great Excitement 1t the Tabernacle Last
Evening-Mysterious Absence Of the Rev.

| in. Manit:
The announcement that the celebrated itenerant
orator, Professor Maffit, would deliver lecture on
the g Life Of Genius" collected an immense ar
sembsge OF the lecture going portion Of the COM
munity Iwithin the walls of the Tabernacle last
evening. At seven O'Clock the house was tolerably
well filled, and in few minutes after we had gained
seat, the last arrival consisting of two very fat
young ladies, escorted by ,hei r mamma, who, TO
speak after the manner of the immortal Boz, seem.
ed like one of her daughters multiplied by two, en-
tered the house, and succeeded, by the polite as
sistance OF a midde-aged clergyman. with slight
y ford complexion, in obtaining conspicuous seat
immediately behind the platform. where they could
hear and be seen to the best advantage. All eyes
were now anxieusly directed to the door OF the
Committeeman, and the audience behaved, we
must say, with the strictest decorum, scarce Wills
per being heard even amongst the ladies. No symp-
toms, however, Of the appaiition OF the eloquent
Mafiit met the gaze OF the respectable ard uneasy
multitude. One of the Rev. David Hale's deputies.
modest and discreetlooking young man, decen'ly
atred in blue roundabout, and neat pantaloons to
| match, with vest of sober hue, now ascendedthe
platform, and placed two tallow. candles (tour to
the pound) on The desk. This little incident agree
ably diverted, it seemed the attention Of the assem-
blage, for the universal gaze was now turned upon
the youth, whose countenance was thereupon sut-
fused with bushes, and he somewhat precipltaiey
retired, with an ingenious confusion, rare TO be
witnessed in this latter dayof integrity and honest
facedness.
Still no Maffit came; and the general uneasiness
now found vent in mutterings Of discomfort, :" not
loud, but deep" and numbers of the younger males
gave sundry exhibitions Of the vgor of their heels
and toes, which called forth the indignant rebuke
ofseveral grave and sage looking old gentlemen who
occupied some OF the front seats. 1t was now TWEEN
ty minutes past seven and yet the earnest query,
Where is Mr.. Maff? echo answered Where2
The assembled ladies' and gentlemen now began
to chat among themselves, and agreeably buzz,
like that of colony Of wasps when disturbed IN
their peace full retreat by invading tarrer filled
the ear. Immediately behind the reporters table
sat party Of young destined for ''the church,,
their faces Of orthodox paleness, and their shanks in
becoming state ofeccesastical famine; they were
terribly annoyed by Mr.. Mathis non-appearance.
"Why is MT he here! ooh! what keeps hint" at
he should mt come!' and then their uneasiness de
prived them of speech. That ominous whisper
seemed TO have been re-echoed throughout the
house. ''Where is Mr.. Mafit - ''What has be.
come of Mr. Mafi % was on every lip. 1t was
moKent of intense anxiety. The excitement in
creased every moment. 1t was now thiry-seven.
and a.haf minutes past seven o'clock The hearts
of the Directors sank within them. Dr. Grsco II, in
great dismay, hurried to the eLtrance-looked wild
ly OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the committee-rooms-
e.appeared-ascended the platform with faltering
step-,he excitement was terrible-"Ladies and
gentlemen" the Doctor began, with horrible at
tempt at a smile, ''Ladies and gentiemen-we are
in very unpleasant perdicament-the Directors
that is-ah all the gentlemen who have lectured
here say that New York audience is the most de-
corous and patient they ever met-yee, patient, IA
ghastly smile } now you'll sustain this good character.
GIANT cries Of, Where is MIR. MaifitD Really, la
dies and gentlemen, can't te-that is--the fact is
we heard from him on Monday, and he said he
would be here. Here is letter-no, believe I'd
better not read it now. "a laugh think Mr.
Mafit will be here after all but if he don't. we'll
get good substitute Please wait fifteen minutes"
And thenIthe worthy doctor retreated The Directors
were now hunting in every direction for a :" spbs'i-
tute" One man offered to lecture on total absti-
nence. cit was fine chance" he said, to make
converts-he would take them by guile" But the
shrewd Directors were not easily taken. "We
have heard that Mr. Maflit has arrived in town.,
said Dr. Griscom, again addressing the now agitated
multitude. 81 can conglomerate that" exclaimed
tall young man, with unexceptionable white
neck cloth, and ample shirt collar, who stood up in
one of the centre pews-"I seed him this day at
the wharf"
Eight o'clock came, but still no Maffit. A vague
suspicion that he might have been kidnapped began
to spread amongst the ladies'. &c He was to lecture
before the Odd Fellows tomorrow night said a
respectable green grocer and member of that bene-
violent fraternity, and who standing amongst the
crowd at the entrance "Oh he's an odd fellow
himself, if he intends playing such tricks as this !"
said another bys,ander. little man, wrapped in
an old blue cloak. was new seen hurrying through
the fog towards the gateway and the cry "'lis
he It's he ~ was raised by score of voices. But
alas it was mistake-it was not Mafft
Where in the name Of all the Saints in the calen.
dar is Mr. Maffii The man who married Captain
Shirley has been discovered, but-where is Mr..
Maffit 1.-THE Rev. J. N. Maffit? What has become
of Professor MaifiI? Can any tell this morn.
ing any thing about Mr.. Matfitl Has he been
Burked by the reporters at Washington Oh do
let us know what has become Of Mr. Mafft!
Where is Mr.. Ma1it We pause for areply
|
PuBLIc ScHooLs--LrcrUREs on EDUCATION,
&c.-we publish to-day on our first page the rest Of
Mr.. Taylor's lecture on the Common School Educa.
ton Of this State, and would advise all ous Kus
tees Of public schools to give it very careful
perusa 1t is most interesting subject this time,
when such a clamor is made for a change in the
public school SYSTEM and Of vital importance to the
whole community. Mr.. Taylor lays open with
mastery hand all the errors, foes and abuses Of the
Common School Systems shows what they are, and
and what they ought to be; and if the plan here
laid down was strictly carried out, we should have
less Of mobs and riots, demagogueisn, swinding f.
nanciers, and miserable mouAteb bank politicians
in every style. Mr.. Taylor's style Of lecturlng