The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-31

PARK BENJAMIN, ESQ, ON " THE RIDICULOUS
The fourth Of the Of Initute lectures was on
Thurdsy evening delivered before one Of the largest
audiences ever assembled in that hall, By Park Benis
min, Esq. The subject chosen for the occasion was
The Ridiculous" In introducing his subject Mr. Ben
ann remarked that no should perhaps occupy the at
tention Of the audience for hour in Improbable
though not 80 upon the rid
cuOus, which - would make interesting by Illustrations
Taking heart fsA the vors granted to him heretofore
he felt that he was not talking to jury Of critics but to
an assemblage Of friends. Commencing with quota
ton from Wordsworth he described the visit Of man to
Niagara, who went to It bccsuse It afforded such
splendid mill privileges Solemn absurdities often caused
keen Of the ridiculous and was apt to confer as
much pain pleasure upon those against whom it's shafts
were directedthat which excited admiration and re-
verence Of most men caused smile in Others Going
into church, for instance, and seeing . congrega
ton Of long faces, which you had seen all smiling
but short time before, caused you to SMILE
and the whole congregation would laugh immoderatey
at the falling Of hat the noddipg Of somnolent per-
SON. Children in school would laugh at fly on pcda-
gogues bore while out doors no notice would be taken
it. It often occurred that the most solemn occasion
ridiculous circumstance mirth even in the most
sober :nd sanctinonions - the minister, Who while
preaching nom his pulpit observed aboy putting his
ger TO the head Of red haired in front Of him. and
in imation of blacksmith, commenced hammerfng 1t
something In the misortupes friends which inva
rably made laugh the woman would laugh because
asr nusDs1d su%Psa ns nose against the door and chill
of the chair a. did just now. (Uprorous laughterl
Tine lecturer alluded to circumstance at the oommspce.
ing broken down and he preciptasd upon the floor
But you didn't laugh Qauahtsr) five enjoy the tri.
mitfortunes Of our neishbors! colored do
ipg business in the oyster line in New York resolved
to 60 upon O., an , excursion, 2. % taking the oars
spending some time injecting the town he autographed
back BIS partner charge the whole business
The rsS Ta.s cons
sequeDty In no hurry to return and protracted his jour-
ney some time longer than he intended Arriving home
he found that his partner had fled, and took with him
not only his goods but his wife also In cities the sense
Of the ridiculous is in manner, OFT by constant
In cases. that the persons who laugh are
citizens had seen such things before When swine had
the freedom OF the city they always created mrththey
always performing actions going contrary
In every thing. Once In Broadway LADY fashonably
dresss head up, ana fauoypg herself Of soue consc.
from street who struck the lady with such force nd
in such manner o. 70 place her on his back SO finely
she seated that she treated to ride for whole
block. Whether injured or not by the slight fall could
che piisd No. the sense Of the ridiculous was too
strong for that Even Methodist minister who Witness
oalcers carried the unfortunate LADY to drug store
while the animal walked along about his business with
indifference peculiar to his race Sir Walter Re-.
smoking which he continued after his arrival in Eng
land. Ono day, while INDUCING In smoke, . servant,
thinking bis bair fire. dashed pail Of water on
his head to extinguish IT, Raleigh surprised but It
was too RIDICULOUS circumstance to be angry about
pitsbe sights not unfrequenty excite the ridiculous
intoxication always does among little boys but how
funSy 1t appears TO them whom they push drunken
in the gutter in to the question how he
there he would say " promised TO . friend here"
tipsy bishmsn, leaning against lamp post fune-
raj procession was passins by vas asked who was desd
III can't exactly say sur" said he "but presume 1t 10
he iintle In th0 that
to the wickedness Of but IL h to be presumed
rather that they laugh ct the ridiculous figure he cuts
when he attempts anything that In his idea may be great
According to republican smpicty nothing IL so rdicu
lous the pride OF birth 0stentaton especially rdi
culous- has diamond rings its fingers, which soms
people might imagine pssteridas In coach lined
With velvet through the principal streets and stops be-
fore the most fashionable stores Colonization has a
box Ut the opera although bored with the music
white kids carries huge lorgnetts locks Ut every
thing which IL could just well without Osteuta
tion always goes to church, although Il rans II blsws
it, loud, throws half ssse IN the contribution
plate TO jingle Common laughs ct II; and
by and bye when dies II goes 10 Greenwood AFTER len