Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-12-03


Mr.. Books LrcrrhE -on Monday evening
last Hon Erastus Brooks, of New York, deliv-
cred the opening lecture of the season to q large
aud fashionable audience in Washington Hall.
He was introduced to,the assembly by, Mr. Rus
sell, III few appropriate remarks. We present
short synopsis of the lecture:
After announcing the subject of his lecture
Man as he was, as he is, and as he ought TO be-
Mr. Brooks began by remarking upon the pres
eut deteriorating condition of man. considered
physically. 4 more general participation in
athletic exercises, and temperance in our habits,
are the remedies for this. If the watch daily
needs winding up, how much more man, the
most wonderful and complicated piece of ma
chinery. Mr. Brooks then took survey of the
..olden days of our country, politically, moral
" and socially. There was then as much, at
least, of good sound sense aud of the true re-
publican spirit; and as the Constitution of
our Government was then constructed, and as
it now reads, so let it be administered
Education of the young was better attended to;
not alone in the fine paths of liteature, but in
the duties of the household, and of the proper
business of life. Even a proper knowledge in
the mystery of mokiag 6reda, was considered
requisite to the young lady S matrimonial fit
ness; and the daughters of those times, were
trained to the music of the spinning-wheel, as
well as the piano. There were fewer books, but
they were well studied Poor Richards Alma
nae was one of their textbooks of knowledge,
md its knowledge was mastered. Every thing
was marked with a simplicity and their political
forms and custom, very different from our pres
ent show of pomp and parade.
The lecturer then turned and dwelt upon the
glorious prospects aud destiny of our country.
1t might be our destiny and Gods providence,
that we should widen our limits until there is
included this whole continent; yet he, CIR. b.
would stop here Like boys-he thought-we
had been robbing good many orchards.
Our government is the best in the world. We
fear no other people, and our great cause of ter
Tor is ourselves. Mammon is onr chiefest en-
envy.
Mr.. B. now came ospcak upon some of the
popular and .J;lslisha5e follieso of the day Our
lady auditors cannot fail to have listened well to
the lecturers witty, though somewhat satrical
sally, directed against their charming shoops.p
Our fashionable church goers might well have
blushed at sight of their gaudy jewels, and our
man oil Starch and essences, the sign Tor the
tailor and barber" might have grown humble
with shame, at the polite, yet scathing rebuke,
which they received.
The remedies for intemperance, were some
high moral instrumentalities Let the laws be
such as are practieabte.e institutions such as
thrt when IS attetss I..,ilt mr., here arc
ola peculiarly refining and moralizing tendency.
But further extended sketch ofslie accom-
plished lecturers fine speech is impracticabe, if
indeed it would not be useless, in SO hurried and
incomplete manner. He concluded with the
splendid sentiment t.Igaoranes Is Tie epil, true
1uo.sislgo the remedy
Mr. Brooks lecture was characterized through
out by purely moral and patriotic sentiment,
adorned as it was with the finest classical and
historical illusions.