New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-08
MR. CURTIS AT THE BROOKLYN ATHENEUM.

T. ne Editor If The N. y. Tribune
Sir: The lecture of Tuesday evening was for the
benefit Of the Female Employment Society. 1t Is
credable 10 our city that there was so large al at
tendance, which it may be presumed was in q great
degree for the AID Of the charity TO which the proceeds
of the tickets were devoted The lectures have in
deed been generally well attended through the Win
ter ts am informed; but this out OF the ordinary
course and the tickets double price ought to say,
in passing that the Society is well deserving oil the
munifcence of our citizens, well for the benevolent
object for which il established, as for the excel
lent cement of its Affairs. 1t is rare tina char
table association is managed rs fully TO earn pu0hc
confidence and particularly in the case OF institutions
managed exclusively by ladies' Ii will not, trust, be
deemed derogatory to them TO say that their inexpe-
rience in business by necessity involves some Iesu-
arty in these associatons-the duties Of the officers
are no, generally well defined and the meetings OF the
Board not conducted with the fOrmaylit which can
alone nsure due regnfd TO the opinions OF al the
members, and prevent the whole management Deiog
epprossed by one or two Individuals There II, how
ever growing Improvement in this respect. LADIES
are acquiring buinesslke habits by the great number
of charitable societies which have been established
under their auspices and which serve as constant
discipu to their powers OF usefulness.
The Female Employment Society is happily constr
tuted for the safe management OF Its affairs Know
Of no other Board Of Managers who have 80 well
calculation They have, indeed, the aid of Board
of Advisers consisting of number Of gentlemen well
qualified for their office but, judging from the past
the Board of Managers have justified the opinion
which is generally eniertaued OF the competency OF
the Board of Managers themselves. III Is, indeed, IN
efficiency good order and harmonious action, model
well deserving of imitation. The charity which ID
dispen ed is also of the most ssIvceabe klndt is 10
furnish employment 10 INDECENT emales and pay them
for their labor by which far useful aid is REM
dered than by bestowing aims without requiring an
equivalent much 1t fosters industry at the same
time that IL relieves distress.
SO much thought should be said for this Society
which is becoming the pride of city, aud whose
beneficial interest in the proceeds of the lecture
far more interesting 10 me, as doubtless 1t was TO
many others, than the lecture ITSELF
Yet will not let the occasion pass without some no.
ce Of the lecture. Mr.. Curtis has obtained celebrity,
and his literary merits have been the subject OF news
paper criticism learn with pleasure that the lecture
was gratuous, though he spoke rather emphatlcaHy
Of the night Of literary men, which they are getting to
put in exercise Of looking for less admiration aud more
dollar and cents. For young whose business ii
to deliver lectures for the emOument this is ao able
bat the practice 10 have been adopted by
those who profess to seek the edhcation Of tue public
and deliver lectures only iuterude to other and
more weghty employments. Mr.. Beecher hired himself
out for eI0O TO some literary caterer at the West
but be is star. The ordinary rate, ii correctly
informed is ESQ FOR a lecture The employment Is not
IN Itself the most DIG hed / should think at least
that II was the emolument rather than the prestige
gained by il that could induce some of our most drn-
suished clergymen TO pcdde their lectures from to
to town through the whole country for stipulated
consideration.
am skeptical Of the amount Of Instruction derived
from this popular lecture Is never profound
IL would in fact not be popular If imposed upon the
audience any efou Of mind. lecture u expected to
abound in sparkling thoughts and images unexpected
contrasts, display of wit and eXaggeration Of natura
hfe. II the subject is historical biographical, We
have hero worshp-if it BE- something philosophical
practical it Is worked up in undue proportion, a. DIR.
Bethunes Common Sense, which becomes almost
RoxseRsS, M Storrs's =" Little Things are made
more important even than great things. A proper
gard 10 the relative consequence Of the subject ought
10 be preserved and not in illustrating one part of life
10 give excessive prepondersnce over anoher-as
the Hibemian who maintained that man was not
emily as good another but great deal better
Mr. Cults, think. in bis lecture Dickens, COM
nits the same sort Of error IL would seem that he
thought Humanity was first brought to light BY
Dickens writings. Now, am quite willing TO con-
cede due honor 10 the genial spirit OF those writings
and TO allow TO Dickens himself large degree If
philanthropy; but it is in my Judgment g'eM ms
take TO suppose that man has the power OF nfus
ing virtue and charity through a whole community.
There must be general susceptibility, or, IN other
words there must be generous impulses in the hearts
of men, or there be stirring up TO useful action.
The true theory is that authors embody the thoughts
and feelings OF the community 10 which they live;
they aie rarely in advance Of their age. When
Dickens commenced to write there had been a break
hg.up Of the old elements Of socety-the Democratic
feeling had already begun TO prevsil-tlere was a
growing interest in the poor, and feeling OF est-
epoe TO srisocratc pride and intolerance. Iu this
selling was involved not merely political change but
alaIge infusion Of religious sympathy. The Church
of England may not have done It's dQty but the dis