The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-24


tual capacity is required to support mon in
Mleness A moderate share of impudence a.
pears to US the only quality needed in sach
cases. There ia, for instance, class Of persons
who make out very good living by the exercise
Of this gift alone, and who fatten upon the fruits
Of other mems labors, without having either the
honesty or the gratitude to acknowledge the
sources whence they borrow their means. We
allude to the large body of itinerant lecturers
who periodically lay our cities and towns
under contribution, giving but little in return
for the harvests which they make. During the
summer these persons lie by in the enjoyment of
nglorious ease their whole amount Of exertiOn
consisting in the preparation Of the two or three
lectures which are TO form their stock in trade
for the remainder Of the year. These precious
productions are compiled from elementary
scientific treatises, the reviews of new publica-
tions in the periodicals. the reports Of lectures
before foreign societies-all Of which furnish the
ready groundwork OF pretentiOus but superficial
supeIstructure.
In vain we look for an original idea or a
little novelty in the language Of these compila-
tions. Both ideas and forms of expression are
plundered by wholesale; the only thing which
the lecturer thinks it necessary to contribute
being an occasional local or adj captandum allu-
sion by way Of fabrication to the crude and i'll
digested mass which he Grams down the Threats
of his gaping audiences. These literary Swiss
have nervous horror Of thing like extended
publicity. They like well the puff preliminary
or the puff after the fact, and for these they are
always prepared to pay handsomely; but let an
enterprising journal, accustomed to hold this mir
ror up to charlatanism, attempt to report one Of
their lectures in full, and they win make piteous
appeals against what by others would be con-
sidered compliment. They pretend that the
publication Of their lectures renders them stale
and Improbable 10 other places; and where they
find that they cannot control the action of the
press they resort to the expedient Of reading
them in SO hurried and indistinct manner that
neither reporters nor audience can make any
thing out of them.
Now it is obvious from all this that the system
Of written lectures is bad one, and holds out a
temptation to adventures to impose upon the ig-
DoraDce and credulity of uniformed people. In
the first place, lecturer must be but imperfectly
acquainted with bis subject when he doubts his
ability to impart to it variety and novelty in re-
petition. In the next, his repugnance to have it
reproduced in the press is tolerably clear evil
dence that be breads too critical examination
OF its merits. How is it that an extempore poll
teal speaker win address any number Of audien-
ces on the same topics, and that too in the face
of the published reports of previous speeches
without wearying his hearers or having occasion
to claim silence on the part Of the newspapers
1t is that the ideas and language that he makes
use Of are his own, that bis mind is fresh and
vigorous, and that for these reasons be does not
ear his being able to give fresh variety and AZ
traction to his subject as often as he may be
called upon to repeat it. A properly trained lee
turer, capable of conveying instruction to his
hearers, should be above, and not below the stand
ard Of our stump speakers. Unfortunately it but
too frequently happens that he is beneath them in
al the most ordinary requirements of his art.
Such are obviously the reasons why lectures
have become drug in this country, and why
those who have taken to their delivery as pro-
fession have fallen into diEepute. Almost all
our public lecturers, with some few brilliant ex-
ceptons are not only incompetent to their duties,
but have adopted eypedients to cover their in
competency which prove that they are con-
scious of the fact 1t is with surprise that we
find a man of high position and talents, like
Colonel Benton, falling into the mistakes Of these
people, and lending the sanction Of his example
to their practices. We see it stated that he is
about to deliver lecture In Boston and other
cities of the Northeast, on the state of the
Union, it's condition and danger" and that be
has taken the necessary legal steps to secure
copyright in ii. The object OF this lecture az
claimed in its title, is to avert the danger by
showing the reality of apatriotic and highly
laudiblc purpose, and in every way consistent
with Colonel Benton's character and antecedents
If he were professional lecturer, however, the
steps that be has taken TO limit the usefulness OF
bis political warnings would tempt US to
ask If he proposed TO himself 10 make
livelihood out of the dangers by
which we are mcnaced; but being political
magnate, we must content ourselves with inquir-
ing If he is only going to save the Union for the
exclusive few who have a quarter to spare. The
principle, to say the least of it, il not demo
cratic one.
Whilst on this subject, we must not omit
passing allusion TO the lecture lately delivered 10
this city by Mr.. Gilmore Simms Its object was
professedly TO bolster up the much injured chi
valry Of South Carolina, and to paliate some Of
their recent exploits. Nothing can show more
markedly the different temperament and feelings
which aciuate the North than the manner in
which Mr.. simms' Quixotcal undertaking was re.
ceived. To bis first lecture about one hundred
persons were attracted BY curiosity; add although
but little sympathy was manifested in the views
of the speaker, nothing could have been fairer
than the manner in which he was treated both by
his audience and the city press The second lee
ture was not delivered, for the simple reason that