Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-01-07
~ For local news see second page.
= Last Niaht Dive P. BALDWIN, Of Ric

E1{5- Last Ntght OilVer T. BaluWln, OF hlcn
mond lectured at Washington Hall to tolera-
bly fair audience in point Of numbers, and a
very desirable one in point of intelligence.
From what had been said by one two per-
sons " no were acquainted with Mr. Baldwin,
we were prepared to hear something of more
original, scholastic and masterly sort than We
heard last evening. The best parts OF his
lecture were his quotations, which by The way,
were frequent and cupious and not at all credit
ably d0vetaiIed into ms own line OF remark HIS
iuups from Mr.. and Mrs. Hopeful to Shak-
sDcarc Robert Burns and John Bunyan were
simply ridiculous, while his Introduction OF
these distinguished characters was not made to
subserye any legitimate illustration OF the bat
tie of life half muchas it seemed to be to show
they were pet authors with the lecturer. We
have full report Of the lecture before us, but
at the request of the gentleman, who seems TO
have 4 holy horror OF his production meeting
the eyes of people at home or abroad, who have
not paid their quarter, we contine ourselves to
un outline Of it.
lie commenced by observing that all around
US was raging great battle-a battle in which
we hear no roar Of cannon, nor see no lash oil
steel, but none the less battle. y battle with
ourselves-with Others--with the powers of
nature, and with higher powers and Principali-
ties" We report this sentence verbatim, and
have simply to say that the meaning of u battle
with higher powers and princlpaiiues, is a
touch of the metaphysical that passes our CON-
prehensionl battle which lasts through all
time, has all earth for its battlefield, yet which
unlike all other battles involves the Individual
interests Of every one in the things that pertain
10 this life and TO the kingdom of this world.
The lecturer went on TO consider the day
dreams which one and all have upon entering
life as to what life is. lie deprecated the nc
cumulative spirit of the age-lhat tendency to
the materialistic which cllaracterizes US as u
people. While he would honor wealth gotten
by energy and honorable endcavor, which was
used for noble purposes, he would reprObate
that ardent pursuit of the people for riches per
a. The ambition to live in fine stone man
siOnS, be clad in fine attire, and have people
bow the knee, ignoble one. Speaking
OF the romance of opening life, he introduced a
Mr.. and Mrs. Hopeful who represent most young
people when they get married. Romance, seren-
AIDES, poetry, &c, gradually gave way to the re
atty OF butchers bills, mending old clothes, e..
Mr.. Hopeful wakes up from his dream of love
and moonshine and finds himself on the eve of
great battle. On the one side is Mr.. and Mrs
Hopeful, with such young HOpefuls as may have
been yOuchsafed them, on the other are the
creditors of Hopeful, while his debtors are n
sort OF reserved guard, armed neutrality, with
whom he expects to make Roadway against the
creditors. Mr. HOpefuls position was very far
fetched.ly) likcned unto that of the Iron Duke
wishing that night Blncher pronounced
Blocker by the lecturer would come. Hopeful
soon learns to look upon his butcher and his
tailor with an evil eye. The tax gatherer is his
mortal aversion. "'Taxes! - he says to himself
Are there not fluctuations enough without tax.
cs! Are there not ways Of spending money
without taxes? Who is Mr.. Taxes? Why don't
he make out his bill in regular mercantile style,
thus:
Charles Hopeful,
To the Commonwealth DIR.
To being born in this world and continu-
ing to live in it in spite of chicken pox, Group
&c. So 90
Other items were rendered for which Hope
iul was supposed to be under obligations to the
Commonwealth, and which, altogether, made
one ofthc happiest "get offs" of the lecture. But
IIopcfuS life was not all battle, all strife; after
awhile parental joys came to his comfort under
the butts and scOiiS of the world. The English
Hnmorist was drawn upon for the example of
Mr.. Meek and Maria James experience
On this head. The cares of women under do
mcstic difficulties, were handsomely touched off
IN the character of Mrs. Julia Hopeful who
found great difficulty in keeping her house, her
children, her cook and platter clean. Fanny
Fern was quoted to the effect that matrimony
was humbug, in which her Fanny wishy
"ashy "leaves" concerning husbands, were
sttewn before the audience, afresh.
Leaving Hopeful, the early deprivations and
sorrows Of obscure genius were touched upon.
The greatest geniuSes that England ever pro-
duced were player, tinker and shepherd.
What do we know of Shakespeare? We read
that he was a swarthy and Spanish looking man,
with high forehead sharp eyes, dark hair
curling over his lip and chin, tirm deep cut
ndstrilS. His father was dealer in WOOL, I'M
aele TO educate his son. he never studied the
classics as he certainly never initiated them
and but for certain errors of his early life he
never would have produced his immortal works.
mat SO little is known of him cannot be as
signed to his want of popularity, for though his
Iatie mas grown to Is present overshadowing
proportions, his humor and talent were much
ADMIRED in his time. Only three centuries have
passed since the birth of this man, whose fame
can never die, yet we know scarcely anything
of Shakespeare
The iecturerlpaid tribute to Shakespeare,
parts OF which we're eloquent and forcible.
vi Robert Burns, who lived nearer our time,
the lecturer said we knew more than of Shakes.
Peare. lie has been described as having a low
prov FACILITATING with thought, suffering eyes
ShSerlng in their round orbs with motion like
tue tints in the orange rose, nostrils slightly
curved upwards dusky skin, black hair, dim
pea chln and cheek, Imagination vivid as light
n'ns, ardent temperament, his favorite book the
nnaaAd poetry of Scotland, poetry which us Car
'Eie las said "intensites common sense and
goes directly to the heart" He (Burns) was
called a clod-pole, an imperial clod.pole, it is
true, but still clod-pole
The picture which no lactnror dr,,,- r. n,,rrs