Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-09

three lectures. on tue Elements ana II 1gtOFy of
Modern Civilization" at the Smithsonian Insfitu-
ton on Wednesday evening, to large and appre-
ciative audience. He began by stating that he
deemed the subject selected suitable to the COM
mendable objects contemplated blythe Smithsonian
Institution Civilization Is complex term, inclu-
ding Hany elements; the chief of which are refine
TIent of manners cultivation OF literature and art,
and civil liberty with sufficient guarantees Of per-
sonaI action and rights to the exclusion of despot-
ism. These three elements he proposed to treat i'm
three successive lectures. They constituted the
rous steps in the process OF retaining from bar
ha-ism-which is the primary idea conveyed by the
word ciriLIznfion. Sailing on the bosom Of the
mighty stream Of modern civilization, and enjoy-
ing the varied prospects which meet our view on
either side, ii is interesting, as we'll useful to
trace the stream to its sources and to discover the
various rivulets which feed Its waters This is
what he proposed to do in these lectures
The starting point Of all modern civilization is
the fall of the Roman empire in Europe I'm the
fifth century, and the building up amidst its rui ms
Of the early christian communities which have
since swelled into the great and polished nations
Of Europe, from which we are all descended
There are two opposite points in the pictur. of
CivilizatiOn-the Roman pagan and the modern
Christian. The former was. like the Roman en-
Pire Itself, of iron with no element Of kindness
and charity, and with no hospitals or orphan asy-
iums. The latter was characterized by mercy and
charity, and il has covered Europe with the
noblest monuments Of benefcence, which are still
great, even when in ruins.
The transition from one to the other of these ex-
treme points was through a turbid sea of barbar-
ism. The barbarans Of the orth, In the fifth and
following centuries, Overrun Western and South
ern Europe, leaving desolation and ruin in their
track. From the year 400 to the year 600 of the
Christian era, these barbarian hordes poured their
myriads Europe, DESTROYING everything
building up nothing utthere was fortunately
one element and one Institution infinitely stronger
than the Roman empire itself, which the barbara
ans could not DESTROY, because 1t was from God
the Christian Church, which conquered by the
Cross the cOnquerors of Pagan Rome; and after
making the barbarians Christians, set about the
work Of humanizing and civiIifing them In this
benevolent object the Church fully succeeded.
though the process of humanizne " as gradual an
is the case with all grand beneficial changes af.
fecting the masses.
GuiZot, the great modern writer on the history
Of European civilization, was quoted to show that
the church saved Europe from barbarism; that she
amel Grated legislation, established the first law
schools, checked violence, and by her gentle
manifestations and her continued influence on the
rude and ignorant masses Of barbarsm gradually
humanized tue European populations, and thus
laid the foundations Of all modern civilization
The truce Of GOd-an accepted principle of inter
national law in the % dark ages''-contributed
greatly to diminish petty feuds and border wars
u declared general peace during four DAYS of
each week ont of reverence for the passion death
and resurrection Of Christ
The munifcent charities Of the 80 dark ages
were also referred to, TO show how the Christian
church distilled kindness into the minds and
hearts of the masses, and thereby raised ND the
humble and the down-trodden, and infused kind
The oldest and best hospital In all Europe ia that
Uf the Stnto SpirtO at Rome The rig ht Of asylum
by which the hunted serf could take refuge I'm
the church and become free from all molestation
the moment that he laid bis hands on the horns
Of the altar. was also very important element i'm
the hnrnanlzlnS process. 1t threw around the
poor and the prosecuted the holy shield Of religion
and made freeman of the prosecuted slave
The spirit Of chivalry was developed under the
auspices Of the Church, which also regulated its
ardor and checked its excuses. Jousts and tour
nRnfs it'd ~
l.1teran, on account Of the danger to life and
limb which often accompanied them Still not
withstandin9 its excuses chivalry was useful I'm
its day. Ii directed public attention to the wrongs
of the poor and soug TO redress their grievances
The brave hearts of the knights enrolled i'm its
ranks yearned to strike the shackles from the
limbs of the oppressed, and by their generous
fnterpOsitiOn in favor of the down-trodden struck
terror into the souls of the mighty oppressor
Chlvalry also contri buted greatly towards raising
woman to the lofty position which she now cocu-
pies in society. Ii threw around her weakness the
powerful shield of manly strength and manly
valor, and 1t placed her hts under the guardian
ship OF religion. For here. as elsewhere religion
was the anlnating principle in the humanzing
and elevatinS process. The rude but generous
Mortimer remembered that their Saviour God
was born of u woman; and therefore they respect
woman; ana would not permit her rights to be
violated with impunity. III Christian woman is
not slave and prisoner, is her pagan and
Mohammedan sister, We owe the happy result to
the Christian Church, animating and directing
Christian chivalry
Theseeond lecture Of the course will be deli vered
tnls evening evening. Subject-''Literature and
promises To show what modern civilization owes
IN this respect to the Ozark Ages
shop Spalding is man of very great erudi-
non aud Intelligence, and our citizens should not
fail to avail themselves of the rich treat which his
lectures afford. 1t is extremely desirable that
the audience be all present and seated by quar-
ter to eight o'clock
UNITED STATES ACT. T. j. KELLY, COUNTY
CoNsTABLE-This case of assault and battery on
a colored man named Ford by Officer Kellv
came up for hearing before Justice Dom YES
. terday afternoon. The evidence was that on the
day stated In the warrant three white men were
sitting near the corner of Third street and Massa-
chus@tfs avenue talking; Ford came along and
they called him, and commenced talking about
the prospect for employment. Kelly came up
and told Ford TO leave, he had no business talk
Ing TO white men. Ford said he had as good a
right as Kelly had, the white men had called
him. nelly tried to push him away Ford re-
sisted the pushing, and Kelly collared him, and
drew pistol and beat him over the he'd kpoc ked
him down, and beat him, and finally bit his lin
on This evidence was given voluntarily by the
three white men who had called Ford and were
conversing with him.
Immediately after the affair these three wit
nesses went to the office of ustice Williams who
issued warrant, and Kelly was arrested and
t9eo tne case for trial before Justice Fergus Oh
Tue "a Instant. The witnesses not appearing
WITHIN Few moments after the hour fixed for the
trial, Justice Ferguson dismissed the case The
witnesses ineH Went directly to the office of ms
uce Dom, who issued another warrant and Kelly
was again ARE ted by officer Watson, taken before
Justice Dom, and gave bail for a hearing and i'm
case OF non-appearance the bond to hold good for
the Criminal Court. The witnesses appeared and
the trial was made. but Kelly did not appear
he result is that the bond will be sent to the
Criminal Court, and there the security will have
10 prod him for trial.
man OF helly's brutal propensities, as ind-
Gated oy this evidence, would appear to be wholly
unnt for his place as county officer His conduct
In the matter will doubtless receive due attention
at headquarters
POLICE MATrERs-Before Justice C7ark-Dr
j n Wooster complained that Bridget q uinn
ana Mary u Neal had threatened to denolish bis
house and TO grievously assault his own person,
ana demanded the protection of the law In shape
CT peace warrant. The warrants were duly
Issued, and Bridget and Mary appeared and gave
the security demanded. which was that fbey
woui6 not break the peace again for six calendar
months, and that particularly they would mot
knock the tin screen down which the Doctor had
they dweft 0'e " ne'e
when the above business was completed, Miss
Bridget asked for a warrant against the Doctor
who had, as she alleged, called her by a profane
and Indecent name, and had also alluded insult
inplY tO her nativity The locto, xx,as a N, g.