New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-05-28

monthly or quarterly journals. Neither II any re-
iuctance to come appeared did the performer
scrupie employing compliments or cajoiery to fill
the benches, or, II he anticipated cool or an ad-
verse reception, to pack them with cyoq4ers. In
those days. whatever 1t may be now, it was NOT
easy TO be popular preacher.
We do not know whether Dir. Cumming or Mr..
BELOW spend, previous To their exhibitions, sleep
less nights, display pald cheeks and sunken eyes.
or perspire like gIadiators awaiting finishing
blow. such terrors, however, We are told, often
possessed the lecturers Of Plntarcfs time, when
they wished to surpass themselves, or to take the
eonceit out Of rival professor. Their attire and
gethIg-up were expensive. First. they re-
lreshed themselves with a bath-that, however,
hm'gnl ne 1ad gratis, or for few oboli-not 80,
however, the gray or scarlet gown OF fine cloth,
the wig. Or the artistic Arrangement Of the hair,
ana we brilliant rings for the fingers Next came
s,s lurnasang nm Of the lectureroom with benches,
we're nnt oasaions for then as now, II the pews
ger, ana, perhaps, in directions not favorable to
| the lecturer. Sometimes, indeed. 4 fbeater' ar a
temple was lent him BY some friendly manager Or
| pohtH nns a. frequently the diseousse waa ieliv
cred in the learned professors honse The ror,
contained rows Of seats rising against the hali and
benches or dais in the center for the most illus
trious members Of the audience while high aIavs
all rose the professional cathedra, well eushiouei
| and handsomely canopied.
On ascending his pulpit the lecturer gazed rount
| on his audience, greeted them with smiles an,
bows reserving for his most distinguished nearer
| had his peculiar method Of entry. Some, like th
/ sophist Seope1ian, were sweet as summer y i
! their approach; others, like Proaresius, rushe
| up the rostrum impetuously, 81 like racehorse Q
q hound in full scent.n FaF0rites were greetc
with preliminary applause. just as We greet Mari
at the Opera House, or Lord Shaftesbury at Exete
| Hall. . When the discours
| had come to an end-we have no data for detei
| mining whether it were even as long, or even d
tedious as for example, DR.. Parr's-there was
renewal Of the preliminary plaudits and gratula
| tions. Some performers .sat attentive to thei
own applause,n or rose from their chairs an
stood on tiptoe, (" spreading themselves out, !
| says the historian Of the Sophists, T" like pea
| cock.n Others descended Immediately from
| the rostrum, and were greeted by a crowd whe
kissed their hands and the hem of their garments
| and accompanied them home as IL the city has
been rescued from an enemy, or a province addet
by the lecturers yalor to its possessions. Neithe
was it deemed unmeet to collect suffrages or Il
| canvass for applause. t What think ye, friends
have not surpassed your expectations, nay, ever
| myself, to-day " Most surely, my lord, by ID,
| life, and by the beard Of Jupiter.n g Have no
| taken the conceit out Of that muffsr (some riya
| performer.) !" BY heaven and earth, sir, you hav
shot him through with the arrows OF your tongue
as Apollo shot the Python with the arrows Of hi
| quiver." Marked you not my description Q
| Pan? g 1t was sublime! y g Liked you not tina
passage about the nymphs ~ 1T was transcen
dent" And IN this manner ' the triumph ended,
4 and g the great day was o'er."