Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-02-01

/
ARTENUs WARD's LEoFURE LAST EVENING.
As was expected, and for which every
possible arrangement was made, as early as
six o'clock last evening people began to pour
into the Academy of Music, and by half
past seven every available place in the hall
wasflled, the number present being estims-
ted at from fourteen TO eighteen hundred. A
little before eight o'clock Mr.. Brown appear
ed upon the stage, and was welcomed by
burst Of applause. When the applause had
subsidized, Mr.. Geo. A. Benedict stepped for
ward, and in humorous vein, interspersed
with happy compliments to Mr.. Brown, and
alluding to the fact of his having been
citizen of Cleveland, introduced thelecturer
TO the audience. Mr.. Brown arose amid
applause, and commenced his lecture. So
much has been said of this lecture by the
press of the country, much of which has
been presented to the public of Cleveland
by the city press, that we feel hardly called
upon 10 do more than present few note
sketches, from which its spirit may be read
| lily inferred. The style was peculiarly
| quaint and humorous, and we need hardly
sdd, strikingly original, and it was almost
impossible, after one had got possession of
the spirit, to resist laughing at every word.
It was delivered in an easy, conversational
way, and was perfectly audible at any part
Of The hall. He introduced his remarks by
the following passage: "I will state upon
the very threshold of this little paper house
which have built, that it is q cold collation.
rather than q steaming banquet which
/ awaits you within. I can only offer some
scraps of salad, q few picnic relisheS, and it
may be q little whipped cream. But you
are very welcome. The lecture field has
been PlOughed, planted and dug; moved
and rsked soWed and reapt; and cultivated,
indeed, in so many ways, that I suppose
that man Of very able mind might not
feel too sure of offering you anything strik
ingly novel or brilliant. 0blige me, then,
BY overlooking the shortcomings of person
who has no such thing as an able mind.
have tried, however, to make these para
graphs cheerful in the main. Some of them,
indeed, may border on the farcical, but 1
make no apology for that. The fool with
his cap and balls often deals Folly its dead
lieBt blows"
Passing on to the consideration Of the
''Children in the WOOD, ;" which were moth
ing else than collection of pithy ard hu-
mOrOus sentences and funny stories, upon
widely diversiGed subjects, thrown together,
as it were, hap-hazard, he remarked that he
might have dilsted upon the falsity of the
motto "Go it while you're young, for when
you get old you can't" showing that dice
were not essential to morality, or "betting
on the bob-tail nag 10 The development Of
the private virtues or peace of mind, had he
not chosen for his subject 'sThe Children in
the Wood" Ina sPpareRtly serious man.
nsr, he addressed himself to parents, sdVis.
ing them to consult the tastes Of their chill.
drsn in deciding their pursuits in life.-
Prom failure on the part Of parents to d.
this We see BrigadisF Generals who should
be old wOmen--and many Of them are; art.
istS who should be drawing hand-earts in.
stead Of lsndsespes; doctors who should b,
. undertakera politicians who should be il
, the Penitentiary; Sunday school teacher
. who should be stock brokers, (seldom, how
: ever, stock brokers who should be Sunday
: school teachers lecturers who should hav,
. staid at home with their ,mOthers-but h,
4 would not refer to this-and similar incon
gruitiss. II parent fnd his boy sketehin,
] with piece of charcoal on the wall, ls
him give him in charge of some gool
drAughtuman; IF the child eTinces a taste 70
} composition or orAtorY. do net diScOursg
!, him, he msy yet Writs startling editorials
J Or may be an incipient Webster, or Clay
or Douglas. Every man has his forte, Rus