, 1863-12-28
YOUNG MEMS ASSOCIATION,
Lecture by VI. c. Richards at
Metropolitan Hall.
TOM HOOD

The second lecture of the sent winter course
before the Young Mems Association was delivered
on Saturday evening, in Metropolitan Hali, BY ".
C. Richards. The subject was tTom-Hood.' The
lecture Was rather spsrely attended, the weather
being miserable. The speaker was Introduced 10
the audience by ". E. Doggett, President Of the
Association.
The subject Of discourse fs perhBps one Of the
best that could have been chosen, as presenting a
wide and richly varied held OF material out of
which to draw an eulogt, and probably one Of the
worst In these respects that biographical lectures
are seldom 20 attractive those In which p1inei
ples mu1tipereonA1 facts are the subjective matter
Of disconree, and because, also, no man will be
found egotistical enough to aspire to equality with
the great wit and criticism to satisfy must ema
nate from the peer OF the criticised. But the lee
turer handled his theme we'll giving judicious
lections from the writings Of the man who wrought
out for himself such an enduring and destructive
selc-Aood, aud retaining from that miuuteness OF
biographical detail which ia too often met with In
these efforts. The discourse WIS highly eulosis-
tic, get not indscrim1nate1y 1audatory. The chief
fault Of the lecture lay probably not In himself
but In that course Of scientific study to which the
lecturer has confined himself through long eerics
OF yea1s. Hood Was light even when melancholy,
sparkling when most grave, versatile when most
continuous, and bis eulpgizer requires to posseas
the same traits to do iuaticc to him. Ar. Richards
is eloquent and just but his treatment Of the sub
ject ia too heavy. His sentences are beautifully
rounded, but pouderous; they Lack that leylous
character which chimes supreme through all OF
Hoods productions; that OF handed style which
holds subject at arns length instead OF diving
deep into its 1nexhaustible profunlities.
Afse1 few pleasant remarks about the sim1larl-
II between HooA OF the eighteenth century and
Hood OF the thissecnth-Tcmhnd Robin-thc wlt
| and the outlaw, the lecturer entered upon bio
graphical sketch Of the hero, interspcrsng 1t with
| humorous remarks and comparisons. TOMS 18th.
CT was Scot; bookseller In after life. Tom was
born In the Poultry, precinct in the suburbs Of
| London. His earliest literary performances were
printed In Scotland whittier he IVES shipped at the
age Of sixteen to the care Of relatives who however
did not receive him. lie was indentured to III en-
srarer, aud while working at the trade conceived
the design OF becoming designer, and succeeded
60 admirably that 1t was diticult to tell In which
he Was eupcrior-With the pencil OF pen; On at.
Iii Wih III he Iadea Il but I'D not eTe to
the world In that connection the most brilliant OF
his intellectual creations. lie married at the age
a1 H., t. hsoe1 a ae vas IT. h
Wiz viz ' iSe nsEszIne p % ioi lis vie was sister oi
cane ; Acquainted ,hronsh lit Win the reigning
lights Of Hshe age, but he did not shine ut clubs
OF In the salon6 otthe gay world: There he walked
lie shone most in the quiet retirement Of home,
| and there be found true friends; men and women
| OF kindred minds with his own HOOD and
Lamb were markedly insepaFable, Jet widely diff
The lecturer paid a touching tribute to the aifec.
tionate devotion of Hoods wife who supported and
m II naEine a lis ney % sEeehss @ or tde mag
zines while lying on his death bed. Flashes Of his
rare humor broKe lumlno951y ont Of the darkes! e
clouds which surrounded him. lie spoke in the
DEPTH oi illness as one who kaew no 81: Tho Ice:
ture1 gare many inetances Of hts rich humo.-
The electnrer read extracts from several unpub.
1ished letters Of Hood, In which the home heart
humor Of the man shone out richly. Most OF the
material in the comic al1nannck was written by
him during his most se1ions illness.
name and upon which be lasished bis whole aHec
ton. He furnished eleven articles for the frst
number--fully ono half Of the whole magazine. Il
after. The indefatigahle fhand and the t,reles:
brain ceaged almost together to labor. He workee
to The close Of hls lc and the last efforts Of b.,
moments. His death s]eep came upon him In tht
month Of his birth, and while be yet lacked a few
hours Of the completion Of his forty;sixth year
they laid all that was mortal Of poor Hood IN tht
The twenty xeara which have rolled round alnce
then hare served to bring around a una1imity O.
lie is now admired, extoiled and loved every whert
by those who know him the acknowledged king
among humorous poets. he was ne friend o. tn
lifted him 70 we1l, none loved he 50 well as ths
gasb OF humanity. ne was match1ess humorist
great poet IT. were G difficult to sa{ whether hi
ceases no exact counterpart He has been compar
Cd 10 men Of the best lights Of his own and sub
sequenttines, but nome Of them were stnilaEities
puns, and the elephant1ne DR.. johnson wouli
have characterized him as . necessary
gasfs snd 9se s &C. obess sss f. Id so sa
ty. At first be vas doubtlessly mistaken for lit
erary harlequin hns the mistake was sooa Eeetided
1o5 eep Te ef sy
! among his Inummings and that soul Of feelfne
was tie fountain Of u hig qnilps and tssts. T!
I'd He % lorea u pun Seeanse Be- tt
world loves "a be moved to n1irfh. He had to live
hence labor %es his lo.o aud VT and hunor @ wer'
iiie M s risster casts Hrsy 1ood: Had he dsb
grams. Hood labored for thc pnbltc but he !abo!
ed for himseiE yet he needs no apology for hts wi
lie s epeaser , I sbonsht that Hoods tale OF trun
pct was The one production which contained th
seehny. lie best pat q Which might Be said e 6
, of on Catha<tne wheels. The song Of the skirt
one Of the most remarkable lyrics that eveE ems
mated from the brain OF . human being. 1ndee,
here was hts most angelic feature; he sympa
! thized With the poor and the oateast. Th=t e9n
B bad been inlmostalized In every land The Bridg
OF SiEhs Was not less remarEao!e pIoauctlon an
,, Its magnificent archcs span the world Tho laa
ltnee ot his sad Ode to Melancholy afford key 4
. Ills feelings. He laughed but did not live t
, laugh. He was cdd, whimsical, grave and gay
, | His powers were Of that kind which puUHiGhe
folly alone. For his many good qualities b!es!
, ing will ever 1est on the memory Of Thons
: Hood.
IMroRTANr TO RAILROAD MAHAGERs,-
! The following important notice dated from Ii
, Office Of tho Chief Qtartesmaster at Louisyill.
Ky., Dec. *, has Just been received in Chicago