, 1864-02-05
JOHN B. COUCH.
Last Lecture Of the Series Before the
Young Mems Association
Temperance.


p0G5 o1 the 1o0Ee anu on the pl8uofm Of BsJhQ
Hall WIS filed last evening, attest the fascination
which the eloQuence Of John B. Cough has for the
great nass Of the people The profoundly sympa-
thet1c attention, interrupted only by frequent
bursts Of applause roars Of laughter, which re-
eponded to his thrilling and dramatic decsmation,
was atin more satisfactory proof Of this fascina-
tiou. Weare inclined 10 believe that no man now
living, TO half suspect that no man who
erer lived, Is or was superior In this
came art Of dramatic defamation,
to John B. Cough. And he has reached this emil
nence oFez, not one alone, but several Of what
might seern at first, insnrmountable difficulties.
lis figure is anything hut imposing, his frame
almost diutuutive his action neither graceful nor
majestic, his face only moderately expressive
when in repose, his vofce awaet. musical, clear,
and well cultivated, but Of no great natural CON-
paes, and his command OF language rather OF that
Kind which through consciousness Of weakness
abstains from the expression Of complicated ideas
than oa a Kind which seixes with boldness tho
most complex thought, and drives 1t In upon the
mind Of the hea1er by the force Of It's OWL yigor,
compactneas and perfpIcuity.
And yet epite Of ali these defects, any one OF
which would see1n fatal barrier to bri11iancy in
defamation, We doubt If there be living man
possessing in apparent perfection combination
OF ali these qualities in which Cough IL deficient.
who achieves 20 successfully as to the results
TO which defamation aepires. He aceomp1ishes
these ends By means Of his exquisite sensibitity
to eyeIything pathetic and humorous, and the
tremendous and fiery energy Of his nsture, which
through uninterrupted vehemence Of action that,
regardless Of dignity. looks only to effect enables
him to reproduce In other minds the same pas
sions and emotions that agitate his own.
Bis lectures are wonderful combination Of
concentration and versatility. He wreaks him.
SELF with the whole force Of his intellectual and
moral nature On every thought or shade Of
thought aud feeling, that occnrs to him In the
course OF them; while their Transitions from
"graye to gay from the profoundest pathos to
the most rollicking and upToaEous fun, are almost
as numerous as the sentences Of which they are
composed. The highest praise that can be award
ed to the literary efforts Of any man, is due to the
unmixed moral purity Of Coughs lectures.
The Impressions they produce, vivid, almost as
light ttaeK. innocent u the emotions Of IN
fancy. Nor are they negatively good only. They
are. from first to last positively ennoblins and ell
cyating. A reverence for truth and duty, love Of
mankind, profound eympathy with everything
ph1lanthropic, beautiful and heroic, peryades all
he utters. To lieten to Cough, is, II not to be
made better, At least, to feel strong prompHngs to-
wardsa plane OF light far above the moral Level Of
ordinary humanity. Nor is it a small thing
that in Coughs lectures, as Is Reldom
the case In the aiseoursea Of men who
make the heart supply in q 1arge degree
The place Of the intellect, goodness is no bore.
They arc not Of the Kind, which, when moderately
protrncted. create bankefing after vice for the
sake Of variety. All Vicious delights and gFatid"
cation appear dwarfed for the time and fhde into
lnsigni6cance, compared with the pleasure pro-
ouced by the rapid succession OF dive1sihed and
at the same time virtuous emotions which his ad.
dresses call Into play.
We think 1t Ia genuine loye Of virtue In him.
that makes it appear desirable to those who lis
ten to him.
In his lecture last evening he a1lnded to the as
tonfshing fact That he has made addresses On the
subject Of Temperance some forty-eight hundred
lines. He leaves Chicago for Toledo this morning
and will not return to the West this season. Heia
to be followed BY Agassiz, who delivers . conrss
Of lectures before the Association at the same psce
next week.
RErCdE FOE ERn1xa WoAES.-The regu.
monthly meeting Of the Borsd Of Managers Of this
Institution, was held yesterday afternoon in the
1ooms Of the Young Mems Christian Association.
After the meeting had been called to order By Mrs
Esarta, prayer was offered by Dr. Clarke, and
the business commenced BY Mrs. ]. II. Dean read
ing the Sec1etary's report. She gave short his
tory Of the Refuge, and reported that the whole
number Of women admitted WIS 50. OF this num-
Ter, had returned to their families; 10 left with
ont consent Of the managers; gone into service,
and 2 discharged. leaving at present In the
Refuge.
On motion ofMrs. L. Bard, Mrs. Pattcn and Hrs.
]. ". Dean were appointed committee to ascer-
tain the cost ofprintng the reports with coustitu.
tiou and byc.lawa Of the institution.
After come discussion regarding an article which
appeared In the TRIBUNE somo days ago, relative
to the late order Of the Police commis sioners and
Its effect On houses Of Ii-fame, Hrs Eyarts, Mts,
Bard. Mrs. Leyanway, Mre. Dr. Patton, Mrs. Ken
yon, aud Hfs. Norc1oss, were appointed commit
tee to coneider what steps the Board ought to
take In the matter. The subject OF Reform School
for girls, was aleo referred to the above committee
The meeting adjourned TIL tomorrow afternoon.
SPIRITUAL AFFmI1Es IN CouRr-A MATE
11A1 Pux1euxEHz.-On Tuesday morning Inst a
warrant was iasued By Justice Moore, against Ne
thaniel q. 6aute1le, married man, ana Clara r.
Pratt, widow. On tho charge ofltying together in
opeu adultery. Tbs complaint WAS made by one
Elizabeth Dyer, sharp looking woman Of uneer-
tain age, formerly the rcputed mistress Of fssutale
The parties were that afternoon brought before tho
Justice for trial, but In the absence Of Witnesses
waived e1anInation, until ThuradsJ following
ssute1le, In the company Of officer Alyord. want