Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-04-11
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

JOHN u. Gou0H's LECTURE One of the best
lectures We ever listened to in our life was de-
livered by John B. Cough, at the Wilmin0ton
Institute, on "wednesday evening last The au
dencc was unusually large, filling the Hall TO its
utmost capacity, and by their numbers and
appreciation of his efforts, must have grati6ed
the lecturer as much as his beautiful and Ella.
quent discourse grati6ed and pleased them. HE
subject was Fact and Fiction" though he said
that the title might as we'll have been I" Shadow
and Substance" "Truth and Falsehood." or
"Right and Wrong" All the faults, follies,
and fooeries of the day-all the big whitewasbed
lies that stalk unnbashed and unchallengel
among us-an the errors political, social. and
religious, which by the aid Of persistent charla-
tsns aud demagogues have been able 10 palm
themselves of az trutbs-were commented upon.
ridiculed, unmarked, and shown in their lue
colors. Hypocrisy, pride, egOtlsm, false gen,i-
ity, dandyism, snobbery, and cripging subservi-
ENJOY to public opinion, we're touched by the
spear of lthuriel and appeared in all their
hideous defoimity.
His panegyric on Woman in her own proper
sphere, earnestly laboring in the discharge Of
her duties, was we'll merited tribute. beauti.
fully rendered. But WAS not the lecturer rather
lenient with regard to Inc foibles Of the fair sexP
On this point did he not stand somewhat in awe
of public opinion hinselfi The world has been
personihsd 81 WomAn. We call her Mrs.
0rundy. Whyf Because it Is she who makes
what 10 called public opinion. She is the mouth
piees Of tbs woild-ths interpreter, the arbitress
the dicts,rsss Of fashion and custom and senti.
ment. II is then by showing her the folly of her
ways and views, and the errors Of her Judgment.
that the erroneous ideas too commonly enter.
tanned on nearly all subjects, can be most effec
tually checked and removed.
Again the lecturer described in glowing
oolors the benefits conferred on humanity bv
Mrs. Fry, Mrs Dix, Florence Nightingale, aud
other ladies who have devoted themselves to the
welfare Of the soldier and the criminal But he
did not speak one word about the Sisters Of
Charity, among whom the self-denying benefao
tress is not the individual exception, but the
general rule, and among whom the Florence
Nightngales are counted, not BY ones aud twos
but by thousands. What withheld the lecturer
from making even passing allusion to this vel
known, worldwide body Of heroiues? Did no
vision Of Mrs. Grundy, bristling with astonish
ment, with lace cap on head supported by foul
separate hairs, each stiff with Indignant sur
prise, and with form erect with horror at suol
unususl commendation OF an order belonging I,
a religion the has tabOoed in her uurede,tin,
and fashionable circles-did not such yisoi
frighten the lecturer into silence GU that olo
quest theme? Has he emancipated himself fror
his fears of the Voz Popui7 NsdieR1, queris toi
meme. But these were faults Of omission rathe
than commission.
The conclusion, in which he described th
ship Of State as struggling in tempestuous sea
with black night around, but above which th
morning sunlight was now shining and tn
olonds breaking with the harbor near, wa
thrillingly graphic, eloquent aud beautiful Oh
the whole, the lecture was both instructive an
amusing. No one csuld hear it without beinl
benefited, or without becoming aware OF som
defect in his or her character which had Ill
then, perhaps escaped observation, and whiol
needed correction. VERfrAs.
PIXIE HICKORY AND OAK Woop.-Just re-
ceived lot of Dry Hickory and Oak Wood.
GHo, W. BusH,
april l0-1m. French Street Wharf.