The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-13
MODERN ECCENTRICs.

mankind, in all ages, have presented TO the
Observant writer who loves TO "shoot folly as Il
hies." Yoltaire has said, every country has its
foolish notions. i. Let etusnot laugh at any
peopler but it would be difficult 10 find any
age which has not its curiosities OF character
10 be laughed at and turned to still better
account; for, Of whatever period we write,
something may be done in the way OF rldicule
towards turning the popular opinion. Diogenes
owes much of his celebrity TO his contempt OF
comfort by living in a tub, and his oddity of
manner. Orator Henley preached from his "gilt
tub" in Clare Market, and thus earned CONNIE
moration in the Duncidd:-
Still break the benches Henley, with thy strain,
While Sherlock, Hare and eIbson preach III vain
On, worthy thou OF EgypEs wise aoodes,
decent priest, where monkeys were the gods!
But Fate with butchers placed thy priestly stan,
Meek modern faith to murder hack, and haul.
Eccentrlcity has its badge and characteristics
by which it gains distinction and notorety, and
which, in some cases, serve as a lure 10 real
excellence. The preaching OF Rowland Hill is
allowed TO have been excellent; but his great
popularity was won by his eccentric manner,
and the many plquant anecdotes and WittiCisms,
and salies OF humOr unorthodox, with which,
during his long ministry, he interlarded his SER
MONS However, he thought the end justified
the means; and certain it is that it drew very
large congregations. The personal illusions to
his wife, which Rowland Hill is related to have
used in. the pulpit, were, however, fictitious, and
at which Hill expressed great indignation, 1T
is an abominable untruth," he would eXclaim
"derogatory to my character as Christian and
gentleman. They would make me out bear.n
The success of Edward Irving, the popular
minister OF che National Scotch Church IN Lon.
don, was of a more mixed character. His SER
mons were not liked at first, and it was not
until he was recognized by DR.. Chalmers that
Irving became popular. But he was'turned out
Of his church, and treated as a madman, and he
nd nna4no net Af1n ha..
IN the man, says contemporary land what
errors he entertained or eXtravagances he
allowed, in connection with supposed mirlcu-
lous gifts, were certain, in due time to burn
themselves out. 1t was not much the error
Of his doctrine as the peculiarly of his
manner, the torrent of his eloquence, his
superlative want of tact, that provoked his
enemies and frightened his friends. The
strength of his faith was wonderful. Once
when he was called to the bedside of a dying
man late at night he went forth, but presently
returned, and beckoned one OF his friends to
accompany him. The reason was, that he really
believed in the efficacy OF prayer and held to
the promise, If too of you shall agree on earth
as touching anything that ye shall ask, it shall
be DONE 1t was necessary, therefore, that two
should go to the sick man. So, also, he had
child that died in infancy, to whom he was in
the habit of addressing words of godliness to
nourish the faith that was in hing and Irving
adds, that the patient heed of the child was
wonderful He really believed that the infant
by some incomprehenslble process, could group
what he was saying, and profit by it. His love
for children verged upon eccentrIcty; and he, a
man of mark in London at that time, might be
seen day by day. stalking along the streets OF
Pentonvile OF an afternoon, his wife by his side,
and his baby in his arms"
No great cause was ever inaugurated with
more eccentric or more genuine fervor than the
advocacy of temperance principles by Father
Mathew, the Capuchin friar "Here goes, in
the name of Cod" said the Father on the 10th
of April, 1888, when he pledged his name in the
of fnnn md thar uit tbn
Protestant priest, Charles Duncombe, the Uni
tartan philanthopist, Richard Dowden, and the
stout Quaker, William Martin, publicly inaugu-
rated q movement at Cork destined in few
years to count its converts by millions, and to
spread its influence as far as the English
language was spoken. In this good work, the
habitually mpulsive temperament of the Irish
was acted upon for the purest and most bene-
fetal of purposes and one element of its sue
cess lay in the unselhshness of the Father
who was himself serious sufferer by the re-
suits of his philanthropic exertions.. A distil-
lery in the south of Ireland, belonging to his
family, and from which he himself derived
large income, was shut up in consequence of
the disuse of whisky among the lower orders,
OCcasioned by his preaching. But his "Rive-
rance" was most unscrupulously tyrannized over
by his servant John, wizened old bachelor,
with AIRED nose, privately nourished by Bacchus;
and he was only checked in his evil doings when
the Father, more eXasperated than usual, eX-
claimed, John, If you go on in this way, ]
must certainly leave this house, On one occa-
sion there was trightiul smack OF whisky per-
vading the pure element which graced the board,
which he accounted for by saying he had placed
the forbidden liquid, with which he "cleansed
his tins" in the jug by mistake.
The temperance cause prospered, but Father
Mathew, through his eXcentric love OF giving,
found it impossible to keep out of debt,
which ever kept him in thraldom. The hour
of his deepest bitterness was when, while
publicly administering the pledge in Dublin,
he was arrested for the balance of an account
due to medal manufacturer; the bailif to
whom the duty was intrusted kneeling down
among the crowd, asking his blessing, and then
quietly showing him the writ. This is one of
the many anecdotes told by Mr.. Mcguire, in his
admirable Life OF Father Mathew" who we
learn from the same authority, at large
party, attempted to make convert OF Lord
Brougham, who resisted, good-humoredly but
resolutely, the efforts of his dangerous neighbor.
N'I drink very little wine,n said Lord Brougham;
t'Only half glass at luncheon, and two half
Masses at dinner; and though my medical
Nviser told me should increase the quantity,
Eefused to do So" '"They are wrong, my lord,
I'd advising you to increase the quantity
am you are wrong in taking the small quantity
yotdo; but have my hopes of you" And
30, Sfter a pleasant resistance on the part
of te learned lord, Father Mathew invested
his Agdship with the silver medal and rib
bon, he insignia and collar of the Order
OF the Bath. "Then, l will keep it, said
Lord hougham, land take it TO the House,
where lthall be sure to meet the old Lord -,
the WorseOf liquor, and will put it on him."
Lord Broigham was as good rs his word; for
on meetW the veteran peer, he said;-"Lord
-, hayOa present from Father Mathew for
you," and mssed the ribbon quietly over his
neck. 'Tha I'll tell you what it is, Brougham,
by -, wilkeep sober for this day. said his
lOrdship,, whokept his word, to the great aunuse-
ment of his frends.
One OF the most eccentric emblems set up in
our time was ths woodcut of a grIdron, which
ma ad ia0IR Ro0jQf Qfo1