Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-11-16

ANNA DicKENsoN's LECruRE.- Every
foot Of room in Metropolitan Hall was crowd
ed last evening, with an intelligent audience
TO hear Miss Dickenson's Lecture on 1.-THE
Rejected Ston.." Owing y hsr late arrival
IN our city, the noted speaker did not make
her appearance until the patience Of the 90.
dience Vas not inconsiderably taxed. When
finally announced, she was greeted With .
round Of loud applause.
She vas introduced, 10 few remarks BY
Mr.. Alfred Sullsy. From some cause OF
other, she did not seem to take that inter.
est in her subject which had been expected,
while her delivery seemed less free and
easy than when she addressed our citizens
last February. Indeed, The 6rst half Of her
lecture ives exceedingly stale and common.
place, and quite unworthy Of her extended
reputation. She spoke with effort, and
very frequently without point. Her in
tended sallies Of wit would have been be-
ycnd the comprehension Of an ordinary au-
dience, had they been delivered oy less
effective speaker. Her bursts Of .loquencs
were Of an intensely theatrical character,
though. from careful study. and considera-
bic practice. they we're of . very passabI.
order The origin Of the title Of her lee,
'ure transpired in the latter portion Of her
remarks. She .ontendsd that when the no
BILE ediRce Of the Amcrican Republic va.
founded. its heroic builders rejected thu
great corner stone of Equal and Exact Jus
tice to oil men. As time rolled on the sad
mistake became terribly apparent. The
owering walls became unsettled, unsightlj
gaps marr-d its Symmetrical beauty, and
fatal tissures have now rent il from turre
to foundation stone. In her, opinion i
now rests with the present generation e
repair the crumbling structure oy building
upon the tie stone which was rejected BY
the builders. She asserted that the foun
ders Of our Republic could no more plac,
the ship Of State on course that would IN
swer the wants Of the present time, thai
We can, years hence. The principles Q
government should be welded for the hou
alone. Our forefathers we're wise and nc
ble men, but they we're not wise enough I
frame laws in advance. for the present age
Universal suffrage alone would save u.s.
There we're times when delays in Legislation
were prudent and necessary. The mos
thoroughly studied laws were capable q
being wisely amended. But there wcr
also emergencies that admitted Of no sec
ond thonght-therc werc emergencies whe
fatering and hesitation were more thai
fatal. Tho present was such. The ship O
State ~As near the promised land tbs
would give peace, and power, aud prospect
ty. Behind it yawned the black deep ths
had swallowed up empires. One more e
fort remlincd for our salvation. If mad.
oil would be well. II allowed to pass ur
improved, destruction was absolutely Ger
tain.
Miss Dickinson speaks at Iowa City thi
evening, to which place she has heen es
cortcd by Messrs II. W. Bennett and T.. A
Oliver. The next lecture of the course wi
be delivered next week by P. L. Barnun
Esq, on the more matter cf>fact and pract
cal subject Of "The Art + Making Money.
As this will be Of interest alike to boo
worms, ledger students, and the "fair sect,
We may expect to see Metropolitan IIa
crowded in much the same manner % Ia.
night. The Library Association appears |
be making excellent selections in financis
point Of view.