Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-03-11
Professor Rhodes on "EurO-
lean Ideas In 1872

In speaking Of the lecture as deliver
} ed by Prof. Rhodes, in Cleveland last
| week, the Herald pays him a high com
pliment, as follows:
We believe few lecturers of the most
established reputation could have
drawn to Case Hall on such a night as
that of Thursday, an audience S % large
and intelligent as that which greeted
Professor Rhodes on his first appear
ance in the lecture field. The ~fiatter-
ing reception given him under such
disadvantages circumstances was,
therefore, a higher compliment than
would have an oYerfiowing audience in
pleasant weather.
The expectations of the public had
been raised to a high pitch by the
keenness Of observation and power of
expression shown BY the lecturer in
his letters from Europe, and the close.
earnest attention paid to the lecture,
broken by bursts of applause at the
frequent telling passages, testified To
the fact that the expectations were full
ly realized. Unlike most professional
lecturers, whose principal trouble is to
find something to say. the problem
with Professor Rhodes is how to get
into the limits of q single lecture a 1.-THE
of what he has to tell. Consequently
the attention of the audience Is kept
with unfiagging interest to the last,
there being no verbal padding" but
every sentence pregnant with meaning,
and every paragraph stored with new
and interesting facts.
We cannot, in the present crowded
state of our columns. undertake an ex-
tended synopsis Of the lecture, and
must content ourselves with a brief
mention of some of the salient points.
The opening was particularly happy
In a few telling sentences he pictured
the four leading actors in the Europe
an drama, Plus X, Garibaldi, Napole
on III. and Bismarck, so that each
stood before the audience. not only in
physical appearance, but with his
character clearly portrayed. A few
well chosen words explained the "bal.
ance of power" in Europe, which meant
the cannibai idea Of it being better to
eat than be eaten. The cause and con-
sequences of K~onIggratz were clearly
described, that battle having changed
not only the map of Europe, but COM
revolutionized the current of
To day Europe is on the high
'osd tOa Republican future. Germany
g progressing rapidly to a great Ger
nan Republic. Italy is not far from |
he same point. France but awaits the {
leath of the Emperor to become Demo- |
'
Perhaps the part OF the lecture which
listened to with most intense inter- t
81 was that picturing the events of the t
IaTIbaldlan attack on Rome in 1867 a
'rot. Rhodes was carried forward in the /
ush towards the Roman frontier when o
rsrlbaldTs enthusiastic volunteers re- e
to the cry ITO Rome. To
He was one Of the very few .
-ho enSered the Eternal City before its e
ates were closed against the Italian u
nd stranger, and he was within its 5
lockaded walls until the arrival of the b
rench troops opened the gates of the 81
ty, and the battle of Montana re open- L
l the Papal territory to general travel
OF interesting facts, not crammed Ct
books, but cleaned from personal W
oservation and continual contact with b
he people of the different countries of c
urope, and therefore fresh and vivid: p
in style. and couched ia clear, N
'ncise. and well chosen language, the Il
cture Is both highly interesting and Q
i~ceedingly instructive. In no other 10
az a a better understanding be s.
of the condition of affairs in in
lrope at the present time-a time th
at IS destined to be among the most az
'ticable eras in the history OF the re
ar