The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-11-12
WHOLE NUMBER $50
For the Jeffersonial
OUR LECTURE SEASON.

| OOxb AcO4O4b1 0I<1IO4ss
B. F. TAYLOR, of Chicago, who de-
livered the first lecture under the au-
spices of the F. U. L. Society, has
come and gone, and everybody is
pleased that he came, but sorry that
he has departed. On the evening
of the Sd inst. the commodious Con-
gregational Church of this place, was
very nearly filled with a most intelli-
gent and appreciative audience. Ex-
pectation was on tip-toe, and We were
all waiting for something rich, rare
and racy. The lecturers fame had
come before him; and, although he
was not otperhaps Of national celebrity,
yet we felt sure of a "feast of reason
and flow of soul" Over two hun
dred season tickets had been sold,
and it was very naturally to be de-
sired that the first lecture of the
course should not disappoint the
friends of the enterprise. 1t was
desirable that it should not only be
able, bs.t eminentiy enjoyable. 1t
was both. A mot excellent i'm
preston was made. Mr.. Taylor's
reputation as an able and pleasing
lecturer is seeured-at least among
our citizens.
His lecture was q success-the
gentleman vaultiDg at once into vic
tory and maintaining his triumph
like destiny. This, too, in the pres
ence of the ominous subject he had
chosen: Failure, the alphabet Of
success"
1t is not necessary here to attempt
a synopsis of the lecture--this would
result in failure without the least
prospect of success. Anything that
might here be given would be moth
ing more than o bare skeleton;
would not be clothed in the gsrb Of
thought nor throb with the pulsa-
tons of life. Beauty is deformity
itself and mostrepulsive to look upon
when stripped of its flesh and robbed
of vitality. Poetry is stale and SOUL
less when uttered by clumsy lips or
written by hating pen. So We will
not nar the effect which the lecture
produced, by attempting to give your
readers an outline of this masterly
production. Those who heard it
would regard your correspondents
work as q caricature, and those who
lid not, would fail to reach the en-
trance of that illimitable field of
poetic thought over which the lee
.urer tripped with such rare grace
aud beauty. A few general illusions
must suffice to indicate to the casual
reader :he character of the produc-
ion which instructed and delighted
he vast assembly that sat for about
me hour and halt in rapt attention.
What impaired to the lecture Pc
:uliar beauty and richness of thought
md dictlon was its high moral and
eligious tone. Mr.. Taylor appears
o be man of deep religious convic-
ions, and we are certain that he en-
ertains the profoundest respect for
he Bible. Some of his finest touches
# pathos were the inspiration of that
'lessed Book and the religion it
caches. The lecture was singularly
lestitute of cant and jejuneness, and
IS web and woof were of most cum
lug workmanship. The gentleman
ever stopped to pick up glitterinS
but rushed on, like a
rooper, to grapple with living issues
nd search for problems which the
ges had left unsolved. The beauty
t illustration, the skill IN deslgn,the
ems of pathos, the sober logic and
he sparkle of wit,gave us breadth o
ision so that the whole unbounded
inverse seemed ours.
The Society should be thanked by
very citizen for its good judgment
nd manifest concern for our welfare.
e hope that its exchequer will be
while thus contributing to
ur Improvement. Col bless it.
P. S. II.