New-York tribune., 1870-11-05
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC LECTURES
WENDELL PHILLIPs-REMINIsCENCEs.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. 1.-Under the
auspices of the Grand Army Of the Republic and for tho
benefit Of the orphans Of soldiers, have at last
Of lectures in Washington which promises 10 be
triumphant Last week we had Wendell Philp-s
who gave us his mmemOria lecture the Lost Arts.
II say that after years and such won
derful changes in the history OF the Republic and tha
taste people that admirable lecture was nrss
delivered, eloquent cOuntryman has lost none OF ms
arts Of oratory OF his 10 Interest," 10 charm ana
asoDsh audience. II strange to me to see him
here, greeted by hundreds Of admirng friends, remem
bering well few could be found IN an
this on to do him reverence" In those days Of i'm
pending political tempests, and Fugitive Slave enart-
meDts his very highly respectable now, was
sound Of terror and ncendisrsm-a horror and menace
He would then have visited the capital Of his country az
the risk Of insult the very peril Of his tfe
doubt II President Fillmore would have offered him any
foreign mission, except perhaps TO Liberia or tha
Cannba Islands Now when he comes, all too seldom.
he is received with almost much enthusasm-he hndz
himself almost much at home as though Wsshngtou
a suburb OF Boston
Peace charms the beneath he feet
Ind honor charms the air
first met Mr. Phillips in his state in 1880. B"ina
az the side resort, saw him frequently ana
also met him and then in Boston during the Pail,
where found him placid amid political turmoil AZ n"
had been beside the stormy Atlantic Whoesomey
merry he always, under both vulgar detractoD ana
arstocratic ostracism Jolly under creditable crcnm
stances" Of mobbngs and slave renditions That was
troublous time in the old Bay State The devil ofpro
Slavery casting OF the body polite with mneh
difficulty and many fiery eXOrcisms and was confinn-
ally taking to itself other devils" and coming
back to settle. Mr.. Phillips that Fall, in the
midst Of mob called together by their leaders 20 break
up antislavery meeting in old Faneul Hall and gfyo
| a Republican rebuke that bloated aristocrst,"
George Thompson. Mr.. Phillips attempted To rpeak foe
his friend but his marvellous voice. clear siiver
k.,Ik
night heard him speak quite AZ his unhirs
dered and undisturbed before literary association.
His lecture was The Lost Arts" Mr. Phillips gave the
Lost Arts at intervals, all through this stormy period
OF his life think he liked take refuge and rest in
baTbaric past from the pers aud tumus OF our Chris
tian civilization.
During my early acquaintance with Mr. Phillips, To-
member % have heard him mention more than onces
with admiration and cordial interest, beautiful and
brilliant woman the wife Of distinguished artist, and
herself gifted with decided talent for art When a
schoolgirl in Boston, this friend Of his sat FOR her
trait to the painter Alexander at the same time thae
Charles Dickens sitting that admirable lice Por-
trait which weQd give much 10 zee again. and which
should think be engraved. The two stters met one
day the studO-she in the dawn OF her remarkable
beauty, he In the full morning OF his great fame
and talked gaily OF being nextdoOr neighOors
on canvass and fellowcaptives Of Alexander.
/ witnessed their next meeting. 10 was moro
quarter OF century, later yet they could still
gayy unappaed by that ugv OF years for they
phosophers-they two. But when Mr.. Philips
told me Of this friend had not her, and never
chanced her year, after, though often
very .warm'' on her track both in and
York. heard her in Washington from old friend.
Count Gurowsk, who after pronouncing his critical
Judgment, comparing her 20 the Venus Of Milo, used 70
remark in his overwhelming, highbred way, his own
eye transfxng you the while 81 don't think you would
admire her. she strong and healthy and dark, and
-look fo TOu
don't know handsome woman when you see her."
: chaTmingly candid was the cOurtly Count.
again heard of the artists wife in Rome, where -ho
had preceded me, her husband having been comml.-
stoned by the City OF Baltimore 10 paint the Pope.
Many had sketched all artists remembered well.
her fine Greek Niobeike head heard Of her there
having been the companion and devoted friend Of Mar
Fuller sitting at her feet, with that tender
pure intellectual sfs which s beautiful in
toward At last, still some years later,
caught glimpse OF her AT artists reception irs
Philadelphia and, though she had grown out Of tho
slender graceful proportions OF youth, and shsd-
and lines Of and had taken the place ot
the lovely lights and soft tnts and contours oftes
painted for the air, thought that on the ShOs
the artists and the Count and Wendell Phillips had about
told the truth.
next heard OF her as an amateur sculptor, and drs
marie reader-aternately molding heads and studying
Shakespeare. "Just for her amusement" Then ouo
and heard OF her IN yet character.
a. hospital nurse, in the Capitol at wsshingtonr
the field fredericksburg tender and strong,
devoted and fearless Next heard OF her the sculp
tor OF noble bust OF Lincoln and, going 10 her studio,
10 that bust first met her. face. II the
beginnng very dear friendship. Well it has seemed
20 me quite a little coincidence that the speaker
Wendell Phillips lecture courss shouic
sarah F. Ames, the woman OF whom first heard
from him. She did to read 10 us from the poets
but to give lecture her first lecture most character
sc essay, with the peculiar and eurositypqueing title
OF The Women who Work VS.. the Women who Talk"
Mr.. Ames made a remarkable first appearance, de-
cided She ia professional writer, hss,
deed very little experience in authorship. she used
to moldng her ideas In clay chselng her thoughts ia
rbeto expressing her genial humanity in the rugged
OF Lincoln her patriotism and courage in
ducton what lacked balance and finish; but Il wa.
strong. earnest, honest with many telling points ank
startling suggestions Mrs Ames always very effective
reader only lacks little practice TO become very popu-
lar speaker. Her presence II majestic and yet winning.
She bears about her the atmosphere Of true lady
and The dignity Of courageous wOmanhood. voice.
OF great compass and power tlls hall completely and
gives the comfortable impression OF much pove
After her lecture, Mrs Ames, by special request,
cited the fine war poem OF Wounded TO Death" Wit b
great dramatic power, proved by the stn-
ton with which 10 listened 10 and the enthusissto
applause with which IL was followed.
In this era OF eloquent womsnhood. these early hAn
vest days for woman's genius there must be steners-
there must be fields Of labor for woman 40 rehv AMI
variously endowed Mrs Che has seen much OF
the world, and OF the great workers In the world has
known well many famous men and women tneroe d"
reason why she should not make use ., these .ap
rences the ayocation To when she ~ turned
lecture made OF personal relnihisoees seeh -
she could give would be very epVy s others ssnca.