Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-11-24

PROFESSOR RICHARDS LECTURE -
The second lecture in the Y. M. G. A.
course was delivered last evening at the
Opera House, by Prof. w. G. Richards,
whose wide reputation as popular scien-
tific lecturer, was sufficient to fill the
house in every part with cultured and
,sppreciative audience. 1t was perhaps a
bold innovation upon the regular lecture
system, to attempt to combine the myster'
u of the laboratory with the usual field
of tale platform, but such is the rare tact
and sSill displayed by Prof. Richards,
cd vea the charm which in his hands
fo,cy veaves around the ordinarily dry
abstract, 'oes of science, that his success it
,,a+ bo glzbowledged is most complete.
r. hin, ~, vat be awarded the praise of
having ,akip science from its peculiar
rrov;noo IN n e lecture-room, and touch
inc it a. with t. re wand OF the magician
has changed it il Mo form at once attrac-
tive and full of in struotion to the general
public.
Prof Richards wa a introduced by Mr.
\ \ w. Rowell. and M, very cordial re"
ception from the audie ice. In commenc-
ing, he expressed the gre al pleasure "hleh
it Afforded him to adore VI the audience
upon the subject of science ne wished
he could impress upon them u sense Oh
the vast Importance OF the subl,' ot' ana
gave an eloquent and vivid de 'crlptloN u
the important place it holds in the ect'h-
,omy of the universe.
In presenting his subject, 1.-THE Matter
King" he remarked that he had chosen
this name the better to represent the
regal position which science held. In
stating the biography of his subject ne
said it was impossible to fix the exact
date of its origin. 1t extended back to
the remotest antiquity. But he should
!, ute the origin of his "Matter King" from
A., time of the discovery of oxygen by
!, renowned Priestley. The lecturer
AZ. by most happy play Of the fancy,
- fled oxygen by the naSne MAT
-. g" as holding place OF superior
- GO to all the other elements, lie
sai"n;hod Ga glowing and eloquent lam
gUaaa the , slue of its discovery, and Its
right 70 he ., owns, with regal honcrs In
the realm Of matte, No challenge to
this kingly rig bt hsg ever oeen "a'n
ained.
The lecturer then pro*seas, So sc
lucid and grar.nfc msaaasf, ' aSnaon
ton of his claim Of a regal title for> tons
aud first, the vs.stness Of it's proPo, was
nong the forr is of organized matter a
aamed, and its presence traced IN w
%moinatioy4s of air, water, IN minerals
pa meta 5, and in our own bod les. IL APP
peared that one-half of our solio granite
comp osed of oxygen. Time, b oweVer,
Vaid fail him to trace all the imp ertane
4 F@ this regal element plays in she
Sip ogony OF the universe. The lect, uer
20 called to his aid chart which m, we
riy illustrated the vast proportio
heh oxygen holds in the formation OF I
- universe.
de next showed the important relation ]
Nhlch this element maintains to all tho
Phenomena of animated nature. This '
| nbtle substance seems to enter into every :
rm of life. 1t is, indeed, life itself.
1t is also the great destroyer of all
*hings, the agent Of all dissolution, and
othing escapes the power of the "Matter
King This decay is constantly going on.
n our own bodies we retain nothing but