The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-03-16

HAloo Auuu O4GhAuoUu Ut WhbnIuka
ton--A Scene During the Delivery
of Her Lecture on Joan OF Arc.
We have already alluded to the fact
that Miss Anna Dickinson is to deliver
her lecture on Joan Of Arc, the Maid OF
Orleans, at Washington Hall, on the 27th
of this month-next Monday evening
week. The New York Tribune gives the
following description Of a scene that char
acterized the delivery. of this lecture at
Washington City:
"At Lincoln Hall, in Washington, a few
nights since, in the midst ofa driving
storm, the friends Of France assembled 10
hear Anna Dickinson lecture for the ben
eft Of the woun ded French. Mr.. Sumner
introduced Miss Dickinson with few
choice sentences, in one ofwhich he char
acterized her as the modern jeanne
dare herself, and was acknowledged rs
the mouthpiece Of the sentiment Of the
house by peal of approval, after which
he modestlY took his own seat among the
audience, and the lecturer came forward
and held her hearers for nearly two
hours as few speakers on the continent can
do. 1t was the night Of the news OF the
capitulation Of Paris, and when even
those who love the German race, whether
they love German Imperialism or not,
could afford pity and admiration 10 its
gallant foe: and, though the speaker look
ed pale and sad when she rose, she warm.
ed with her subject, the color was on her
cheek, and the fire in her eye, and, with
her somewhat quaint and medieval dress
ot black velvet, slashed with crimson
satin, she presented IN appearance not
only unique and charming, but in perfect
consonance with her subject, so that 1t
seemed nothing strange 10 hear this dark,
wild tale Of the wrong and voc Of the
Middle Ages poured from the young girls |
lips. II was really Tremendous lee.
ture, ears critical 10 refinement on the
point Of lectures have heard nothing like
II. Outside, the storm rOared and raved;
inside, the hush was hardly broken by one |
or two brief rounds Of applause, hastily
smothered in the breathlcss attention |
that feared TO lose q word, as In quick pic.
ture after picture wHs sketChed the career
OF the peasant girl Of Domrcmy from the
moment when her soul first listened for
the voice Of God, 10 that in which out Of
tho flames 1t quivered up TO him. The
lecture has been very much improved
since it was first spoken in Boston; having
been pruned Of quite third Of
its length, the condensation, too,
having greatly increased tho vivid
and picturesque effects; and since
one can hardly be q pyth0ness repeating
the same words hundred nights in sue:
cessi0n, It Is no eXaggcratiOn to say that
the delivery itself hAs become as finished
q piece Ofacting In It's way us anything
now upon the stage, SO that when some OF
tho historical sentences are cried out In a
resonant tone full of triumphant faith, il
seems TO he the very tone Of Jeanne d Arc
herself ringing through the centuries. l
have heard that Miss DiCkinSOn's lcCtur.
ing is not to be at all compared to her OK.
speaking, but no ono that
has heard her lecture Of Jeanne d Arc will
ever believe word Of that again; for there
Is in II the true Oratory by which you are
rapt out Of yourself and out orthe memo.
ry Of association with sordid things-ora.
tory which subduGs, rs 1t did that night,
such men us Senator Sumner, Senator
Trumbull, Horace Maynard, together
with great soldiers who have conquered
by line and rule and do not believe in in.
IpiratiOn, and by which throngs Of undis.
women are melted into sobS
md tears. Miss Dickinson had once a
great personal triumph here, if such ii
might be called, when, sOmc years since,
8he spoke in the Capitol to the nations
wisdom, with Abraham Lin.
,oln, and Seward, and Stanton, and all
he dons about her; but the night on
which she spoke for the benefit Of the
French wounded was greater night than
hat by all the height of achievement
which she has since attained.