The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-09

"00od Authors at . Discount
The large hall Of the Young Mems Christian Asso
citation building, Twenty third street and Fourth
avenue, was Wen filed last evening BY an intelli-
gent audience. who had come to hear Ed
mund Yates lecture on "Good Authors at o
Discountn The lecture was the second OF the
course, given under the auspices Of the Young
Mems Christian Association, and announced for
Friday evenings during the Winter months For
half an hour before the lecture the audience was
entertained with some fine music, and promptly at
eight O'Clock the lecturer was introduced.
The lecture was for the most part recital Of
avorite pieces Of the author, the fances OF poets
who had never received, ct least during lifetime,
the appreciation Of the public. In his introduction
the lecturer spoke Of the tremulous anxiety Of
young man whose essay appeared for the first time
in print; how he would rush into the
nearest place OF privacy to read 1t,
and afterwsrd, "a he would emerge into the street,
how he would think that everybody knew Of his
being an author. IAN this, I" he said, would soon
wear away with the young man, and, whether for
the periodical or the newspaper, the ltterateur's
contributions were to be the product Of labor
to which he was driven by the butchers
bill or o call for children's shoes. To be ap-
preciated, the literary man should not attempt
to soar too high; 1t was to the Identification OF
Dickens thoughts with those of the middle classes
that the great public appreciation of him was due.
He did not think that Tennyson was appreciated,
though he knew that the laureate was celebrated,
renowned and loved. The appreciation OF
Tennyson by most people ended with their
admiration OF q .Locksley Hallr and the
several or the poets, whose writings, he believed,
were not appreciated, and read, with impressive
effect, some extracts from them. The first he Sc
lected was Edmund spencer, OF whom he thought
few knew little more than that he was born in the
Queen - and yet Spencer had been Idol OF all our
irom Bayey, the author Of 'sFestus;" nom Alex
ander Smytn, and beautiful piece by John Pierre
boossta n' from nau John AeST oSin who a Gied
Moon S AFTER Tobns dena attRR was Was found
thrown aside In one Of the pigeon holes OF the
desk OF q theatrical manager, who had told T0bin
u was lost. In speaking OF another class OF au-
inner feeling that they were capable of doing
greater things-he mentioned his sold friend
Frank Smedley, who was a cripple, but
who was the author OF Prank Fairleigh,'
Lewis Arundeln and Harry COverdale's Court
acters. He then showed how the same metre may
be used for grave or gay subjects, quoting poems
Of Kingsley and Thackeray In proof. or Thomas
Hood ne said that before the publication OF ''The
Song ofthe Shirt and "The Bridge OF Signs" Hood
read were received with applause. tef, ss,f sru
The lecturer, in concluding, spoke OF the great
g1fts OF those who had power to Green into the
hearts OF their 1ellOw-men, to cheer and console
and elevate them. What must have been the feel
ings OF those unappreciatea men whose minds were
doomed to die heartbroken, disappointed and
GiCkened to death. - Y