The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-24
SKETCH OF his LIFE.

MIR. Bradlaugh was born in llOXtOn,
London, Sept. 20, 1888, and is consequent
ly n trille over forty years of age. lie left
school before he was eleven and has, there
! fore, had but little scholastic learning, but
his constant struggle with the world has
given him an education far better than
mere book learning. While mere youth
he took an active part in the political tur-
moils of 19i7-4S, and addressed several
street audiences before he was fifteen La
ter In life he became an acknowledged
leader and orator among the "Secularists, 81
or as more Familiarity known in this coun-
try, the atheists Besides teaching athe-
ism and republicansm Mr. Bradlaugh has
taken an earnest and active part in the va
rious popular movements of the day. When
revolutionary Italy was struggling for her
rights, Bradlaugh raised 100 guncas for
Garibaldi; he spoke, wrote and worked for
the dsestahlishment of the Irish church; CO.
operation has always found in him a con-
sistent and intelligent supporter; during the
Fenian agitation he visited Ireland, confer
red with the advocates of. "homc rule" and
justifying them. he raised his voice in con-
utlllutllOu Ol lllt itEOtlDUS anu lnOlTllltS~
clamor excited by the outbreak at Clcrl<cn-
well prison and he has fought strenuous
ly for woman suffrage In the reform agi-
tation of 1867 Mr.. Bradiaugh took an ac-
tive part, being a member of the Reform
League and Il tavorite speaker at the me
tropOlitan demonstrations, and was always
an advocate Of that bold policy in
reference to the right of public
meetings which eventually proved
victorious. In 1868 he was can
didate for Parliament from Northampton.
but was defeated The next year he
gained victory over the Gladstone Co
vernment, which made an attempt to sup
press his Journal, " The National Re
former" by reviving two obsolete acts of
parliament. The journal is republican in
politics; in religion, atheistc, and in social
economy, Malthusian. after the standard of
the late John Stuart MIL thus being an cx-
pOncnt of the position of Mr.. Bradlaugh on
those three points.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
Mr. Bradlaugh is fine specimen of
manhood, standing over six feet tall and
well proportional. His forehead is high
and broad, and his light hair is combed
straight back over the top of his head and
back of his ears, while his face is shaved
clean. His eyes are gray. rather deep set
and keen; nose straight, with slight up
ward tendency, and his lips are rather thin
and compressed. His voice is q strong
baritone, with a slight nasal accent at
times. and that evening hc spoke very
fluently in well chosen idiomatic English,
scarcely glLncng at his notes. and remind
ed one of Robert Collyer in feature and
manner of speaking.
THE AUDiENCE.
1t was a curious audience, SAYS the Bos-
ton Xe3dLd, that filled Music Hall. 1t in
cuded many cultivated people. many
scholarly and solid men, and many ac-
complishcd and delicate women. The
male sex prcdominatcd, for there was Il
large number of young men present-a
much larger proportion than is common at
our lectures, but there were whole rows
OF delicate and appreciative women.
Workingmen and many whose faces are
not frequent at the regular lecture courses
were numerous. 1t proved to be re-
markably sympathetic as well rs
strangely composite audience. To be sure.
BTadlaugh could warm any audience. eX-
cept it were composed Of English land
owners, into nerve and enthusiasm. He
was splendidly received, and so were the
men who came with him, for he was for
tunate enough to be surrounded on the
platform by Charles Sumner, Mr. CARR
son, one or two others, and Mr.. Phillips,
who introduced him. The audience was
delighted to see Mr.. Sumner, and let him
know it. When he left the platform at
the conclusion of the lecture, the hall re-
sounded with calls for him to speak. Mr.
Phillips was as sedate and graceful as if
the speech of the evening had been his
own-as it might have been had he intro
duced and been followed by any other or
ator