Litchfield enquirer., 1873-02-27

honest men. While, therefore, we are far from wishing to screen Mir. Hall from just censure, we cannot consider a case of corruption made out against him. 5
 Lectures and Lecturers.
 MIR. EDITOR The remarkable success that has attended the conrse of lectures just concluded in Washington, moves me to say few words through your columns on the general subject. No one who has heard these carefully prepared produc- tions of some of the best minds in New England, and out of it, will, I am sure, hesitate to say that they were, without exception, at once fresh, interesting, and profitable. The discourse by Dr. Perrin on 'Home," while perhaps he did not sufficiently tell us what Home is, was yet able and even eloquent at times, showing the ''pen of ready writer" Following this. the lecture on Tongues in Trees" by MT. Whittlesey, aside from some ap- parent irrelevancy in thought at the be- ginning, was witty as well as wise, worth listening to by any audience, and giving much promise of a successful future for it's author. Of the elocutionary excellence of Prof. Hibbard's readings-whose voice of marvellous compass, fexibility, and sweetness still rings, doubt not, in the ears of all who heard him of the exquis- itely satirical and mirth-provokin8 Level Best," of Rev. B. B. Hale; the always inimitable lecture on ''The Lost Arts" by Wendell Phillips, who himself illustrates one art that is not lost; the discussion of ''Philosophy in Proverbs" by Dr. J. o. Murray, who gave us ia compactest form, ingeniously set off with appropriate comr ments, the rarest of these gems of human thought; of the nobly thoughtful theme of the ''Social Undertow," handled in such masterly manner by Dr. Holland none too much of Jeremiah" for these times, MT. Editor-and, lastly, of Egypt and the Nile,' by pr. Phelps, an eye-wit- ness of the wonders of that dreamland of the lotus and the palm, and who we'll told us what he knew-ofe these, one and all, need make only this brief mention. They were lectures that spoke for themselves. But my object now, is, to inquire why a similar course of lectures may not, and ought not to be an annual feature in the social and intellectual life of all our towns and villages :? The lecture is an institu- tion of the age. This is not ''lost ar" re- vised, but a new method of human thought. Like some preserved meats, or canned fruits, 1t is often the concentrated extract of the best knowledge, wit, and wisdom of the times. And in this hurry ing, over-worked life of ours, we want sometimes a whole book digested into an hours essay. The masses have but little time for books, not to speak of the fact that for one really good book now published, effective for any valuable end whatever, ten trashy ones are rushed in gorgeous bindings, ct cetera, out of the press, and foisted on bewildered and easy world. Verify .of making many books there is no end, and much study l of such-.sis a weariness of the fesh."
 On the other hand course of we'll pre-. pared lectures by able men--all the better if by men in different professions and callings-is feast of solid nutriment and permanent value. Why should not an experienced machinist, farmer, manufac' turer, banker, inventor in any branch o1 useful art. give usy in illustrated, conden. sed, familiar talks, of an hour long, the cream of what they know about their re. spective pursuits the latest facts, dis coveries, processes, ideas, in their lines oi business ? And in m age of telegraphs, railroads, quick communication in every direction, there is the less excuse for pop
 ular ignorance, where might and ought tc be thorough knowledge. It is not credit able. must speak plainly, for such towns as Litchfeld, New Milford, Woodbury
 not to mention others, to allow years te pass, and no courses of lectures by the ablest men be afforded the people. The expense is not great. A little will and concert will do it easily. There ought tt be fifty such courses now in progress il as many different towns and villages o
 "Old Connecticut" and as many more next year, and the i.ezt after that
 "Home" will be all the better, the ''So
 cial Undertow" the more effectively coun
 teracted, every man will 70 ''his leve
 best" in the right meaning of that dubious
 phrase. when the lecturer; as we'll as th'
 minister, the teacher, the editor, the au
 thor, shall have the fullest access by yoic
 and pen to every community. The lee
 turer and the editor are the fourth an, fifth estates of the professional realm
 Let them join their older sisters in tn
 enlightening of the people in truth
 knowledge and righteousness all nobles
 science of God and His works in all gen
 uine formation" and '.re-formation' o
 human society. The dark day that, mor ally speaking, threatens our nation, vii
 be further of, or will never come at all, ii
 while as of old, ''the preacher shall stil teach the people knowledge. g the platform
 and the press, the professors and teach CTS chair, shall all combine with him t aid in the worlds enlightenment.
 W.S. COUPON. II Washington. Conn. seN - Gen Hawley gave the House some plail talk on the Butler increase of salary busi