, 1873-12-10

Lecture By Gerald Massey ut the
KinSsbl1ry Music HALL.

Lecture By GcrnJd Massey ut tho
TiuSsbt1ry Music Hall.
Gorald Massey. tho Euglis.l poet, loctured
Inst evening at the Music Hall in the Star
Course. TO house miaerably disproportiouato
to tho fame Of tho lecturer and the amount Of
advertising done by his aGents in this city. 1t
may have been the opera, or it may have boon
something olao TINT left tile auditorium about
two-thirds empty. The larger part Of tlo
audience boing chairs, It IL not surprising
that tlloro was but little applause. In fact, tho
audience was rather cold. It did not applaud
any Of Tho efforts OF the Star orchestra, and
waited in muto aatouiahmeut, until Mr. Gerald
Massey stole quietly in at side door Of tho
stago, and hurried to h!a stand, without making
a bow, and without introduction. He suddenly
opened his manuscript, and began reading with
considerable porsous hnrricdness. Alr. Massey
is not handsome, nor is ho in appearance intel
leotual. Ills moustacho aud eide-whlskera aro
thin, and Ills hair is parted iu tho middle.
Tho lecture began with a definition OF tho two
qualities Of wit mud humor, aomowhat alter tho
fashion wo hare generally heard, Mr.. Massey
| speaking, however, with slch rapldIty that tho
force of his illustration was loat by tho ofort to
illustrations wcro alwaya bright aud original
and occasionally brilliant Tic hublect Of the
lecture was g Charles Lamb" and tho intro
ductory remarks we're admirably suited to the
Charles La1ub, according to AIR: Massey,
wit aud h,l.nor wero ilcxtricably blonded. Pass
ing from those remarks, he gave short sketch
Of Lambs lifo from lis entering ChuBt's Hos
pisal, where he first made tlle acquaintance OF
Coleridgo. Ho referred to tho taiut Of hereditary
insanity in both Charles and his sister Mary,
trcnting tho subject worry closely, aud With
! strong pathetic description. There were, be
Haid. various kinds Of madnoss. one kind, such
as that which affected these poor creatures,
which was sort OF disorganizea somualn-
wps during periods Of insanity, far
mo4o brill!ant in ,:g eoayerHatlon a IT.. than any
ton mud preservation Of this sistcr. Lamb de-
voted h.a whole life, giving up for this purpose
hia loves young dream, tue memory Of that
Alice to whom ho rafcrH occasionally in his writ
! ings. And It was Of this devotion to his sister,
| OF tho grandeur aud l.eruiHm of which Lamb
appeared to 10 quito Unconscious, that tho lee.
turar Aaid ho wiahed llis haarars to thiuk. Lamb
used to Kick against tho drudgory Of his work Ut
very bost thing for. him, 10 DO takon
out Of himself by forco for six
hours day, at good SALARY, was {, godsond to
| Lamb, anu blessing to Us. IT. had given us all
the best Of Charles Lamb in tho smallest pos.
slble space. four pocket volumes containing all
bis contributions to literature. And il llo could
write all ho l,ad to, i'll four volumes. how much
better for him that he did not dilute them into
| twenty-four.
Lamb was Il creature OF London the roots OF
lis nature c!upg to tho lricks OF that old Baby
lou; he neyor broatlcd freely saye In its limits :;
! wna never at homo elsewhere. Whonoyer ho
WIS iu the country. he walked out Of it HI fast
az posalblo. 1Io never liked it, except ut ono
timo, anu that wRs when ho Was In love,
altl tien, Hike all lovers, he had sympathetic
longing for grccn things. Tho fact that Lambs
apa Of ' S sry % e p & Retr s es susysS c1 ss
curious In q literary point Of viaw, na curious,
| ho thought to mon OF letters. as the discovery