The Portland daily press., 1874-01-20

The second lecture of the Y NJ. c. A. course
was delivered last evening in City Hall by
Frof. Townsend of the Boston University. be-
cause of the nnfavorable weather the audience
| was thin. Prof. Townsend, man with dark
hair and beard, ard eyes noticeable chiefly for a
smile that never vanishes chose for the ii tie of
| his lecture "Placed aud Misplaced" The
theme was the pushing Of men into positions in
| this life for which they have neither taste nor
canacity. 1t was embellished with anec Totes
all of which had the sanction of age and much
| repetiton. The manner of delivery was pleas.
| ing and very deliberate. The gestures though
few were graceful.
The lecturer began by remarking the great
differences between men, Some men are born
robust, with great strong frames, but with sem
sibil.ties not very keen. Other men are born
with delicate frames, and are mere bundles of
ptic nerves. Some men have delicate ears for
harmony, others can distinguish no tunes
Some people are mechanical geniuses. others
are IAN thumbs Some people are ever on
the alert, others are always absent minded
The speaker related several amusing instances
of Observation-Disclosures on the part of ell-known
men of studious HABITS. The reflective organs
OF these mems brains are developed at the ex-
pense of the perceptive. \ UGH of the trouble
in this world, many of the mistakes, not lit
tie of the unhappiness, arise from the confus
ion of these classes of men. They oftentimes,
mistake their avocations, and follow pursuits
for which they have no taste nor adaptibility
They are misplaced. Every one of us is worth
something, be it only that we find our places.
throcp awaits each N, an Somowbaro
frequently he never finds it, Mankind is d =
vided into two classes-those in place and those
out of place. 1.-The lecturer meant to convey no
political significance in this classification
The men in place are those whom we call lucky,
the men who succeed ia what they do because
it is the very thing they are fitted to do The
men out of place are the disappointed ones, the
grumDlers, the men who have missed their op-
portunties. So far and SO often as men are out
Ut place Is there disorder in the social system,
80 far and so often as they are 10 place are
there order and harmony, The general deduc-
ton we draw is that by adaptation the man
may accomplish everything, may even compel
the moon to grind his grist.
The reasons why men do not follow their
tastes, do not choose the avocations to which
they are fitted, are many. One of these is class
prejudice and the erroneous opinion that GER
tain employm ;nts are not honorable. If
child display a marked taste for any one en-
ployment, that employment should be his life
work. We must study constitutional tenden-
cies. A crime against nature is committed
whenever avarce or family pride binds child
to an avocation for which he is not fitted.
This position was illustrated by multitude of
examples and anecdotes. Raps were freely ad
ministered to our school anu college systems. as
subversive OF the latitude in study which should
be allowed TO all.
The woman question" was then taken up
and considered from the speakers view of adap-
tation. There are constitutional limits which
women cannot step over. There are broad dis
tinctions between the sexes which cannot be
obliterated. The grandest reformatory move
ment of the age would be that which would fur
nish every woman with a good husband.
Womans ability is not to be disputed but her
adaptability mag be- We will not invite woman
to sing bass until her voice changes.
The second reason why men and women are
out of place is that as children, as youth, they
do not pay attention to their own illnesses, do
not discover them, do not cultivate them when
discovered. They do not find their work.
They take up the work where the father and
mother have dropped it, and go on, though
their hearts be not in it. No man is lazy when
he has found his life-werk. Adaptabilty is the
cure for all the laziness in the world If man
Is very lazy his proper lfe-work may be in the
Custom House. President Grant was quoted
as an example of man out of place and a man
10 place. He was out of place in the leather
business, and failed several times. He was in
place at the head of the great army and led it
to victory. He is in place now, and perhaps
we ought to give him third term. The speaker
closed by invoking the cultivation OF religious
shirt.