National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-09
WILD MEN OF THE NORTH
THE LECTURE OF CANON KINGSLEY
LAST NIGHT.

THE LECTURE OF CANON KINGSLEY
LAST NIGHT.
Canon Kingsley, the celebrated English divine,
was greeted last evening at the Congregational
Church by not very largo audience, but by one
which manifested great interest and appreciation.
Professor Walter discoursed music in o finished
and elegant manner from eight until halfpast
eight O'Clock, which didn't exactly meet the en-
tire approval of the learned divine, for, as pre-
liminary remarks to his lecture, he said: Ladies
and gentlemen, an bound to say that it Is not
my fault that the lecture was not commenced
promptly as advertised, for have been waiting
for full half hour in the ante-room ready to
begin my lecture. The lecture does not appear
to be very we'll attended, and the only way that 1
can account for the diminutive attendance is that
all Of the musicloving people have gone to hear
the Norwegian Nightingale. Christine Nilsson.
And / must say that cannot blame them for
doing so, for myself would much rather sit and
listen to the inspiring and sublime tones Of this
beautiful singer, than to harken unto the croak-
ing and sgueaky voice Of your lecturer.
The learned divine then commenced HIS lecture
by giving q graphic description Of q cruise made
by q crew Of Norsemen nine hundred years before
the discovery of America by Columbus, stating
that they were driven ashore on the coast OF 1rc-
land, Dublin, at which time 1t is believed by
historians that they were on their homeward voy-
age from the American continent. Some Of the
traces of their earlier voyages wcre discovered in
the earlier days of the republic in the vicinity OF
Vineland and along the borders Of the Chesa-
peake bay. These traces must have been made
as long ago as 1ol5, fifty years before the Norman
conquest They called the region about the
Chesapeake Tineland because Of the vast quaint
ties Of immense vines and roots which wore found
on every hand. 1t is believed that these strange
people were cruising for the purpose of new dis
coveries along the coasts of America, and were
driven into the Gulf of Mexico, and finally to the
land where Cortez found traces Of their existence
when he made his conquest.
These facts may be strange, but they are his
torcaI, and from the traces and relics found they
appear TO be Of great certainty And believe,
If may judge from natural evidences, that these
bold people landed on our shores at least six hun
dred years before the sixteenth century, and thus
Scandinavian king might have sat on the throne
of Mexico centuries before CoTtez dethroned the
Montezumas. They were o daring and adVen-
turous people, and to-day no page OF modern
history has been faithfully written which has not
taken into account the varied influences Of this
wild people; for England, Scotland, Denmark
and all of Continental Europe to-day show traces
of the Normsns, who oyerrgn those countries and
introduced their simple rude, but beneficial civil
ization, which grew better and better, until it
was so improved in the days Of William, the Nor
man, that he was known as the most polished and
gentlemanly king of his or any preceding age.
The learned lecturer then gave an interesting
and eloquent description Of the battle of Hast
| ings, referring the audience to BuIwers novel,
entitled Harold, )" in which they would find one
of the most truthful and finished descriptions Of
those thrilling scenes written, saying further
that those of the assembly who loved historical
| spots should, whenever an opportunity was
| offered, visit the scene Of this celebrated en-.
counter. The Normans, said the lecturer, are q
sad people. Their buildings present q dreary ap-
pearance. Their literature is sad and gloomy.
There is none Of that pure enjoyment Of life
among them which characteriZes the life Of the
Greeks and more southern races. Nature to them
was q dreary, gloomy and cherries mother. We
do not know under what difficult circumstances
they lived. The climatic influences Of their coun-
try made the cultivation Of the soil to any extent
unsuccessful, and their lives were made up with
constant fratricldal strifes and domestic dis
turbances.
These people had no Outstanding influences
until the mysterious Western church of st.
Patrick had sent its working missionaries among
them, the traces OF which have been discovered in
the ruins of some Of Its Institutions in the form OF
little books written in Irish on this strange the
ology. In conclusion the lecturer said, that not
| Withstanding their rude habits and war-like ma
lures We love them, and that he noticed particu-
larry that most Of our poets love them; and how
could they help it-such a bold, open-hearted,
noble people! cannot read your Western poets,
such as Bret Harte and John Hays, without see-
| ing in their "BIodsoes" and "Flynnses'' the very
| manly traits which characterised these m yste.
rlous races Of the North.