The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-12

Last evening the Rev. G. H.. Hepworth de-
livered in the Y. M. c. A. course his lecture en-
titled "The Great Fight" The audience was
small, but attentive and interesting. Mr.. Hep
worth, a stout man with full dark beard and
large wide eyes and heavy jaws, made his ap-
pearance on the platform at quarter to eight
and began the delivery of his lecture in meas
ured, deliberate tones, which grew rapid and
rushing as the lecture wore on. He possesses
good presence, graceful gestculation, and a
rich sonorous voice, trained to its very limit.
The manner in which he rolled his RS was
decidedly STACEY, as when for example he
spoke of ''es-tr-rsrge r-restlessness." The lee
ture though containing but little new thought,
was interesting from the manner of delivery,
the felicitous language in which it was clothed,
the happy stories brought in as illustrations.
and the quaint SMILES in which it abounded.
1.-THE great fight" according to the speaker,
is the struggle which is ever going on for posi-
ton and influence and wealth.
In beginning, MI. Hepworth spoke of man as
very curious and interesting animal, to HIM
self an ever-preseut mystery and miracle.
What he knows of himself is both an impulse
vancing, continually striving after high ideal,
continually looking forward to time when the
crooked shall be made straight. Some there
are the grumblers and croakers, who look
back to the dim past for the golden age.
But the true golden age, as most of us hold, IS
either the present day, or begins at noon to-
morrow. Of this strange animal man, the
speaker seemed to think Americans were the
most curious variety. They are pervaded with
a strange restlessness. They are marvels to
themselves, miracles to other nations of the
earth. A dissatisfied, unhappy race, they are
the Oliver Twists of the world They are the
men with large heads and poor digestion.
They are continually eating into tomorrow
and living on borrowed time. Had they Alad-
diu's lamp. they would apply for patent to
rub it twice where he of Bagdad rubbed it
once. This feverish haste wears them out
early. and they are old men at fifty. They
use themselves up in the great fight for wealth
and power. There is a fundamental error in
their education. Their lives are continual
strivings. The girls thirst after young lady
ship. Their continual endeavor is to pull their
short skirts down over their pantalettes. Their
something better educated, for their education
has practical bearing. But they are consum-
ed by the never ceasng thirst for something
more. If they own a lot they want square;
if the square be got they want city; if the
city be got they want world should the
world come into their possession they would
long for mortgage on the nearest fixed star.
In the great fight the young man needs in
order to succeed indomitable pluck and stern
honesty. With these he can overcome the
many and severe obstacles which arise in his
path. Though he be nearly bankrupted in
body and mind and spirit, yet with clear grit
and steadfast honesty he can fight his way
through, The speaker dwelt upon these points
at great length, enforcing them with many ex-
amples and illustrations, and closing with
fervid appeal to young men to make them their
rules of conduct.