New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-28
The LECTURE.

The LECTURE.
Reverence for age, at least, so it has long
soemel 20 me-reyereuce age, say is fair test OF
the vgor Of youth aud, conversely, nsolenee toward
The old and the past whether in individuals or III ma
TONS a sign rather Of weakness than OF strength
And the cause. I think. Is this The Hch and strong
young natures which feel themselves capable Of orgi-
,a thou ht work. have corresponding respect for
tGose who in the generations gone by. have thought
aud worked they hope 10 do here
after. And this temper, understand me, so far
from being servlle, or even merely cOnserva-
tive. usually accompanies true independence OF
spirit. The young athlete, like the young race horse.
does not despse. but emuaes his size, though the
old victor be long past bis prime. The Young soldier ad
mres the old general the young miishipman the Old
admiral just in proportion he himself is likely to be
daring and able officer hereafter The when grown
20 maus estate say his father. look you still
with all respect and admiration. have learnt and de-
sire always learn YOU But You must be to me
now not a dictator but an example You became what
you are by following your own line And you must let
me rival you and DO you honor by following mine.
THIS say, OF nations well as Of individuals
] do not hesitate TO say that, paTadOXca as II may
seem the original rlCesthose who have succeeded
best. AMI left their stamp most broadly aud pcrma
neutly in the human raCe-have also been the most
teacbabe provided they allowed TO learn in thor
way and to adapt 20 their own purposes any higher
ancient civilization with which they came IN contact
what striking instances Of this truth for truth 1t
IT, than the reverence the free republican Greek for
the Old despotc civilization OF Egypt and of the free
N0rseman-our own anoestOr-ior the Old and equally
despOiic civilization Of R0mci These the two most
orgiuatye and most progressive races OF Europe had
faith in OF. the supposed real wisdom Of the.
men the old time; which often exaggerated into
superstition. but never. thanks 10 their innate
force. degenorated into bondage Pardon me this
somewhat dry prOUmum and pardon too If il leads
me on 10 compliment TO the American people. which
trust yO, will think impairment. For have seem
aud with joy. like spirit In those Amerl
cans. whom 1t has been my good fortune to meet
On my land. mean this that found in them, how
ever selteaching and seletermiuing sthey might be.
Chat genial for antiquity which hold to be
tho IN " truly gcnerOus-that 49, the of tho
grand old wOrd-a truly high bred nature Ihave been
touched and deeply touched finding many OF them,
on landing FOR the first time at Liverpool hurryinG off to
our quaint old city Of Chester 10 It's old girdle OF
walls and towers-Romau Medieval Carone curious
rows of oyerhang.ng houses, its fragments OF Roman
baths and Inscriptions, us modest little cathedral and
the-realy very few-recs Of English history which it
contains. Eyen banners OF an Old Cheshire regi
meut which had been the Peninsula war; almost
as interesting TO some as illuminated Bible Of the
early middle age.
More than have had to repress the enthusiasm
OF some charming lady, and say 4" But this is nothing
DO not waste your admiration here. Go on; see
tie British Museum, It's marbles and Its manu-
scripts the French cathedals the ruins of Prov
ence and Italy, the galleries OF Florence, Naples Rome"
"Ah but you must remember" was the answer,
"theso are the first old things l ever saw"
A mere sentiments Yes, but as poets know, and
eatesmen ought to know it by sentiment when well
oirected-as by when we'll used-by sentiment
say great nations live. When sentiment dies out, and
mere prosaio calculation OF loss and profit takes its
place then comes Byzantine epoch, Chinese epoch.
decrep.tude slow decay. And 50 the eagerness OF
those generous young souls was TO a good augury
for the future them. and OF their native land They
seemed 10 me-ani l again, 1t touched me.
often deepy-tO be realizing to themselves their
rightful place in the community OF the civil
he'd nations OF all lands and Of all times;
realizing TO themselves that they were, indeed,
Heirs Of all tae ages; foremost 10 the ranks Of time
And minded Therefore like wise and noble heirs. not
60 p.se and squander. but treasure and that
Inheritance. and the accumulated labors Of the mighty
Dead.
vENERATIoN TAUGHT BY LoSGFELLow.
Issw this say. Chester. And therefore was not
surprised TO find the pleasant experience repeated and
20 higher degree at Westminster. pleasant ex-
pcrence, say know few more agreeable occupations
than showing party Of Americans round our
great Abbey aud sentimentalizing, II you
Will, IN sympathy with them, Englands
Pantheon. pause ~ confess once more that
A. 10 almost impertnence in TO pay you snch a
compliment. You have right to answer me. How
could it be otherwisei Are we not educated people
Has not been trained by authors who
were al least civilized enough to the great past
without the need OF European crossing seas TO
tell Us o; It's wealth.
Iyou reprave thus can only say that the reproof
Is lust and will remain Just 80 long your poets are
what they are; and long, above all, as you
as much here as we do In England the poetry Of Mr..
Iopgfellow He has not, II recoect Alright ever en-
Moved his muse in concentrating our great Abbey;
but that muse Is instinct with all those
lofty and yet tender emotions which that great
Abbey should call out. He knows as few Know on our
sde Of the water. the effect, Christening ana ye' en-
nobng Of such architecture coDsecated by such asso
Citations. He has not only perceived and drank In all
chat purest and noOest IN the now sleeping last Ten
centuries. but be has combined 1t again and again Win
that which Is purest and noblost In the waking and
yeArning present; and combined 1t organcaly and
Nvingly. as leaf aud stem combine with flower
and fruit Yes; a. long as the poet who
could write both tho Belfry Bruges" ana The VII
Iage Blacksmith" is read among you. there n no need
Tor me 10 bid you the past; and little need
trust for me TO tell those whom leave homo to
erenco the present For 1t 10 a fact OF which somo
Americans may not well aware as they should be.
that your exquisite poet has exercised an influence 10
Britain It may great and certainly more varied
ksn that which hs he has exercised In hs native Aad