The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-30

AAAhAlf Nlla 9NeH aAA kAAh NAuI COuklueut Nue
home Of freedom and a refuge for the OPP
pressed Of every race and every cline
FIRST IMPRESSIONS,
And yet whilst the effect produced by
Mr.. Bright upon those who listen TO him
IA wonderful, the first impression on
those who hear him for the first time Is
one Of disappointment. When he begins
10 speak 20 an audience, he generally
opens his address in low tone, Pauses
occasionally Us though to find suitable
word, and seems to have no idea whatever
Of rousing the enthusiasm OF those who
listen 10 him. But presently, while the
stranger is wondering at the infaluation
Of those who have placed ON the brow Of
this man the crown Of eloquence, he is
himself drawn within the circle Of his
influence; and forgetting his prcconceiYed
notions he listens enchanted TO the man
who eau put the most difficult questiOns
so plainly before his audience, and in
whose hands the dryest subject becomes
so interesting. Then when the speaker
has drawn the whole OF his hearers into
sympathy with him he begins to work on
their emotions, like a skilful player on
the harp. And first, in u few simple
words, he rOuses the scorn OF scorn in
their hearts, which scathes the object OF
his wrath more terribly than the bitterCst
inYecliye. The manner in which, by
mere infection Of his voice, he can ex-
press the intense sCOrn, and SO express II
as to make his feelings more completely
known TO his audience than II DO had
spent an hour in trying to explain them,
Is simply marvellous.
MR., bright As A HuMoRIsT,
But almost directly after the audience
has been stirred by the orators sarcasm
he begins to tell some story. He Is In
deed wonderful stOry.teller, and some
Of the best anecdotes and illustrations
that have been given to us in modern
times have come from him, The story OF
the old gentleman who used to say that
70 hole wore longer than patch" or the
old lady "who felt very badly in her in
side,n or the Lyrian Monk ito whom tears
were as natural as persplratiOn," are
good examples OF the ready Wit with
which he supplies every argument he em-
ploys with an appropriate illustration.
Those notable examples OF the same
quality in that famous speech on Reform
In which he christened the "adullamites,"
and gave us a new phrase, "the cave to
the vocabulary Ofparty politics-or that
never'tO be forgotten "party Of two"
which; like the young lady's terrier was
so covered with hair that you could not
tell which was head and which was tail.
One popularity Of Mr.. Brights humOr Is
that 1t always.appears lobe unconscious.
When he Is telling one Of his best stories,
or uttering one OF his beat sayings, he
hardly moves a muscle Of his face, and
semmingly takes no share In the merri.
ment Of his audience.
Mr.. BRtuHT's SCHOLARSHIP.
Mr.. Bright US every one knows, Is a
Quaker; and in the Quaker schools and
colleges, where he received the whole Of
his education, no place is found for the
classics, and so II happens that our great
English orator never enjoyed the advan-
tagps Of reading, in the mother tongue,
the masterpieces OF his rivals OF Greece
and Rome. But II the rich stores Of
classical learning In their originals are
closed to him, he has made excellent Use
Of those other fountains Of knowledge
which are open to his study. No other
public man has such command OF all
that Is strong and pure and noble In the
Saxon tongue, while few show a greater
familiarity with our English classics
with the works Of the poets aud drama
lists Of the Elizabethnn age and their
successors. All llis greater speeches are
illustrated by wonderfully apt and ap-
propriatc quotations, some from tile
Scriptures and some from our standard
authors. No one who hears these quota
tons employed can imagine for moment
that they are the result Of q resort to any
Dictionary Of Elegant Extracts or
other works Of the same kind. They
show the orators thorough familiarity
with those authors who have done most
for English literature. ills said, indeed,
that Mr.. Bright makes habit Of com.
hitting TO memory the works Of some
one Of Our chief poets every year. A
bonndlcss command Of language, at once
noble and simple, does not, however, Of
itself constitute eloluCnce. II Is In the
power to touch the hearts and win the
Sympathics Of those whom he addresses
that the highest qualities Of an orator
are shown; and tried by this standard
also, Mr.. Bright's success il complete.
CONCLUSION
From his youth upward John bright
has been the friend Of the "common Ieo-
ple." lie himself has told the world how,
when he was staying at Cheltenham as
young man, stricken down by the soresl
blow which fate can inilict-with hone
living Of his household save n mOtherless
child, Richard Golden came 10 him and
urged him to Join in the struggle for free
trade. The man whose life had been
darkened shook his head sadl y, and would
have turned from The prospect which his
friend held out to him. Then Golden
besOught him, not for his Own sake, but
for tile sake Of the English poor, to
'come with him" and win cheap bread for
the people, and at this bright yielded,
and they went out upon the wonderful
campaign, In which time las shown a
splendid victory was won for the people
OF England. II il strange TO see how
thirty years ugo, John Bright was con.
tending for principles which arc now al.
most universally accepted. Through
such storms Of abuse and calunny-"de-
fractions rude"-as but few other men
have had to encounter, lie held nh his
way lie has lived to see men Of both
parties mailing him as one Of the foremost
men In the rank Of statesmen, "a well as
first among orators. What change has
passed over Mr.. lItight's position since the
days when Lord Palmerston Snuered at
him rs the "reyerphed gentleman" or
those earlier days when public Journal.
lat advised the farmers to hUtSe.whip the
apestilcnt vngabond.' When lie was sud.
denly struck down SOME years ago BY all
illness which scented likely to he fatal,
there was one general outburst Of mourn.
ing from both sides Of the House Of Com.
mons, and from all parts Of the United
Kingdom. The same deep and general
feeling Of sorrow and sympathy showed
itself IN the more receiA prostration Of
his health; and now, while we write,
there il one universal sentiment Of con.
graduation on the announcement that he
after l6hg FpIausa-is neFlrrtly rp.