Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1875-05-27

Professor c. b. Plummer's elocution-
airy illustrations in Miners Union
Hall, at Ruby Hill, on Monday even
ing. Mr.. Plummer is we'll known as a
mimic and caricaturist of no mean or
der. His take Off" through the
lizard She'll Baptist f" of such canting
hypocrites AS preach with JUNCTION on
Sunday, and are prepared IN Monday
to sell sufficient liquor to ruin their
whole congregation, was very effective.
The sincerity of the peroration about the
taking up of a collection was particu-
larly ~inslructive; and it almost seemed
10 me that | had heard the same words,
in something of "a similar tone, in the
good city OF Austin, years ago, at actu-
al Sunday services, when Piummer
was not within hundreds of miles. IL
the rendition of some of his pieces, Mr..
Plummer is perfect; in that of others
he deserves criticism, and will, no
doubt take it in good part if / offer
proper reasons for the opinions | give.
Among the faultless pieces, ..Schneid-
er's Ride on der Gofermend Mool" is
worthy of special notice. The imita-
ton of that Dutchman getting away as
far and as fast as possible from the
field of danger is unique and comical
indeed. Following came "Shamus
O'Brien," of the delivery of which |
cannot give the same unqualified
praise. Mr.. Plummeri is not perfect as
an Irishman as he is as a Dutchman.
Some OF the broader expressions were
thoroughly Irish; still, there were sen
fences which had something i'm them of
the Dutch accent. / should suggest
the propriety of his never giving these
pieces the one Immediately after the
other, and then it would be easier to
keep each in its native purity. The
text of barbara Freitchie" was gone
over a shade toe fast, and a more en-
phatic utterance would have been an
improvement. The same defects we're
vere's Ride" and were still worse i'll
.'The Old Sailors Story" as if the
e~locutionist was anxioust to get through
his task. "The Courtin' of Patty
Bigelow" and the other "New Eng
land" pieces were excellently rendered.
The drawing representation of ''The
Skinned Man." of Mark Twain's style
of lecturing, was very amusing; and
'The Ghost" and s'Sister Nancy" piece
was equally well done. The variety OF
the entertainment is one of the best
features, so far as the audience is con-
cerned, but | fear the O oflaugh-
ter necessary to call forth, to make the
dollars come, will always render it i'm
possible for Mr.. Plummer to give his
attention to the higher and more digni-
fed branches of his profession. BY
this l mean that partly from necessity,
and partly from adaptation, the Profess
sor's pieces will always be more in the
comical line than in any other. OF
mo Sect in Heaven" I think
the only case / can lay hold
of is presented wherein the lee
tnFer fails to grasp the true spirit OF
the author. If, as is assumed, GER
tain sects are so ignorant as to suppose
they can carry their distinctive doe
trines and waysinto Heaven with them,
the piece referring TO the fact should be
delivered with solemnity and pity, as
if subjects were misguided and blind.
Mr.. Plummer is doing lasting good in
showing how much more meaning
there is in a written story well present
ed than when it is merely skipped
over in school boy fashion. His ex-
traordinary facial transformations are
only auxiliary to the more important
instruction he affords. For young and
old, Professor Plummer is a United
States Schoolmaster General on wheels,
and long may he revolve along his Sc
lectcd and appropriate highway.