Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
MRS. WoODuULI.s LECTURE.

MRS. WOODHULL.S LECTURE.
The Wheeling Register of the 18th
instant says, for the first time Wheel
ing audience had an opportunity to
hear that wonderful woman lecture last
night, The attendance was not as large
as we expected to see, but the house
was well filled, only few of whom
were ladies.
At eight o'clock Mrs. Woodruff APP
peared on the stage. She was plainly
dressed in black silk dress and sack.
White cuffs and jaunty linen collar
were the only decorations to- offset its
plainness. Her hair was combed plain
iy back from her comely, intelligent
= face, and rather carelessy allowed to
to hang upon. her shoulders in a halt
bunch. The lecturer didn't lose any
time in useless courtesies or superfiu-
ous smiles She advanced to the front
of the stage and opened her, lecture.
Mrs. Woodruff held a mass of manu-
script in her hand, which for a time she
kept shifting from the top to the bot
tom, sheet by sheet, as she proceeded.
but at no time did she refer to it with
her eyes, showing perfect familiarity
with what she was talking about. Her
manner through it all Was easy, her
gestures graceful, her voice strong, her
articulation almost perfect, and the ex-
precision of her face sometimes when
she got warmed up to her subject grew
almost spiritual. The following is the
giSt OF
TIE LECTURE.
Mrs. Woodruff began by saying that
the poet had said "NNestward the star
of empire takes its way" Progress had
been born on the tides of civilization
until il has made the circuit of the
whole earth. The mound builders of
this country were people to whom we
know little. We know not who they
were, nor whence they came. They
have lef; no traditions, aud there is no
race of people living now that repres-
ent them. Either they were swept out
TO existence 10y some strange event, or
having become diseased and departed,
they sunk from the earth. That
which does not improve must leave the
earth So it is with the race of men.
Just so sure as the sun shines in the
heavens by day, just so sure is the
present race of mankind sinking into
oblivion, and just 80 sure will it become
extinct unless it should change its
course on the social relation question of
the day. Civilization has, as it were,
ascended the apex of time, ard now
stands on the sleeps ready TO descend
to :he gulf OF oblivion and extinction,
Just as We have already reason to be-
live that preceding races have deteri-
Grated aud passed, away. This west,
ward march of civilization has lesson
connected with it that it would be well
for us to ponder.
The flashes OF right and wrong have
rushed down through the centuries,
uItil they are new 10 be realized. Its
path is plainly to be seen. Beginning
in the East it broke through the bar
riers of the Himalaya Mountains and
spread its power over Persia, until that
nation grew into the migh,iest people
of the then civilization world. From
Persia it crossed the Hellesport into
Greece, and spread its powers there,
until Greece fell upon Persia like the
return of the tide, and crushed it out
From Greece the power of civilization
took another step westward to Rome.
which in turn fall back upon Greece
and crushed it also. Then the hordes
of the North stamped out tire life of
the mighty empire of the Caesars in
Rome, and civilization spread over
Western Europe until it reached the
Atlantic borders, But the barriers of
the seas could not stay it, and it sought
America-America, the proud home of
Freedom. 1t strobe across the con-
tinent, and now our Republican is
bound by iron bands with the countries
across the waters. Is not our ocean
bound Republic model, showing now
the nations are all to be bound together
upon ties based upon individual rights?
W nat reason have we to suppose, that
the laws Of culmination and decline that
other countries have had should not |
hold true for America, America is the
grand combination of all the countries
Of Europe. Our people are made up of |
other nationalities all blended together.
Ii, represents the body and mind of
ouher people, and hence this must
result in the most perfect people. That
charac. err must be the highest which is
the elimination of others, and until this
unity is developed We can not have
perfection or "a pure and undeviled hu-
nanity. This blending together of all
nations into the characteristics of one
nation, is rapidly being realized here in
America. Already 'is the Mongolian
ard African races being elevated in
society and intellect, ',''S ''''
BY AMALGAMArIoN wIrH THE CAUCASIAN. !
In the end the day viii come when
all the nations of the world will be but
one people-one people with the char
actelis,ic, physically and mentally, of
all the nations of world. And until |
4 hat fima cnnas tharu oan lAe nn nor