Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-27

been afflicted during this 'vernal season.
That which we are enduring at this present
writing may safely be declared to be The
most opposed to our poetic lnaglnIngs o.
Spring. Instead OF the "balmy air.
azure skies" grassy banks" &c.. &c.,
of our inventive poets, We have all that
for moisture wouId do credit TO n laundry
skies the color Of leaden bullet. and
pavements covered with black, sticky
mud. However, the almanacs say 1t l.
spring. and suppose we must believe
them. Take that statement on trust, just
as we do that other one which the news
papers are continually making, lie
business is reviying." To he sure, the
evidences of either fact are not easily dis
cernibe; tut what is the use of having
almanacs AMI newspapers if we are moi
,iling to place our trust in them?
Mr.. Varley. the English Evangelist,
who has been preaching to such great
crowds in this city, is now preaching
every evening at the Cooper Union. lis
aboIs here will close this week believe.
The novelty having worn of he does not
draw such large audiences as during The
first few weeks Of his ministrations.-
There is nothing very remarkable about
Mr.. Va:leY's appearance nor sermons; /;
and those who have heard him are at
loss to understand how he succeeds in
drawing such crowds. lie is a short,
lhick.set man, wiki very bright eyes and
quick. nervous manner. His sermons
are not remarkable for power nor elo
q1cucc; but lis illustrations are well
chosen. and his evident sincerity. and
enthusiasm for his work, lend charm TO
his words that is sometimes lacking
in more polished addresses. lie has
strong convictions. and sometimes allows
himself to make assertions that vii seem
hardly warran,ablt TO those who do not
share his extreme views: Some of his
state ments have evoked considerable
hostile criticism in The press of this city.
Mr. Varey's success in drawing large
audiences, am inclined TO attribute to
the immense amount OF advertising he
has received. The tact of his preaching
in Barnum's Ilippodrome would OF itself
he sufficient 10 attract large crowd. \
horse race one evening and sermon the
next seems little incongruous but the
llirpodrome has been crowded TO witness
both entertainments. II is estimated that
twenty thousand people, at one time,
listened TO Mr.. Narley's preaching al that
place. His voice is clear and strong. and
could be plainly heard all over the vast
building. His immense audience sat
brealh!essly listening, to catch every
word he uttered; and 10 sound buI his
voice was heard, save the occasional roar
OF an uneasy lion 10 his den beneath the
seals on which were gathered thousands
OF interested hearers. The scene WAS
impre ssiye and highly dramatic; but the
preachers power think hardly sufficient
TO excite so much interest independently
OF the novelty OF his presence aud sur.
roundings.
We are patiently waiting TO see what
the Grand Jury will DO in regard to the
disaster at ST. AndIews church. You
will remember that on the evening OF
February twenty.iiIth, while divine ser.
vice was being held at St. Andrews
church. the roof was crushed in. and ser.
eral worshppers killed, and many badly
injured, by the falling OF six story brick
wall, which had been left standing, en-
lirely unsupported. since the burning OF
j. NJ. Shaw's crockery store. six weeks
previous to the disaster. The coroner's
jury censured the heads OF the fire depart.
ment, anl Of the department OF
buildings for not having had the
wall removed Immediately alter the fire,
as it was manilestly unsafe. Great in.
dignation was expressed throughout the
city al the culpable negligence which had
resulted in so grea, calamity; and IL is
confidently expected that in this case the
guilty officials will be made 10 suffer Tor
their neglect of duty; although such an
occurrence rs the punishment ol incom
petent or dishonest officials is opposed 10
the traditions oil this much governed city.
Senator Hamlin's postal tinkering has
brought him more prominently before
the public than he has been since his
election AS Vice President OF the United
States; but the light in which he is re.
garded is not at al favorable; and ii he
had TO endure one half the curses pro-
uouncel upon him by the mail depositors
at the New York General Post Office
alone, Prometheus would be happy in
comparison.
Despite the hard times the theatres are
doing n good business. "llenry W" at
Booths, Ahmed" at the Grand Opera
House, and The Two Orphans at the
Union Square theatre. draw crowded
houses, as they deserve 10 do. Each play
is placed upon the stage in manner
highly crediiable to The managers, and
worthy OF The Metropolis OF America.
LANCER.
For the OXFORD DEMOCRAT.
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