The New York herald., 1876-10-23
TUPPER'S THOUGHTS.
The Great Philosopher Reads Ills Poem on
Immortality.
TALMAGE'S TABERNACLE CROWDED
Appearance and Manner OF the
Gifted Poet.

Or. Tamage's Brooklyn Tabernacle filed to
overfowng yesterday morning by heterogeneous con-
gregation numbering fully 5000, chiefly Interested in
hearing Martin Farquhar Tuppcr, of England, poet,
philosopher and genial friend Of humanity, rccte hs
immortal poem In blank verso on ''Thc Immortality OF
tho Soul" Some nfiy ushers, with the imposing
Major b. II. Corwn at their head, were kept actively
employed slowing away the great multitude. They
wore flowers in appels and by their general
get-up made deep impression on the Centennial vsi
tors from Texas and Nebraska There ladies from
Fort Greene the Heights, Fifth avenue and othcr ars
tocratic quarters mixed in among swarthy Hoosiers
from the West and their free and independent wives
and daughters. George Morgan operated with all his
might on the four-banked organ. At half-past
ten tho author OF "provcrbia Philosophy"
seen entering by side door. the handsome Talmags
leading the way. Every eye on him he
mounted the stage beneath the big painted red
white and blue, and blazing with gold. Ho appeared
to be short, stout gentleman, with gray hair and
gray beard, fresh. ruddy complexion, and eye as
mild, harmless and connding as caIi's He seated
himself in Talmages chair and pulled out several pairs
Of gold mounted spectaces which no laid tcndery be-
side HIM small table to his right The pastor
opened the services by giving out hymn, and young
man with his coat buttoned tightly around him came
on the stage and threw his arms up tho signal for
the congregation TO begin He kept his arms moving
like windmill gone crazy during the singing while
Tupper, through his gold mounted glasses, watched
him with looks of wonder and admiration. The
poet. when not fascinated by this young
man, directed his gaze 10 the ceiling and showed abb
solutcy nothing but the whites OF his eyes when the
pastor, In his customary heroic measure offered up q
prayer
TurrER conKs FORWARD
Finally DR.. Talmagc announced that Mr.. Martin
Farquhar Tupper would occupy the attention OF the
congregation, not with lecture, but with compost
ton OF divine inspiration. Mr. Tupper, who had been
growing all this time at tho sight Of the
nous gathering in front OF him. came slipping on
his chair lie advanced to the front OF the platform
with evident trcpdation and his when he began
tremblod, and he seemed II ne about TO break
tar @ a honr ne w b
called IT.. on tho Immortality OF the Soul' with the
most seif.compacent ease
A ADDRESS.
Before entering tho recitation he esaid:"Christan
friends, desire to ascribe this onor you have paid
to God desire to repudatc all self sceKin and shall
simply, humbly gratefully and seriously speak to you
as a dying man TO dying men upon our common I'M
mortality. am a natural man and " hat speak ia
from art 10 the art. Words in themselves ara
dead letters; It Is the spirit that makes thcm 1--we.
ana is no new thing. There are, no doubt, many
sceptics In this AUDIENCE but 'oner them not for
their sccptcism but Tor following faithfully such light.
they have. After silont word Of prayer for God
must nelp me, will rcad for you 'Immorality'"
Hero the moisteyed poet re.reated 10 the back Of
chair, covered his eyes with his hand and prayed.
Then he came forward moro, and opening splen.
Tho first verse las folio xs away tho breath and
stilled the audience into profound silcncc:-
Grid thy mind TO contemplation trembling nhabtant
Tenant hovo for day, thou heir OF tho universe
For neither congeang Of the grave quilting
Nor expansive airs Of heaven. dissipave fires OF
Nor Of waste loss, chance.
Shall avail qucnch overwhem the spark soul within
thee.
The delivery OF these lines accompanied by .
degree of gesticulaton but It clear from
the start the poet has something 10 learn In tho line Of
elocution. His English accent not very pronounced.
he says vaust' Tor vast and grawss" Tor grass"
and 80 The English accent we accustomed TO
hear minicked on the stage came out with clear and
most amusing effect when after penetrating long
distance into his great poem he paused and exclaimed,
~ shall read little OF Immortality; that II
you like IT, you know" Tamagc's reading desk was
too high Tor him, and only his head appeared above IT,
his torso being hidden from vicw Alter the recital OF
tho FIRST verse he paused moment and turned up his
eyes liko blind duck, and then tackled his raging
verse with renewed vigor Talmage opened his mouth
and eyes admiration and smiled benignantly away
back OF his cars
Thou mDcrshnble leaf the evergreen bay
A word wsdom's mouth that cannot be unspoken.
These lines given with great emphasis and then
tho poet skipped page and lighted on this brilliant
aud ovcrpowering rhapsody
Who shall imagine Immortality, picture its Illimabo
consider the primeva woods that brse broad
And their leaves millions multiplied by
ions;
Thence look up to mOonles sky from sleeping isle ofthe
And add yon starry host sparkling on the
Thence traverse Arabia. continent Of sddying
Gather each grain let add them the leaves
Aerwnrd gaze upon tho tho thousand of
Take drop BY Drop and add their sum- grains
leaves, and stars:
innumerablc,
albeit, in that multitude OF multitudes, each
All might reckon instant of Time.
Tho congregation understood all .hs The poet
leading them gradually on over PLAIN turnpike road
10 climb some rugged prccipiccs beyond
A STRUGGLING
His voice, by means powerful, and at all times
awkwar1y infected, seemed 10 struggle hard to rise
in volume level with the immensity of the ideas
expressed. This was in his happiest vein:-
The machine may broken corrodc tho springs;
feed motionf
Worms may bascn tho brain; bus gnaw the
Dynamiss dwell apart though matter be made,
fower one be lever screw or wedge; but y needeth
Mind is one be ideals but is shown in these.
The constructed individual for Trial OF his
Again tho poet skipped a page He was humane
enough bciore commencing the recitation TO intimate
that he did intend 10 innct the whole OF his poem
the congregation.
from Texas who sat next the reporter, and inquired,
'.Is this yere Topper much on tho prcachin' Y" was
particularly struck with these lines -
of thanks exhslo from the empty
nonentty
The Giver, with mis- gin reclaimed, is muct Of all praise
Tell me, 20 that strive in vain TO cramp and dwarf the
Wherefore should 1t to be. and when shall
die
II therefore shall just obstacle opposcth
Show for change, leaneth continu-
Looking the vast congregation there was an cx-
preston OF great gravity the aggregate OF aces
il the subject treated Of and tho gigantic method Of
the treatment alike entitled most reversnt
attention. Tuppcr kept steadily on though hardly
hundred Of his hearers able to follow him
his soaring flights OF thought and fancy. Hero he
cavortcd splcndldy-
hapy DEATH in the doubings Of thy thought shall
continuous ending:
dull eternal sumber not n end abrupt.
o most futile chrysas wherefore dost thou sleepy
Drcamless, unsonscous to awakewhst object In
such suinbcr2
III thou still TO live 10 well bo wAkenlly sleep
ing:
How groveng that spirit be. need eternal sleeps
Or indeed the toll OF iifc so heavy and so long,