The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-04-27

AS ne came mere lof inc purpose Oh
delivering a lecture which had been
duly announced, some of our readers
had probably heard of the gentleman
before. He is rather imposing in
personal appearance, pcirg six feet
and a couple of inches in height, and
of considerably fuller habit than for
merly. His hair, now quite gray,
hangs low and loosely, framing in
face that would be eminently cheer
fal and self-satisfed we're it not for
certain crows feet and sort OF
drawn or tense appearance. Ills
light, though bright gray eye takes
in everything that goes on about him
--espe tally if it goes on in calico or
dimity. On being conducted to the
Hall, Mr. I. quickly suggested to the
committee certain artistic effects,
such as making a bright back ground
against which his blonde outlines
would have good relief, and placing
bright light in such position as to best
assist in relieving them.
The audience began to gather al
an early hour, and in spite of the
threatened rain, which actually be-
can falling about seven O'Clock, some
three hundred and fifty seats were
occupied when Mr.. Til,on was intro.
duccd by S. Y. Landt, Esq, at twenty
minutes after eight. We shall
attempt no connected sketch of the
euphonious flow of words which oc-
cupicd the next two hours. Mr.
Tilton says he is popular speaker
rather than lecturer, and he is
probably correct. He attempts n
great deal of dramatic effect, and
although evidently carefully studied
and pre- arranged, much of 1t is very
successful. Farther than this, he
gives utterance to many striking and
noble sentiments, keen criticisms and
brilliant passages, which, though oc-
casionally mildly applauded, did not
Seem to meet nearly the reception
which in themselves they deserved
fact we heard ascribed to the at
mosPhere Of mingled insincerity and
egotism with which few could fail to
be impressed as his natural surround
ing.
1t was small and unworthy spirit
which led the speaker to such re-
repeated criticisms upon the room in
which he found himself. These were
well enough four or FIVE times used,
but too thin to bear washing and
hanging out every ten minutes for
hours. Mr.. Tilton's apostrophe to
Truth was eloquent, and his exhorta-
ton to abjure uutruth magnificent
the effect of his fine illustration in
this connection about the three citl-
zens Of Upton, who each gave him
different figures regarding the popu-
lation of the place being no doubt
greatly heightened from the fact that
the story was made out Of whole
cloth expressly for the occasion.
One of the orators most orotund
periods was devoted to sweeping
denunciation o>the spirit that would
keep in memory such lessons in the
past history Of any country as may
have been written in blood-referr-
ing specifically to the United States,
her late civil war, and certain recent
well known events in Congress. And
while this sentiment inspired fee
bic effort Of Confederate brogans, it
was plain to be seen that there were
scores present who would have liked
to have flung back the easily demon
strated proposition: that al the most
important lessons in history have
been taught in blood, so the danger
to any country, and to the United
States prominently, lies not in the
probability that they may be remem-
bered to profit, but that they may be
forgotten to renewed disaster.
And then Belknap. OF course
Iowa is mortified about Belknap, but
did it not require considerable cheek
for representative of New y ork city
to point the finger of shame at an
Iowa audience on account of lowas
political corruption? 1t would GER
tan y seem that a man so gentle and
forgiving as Mr.. I. should have
oPeLCu to Vile, DO "Eii uS lUt lllltU
and tenth illusions to the defects of
the hall.
However, the lecture, as a whole,
was, we imagine, considered a good
investment by most of those present
who were there to see Theodore
Tilton quite as much as to hear him.
1t was certainly considered success
by the committee in charge, being
the first one of the season which has
''panned out''--as it did do, with
just sc to spare. For this result
great credit is due to our neighbor-
ing towns of Meohanicsville, Stan
wood and Clarence, which together
sent delegation of fully one hun
DIRE dali Of whom were taken home
by special train before midnight feel
ing well repaid, we hope, for time
| and trouble.