The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-19

A Brilliant Cathering-Miito and Not Moses
ResponsibIe Tor PopnInr Errors.

The steps leading to Chickcrinr Hall
were. at eight O'Clock last evening, still crowded
with the throng seeking for admission to the
FIRST Of Prof IIuxleys three lectures on The
Direct Evidence of Evolution and although
the professor did not begin speaking till ten
minutes past eight, IL was some minutes
later before the audience was entirely seated.
more brilliant Assem- blage has rerely compH-
mented by its presence any public lecturer All
that New York possesses Of cultivated men aud
women In both fashionable and Questionable
chcles seemed to have got together to do Prof
Huxley homage. Although few clergymen were
present. their wives and daughters were out In
force and there was no lack Of orthodox church
members. Physicians and college professors also
abounded, and sprinkled throughout the seats
were numbers OF men and women OF the literary
profession.
Prof. Huxley is about nifty years OF age Heis
OF medium height. broadly and solidly built
and carries himself with quiet, genteman-like
ease and dignity His hair is black, his whiskers
slightly gray, his forehead square and mas
sive. his eyes deep set, his nose wellshaped,
his mouth and chin rather heavy, betuken,
Ing great determination and uertinacity. His
voice IL pleasant. but not strong. and " diff
ncult to catch his opening sentences owing to
the rustling made by belated inco.ners. lie
speaks slowly aud distinctly, and with an en-
tire absence OF that accent which we on this
peculiarly OF his pronunciation was saying
"ither" for "either"; and even this many
Americans share with him.
The lecture must have been disappointment
10 those whose expectations. had been formed
from reading the advertisement II was not
upon evolution at all. but merely a statement
Of other and rival theories, and their inconsist-
ency with established scientinc facts. ana the
public VIII have to wait till Wednesday even
the new doctrine. The first theory set
up and Demolished was that of the
eternal existence OF the present order
OF nature. which was shown to be impossible,
In view Of the testimony of fossil remains Of
quite different character from the plants aud
amin us now on the earth. The second was that
which Prof Huxley deDominstes the Mtonic.
observing that he would not call It Mosaic. he
cause inc pest hebrew scholars DENY tn Moses
the authorship OF the early chapters of Genesis
aud he would not call It Biblical, because
the same holars were not agreed a. to
what Genesis really does teach on the sub
Jet. Beng ely professor OF science. and
not athe plOgian nor a Hebraist, he preferred TO
hold Milton responsible because Milton, In the
seventh book OF Paradise Lost" has set fosth
the theory IN unan1ig iuus Eu.llsh, and from
that poem most English speaking people are
taught in childhood the view Of creation.
wuich il commonly regarded Us the doctrine of
the Bible. There was quiet sarcasm In his
remarks ON this point which evoked considerable
applause.
lie then proceeded to repeat the arguments
against Miltous ideas, which are familiar to all
who have ever read OF heard anything Of the
subject and ending by announcing that In his
next two lectures lie would submit al the facts
bearing on the hypothesis ofevolution. classify
Ing them as. l. neutral showing strong prObd-
bllltN and, D. completely dem onstrative.
The lecture, which lasted an nOur and quar-
ter, was listened to with the closest attention.
out, except the one Instance already mentioned,
without applause. The fact Is that Prof. Hux-
lev Il no orator.nor does he even lend any OF the
gInces OF rhetoric to his subject matter. lie
talks simply AZ a LAWYER might talk to a bench Of
judges on an obstruse point OF law, and while
he Is clear and intelieioe he does not fascinate.