Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-11-21

morrow night. lhe programme Tor the Oc-
| casiOn embraces an Operetta ball and banquet.
Our German citizens who have done so much
TO advance the cause of good music will pro-
duce the operttea, entitled the Village BO'bsJ',
which abOunds in good choruses. solos, DUETS
| and t1ioS. Prof Schulze, who, assisted by
Prof Winckler, will direct the performance,
has charge of the ladies and gentlemen who
take part in the Operetta.
The Theater.
Last night Miss Genevieve Rogers, as
MAUD Muller" made her debut to Memphis
audience at the Theater. In the title role Of
this play, the plot of which we have already
given, Miss Rogers appears to great advan-
tage, not only as simple country girl but also
as the neglected and eXiled wife. The char
acter itself is one of intense feeling and ten
der sentiment, in the portrayal of which Miss
Rogers is both graceful and artistic. Although
an entire stranger to Memphis theater-gOes,
her merits were at once recognized, and the
appreciation of the audience manifested by
frequent eHcOreS, Miss Rogers being thrice
called before the curtain. She is well sup
ported by Aiken's stock company. We know
the Theater will be full every night this
week.
Professor Peres's Lecture.
The Philosophy of Language was the
subject Of Bethel lecture, by Professor J. J.
Peres, last night, whose interesting effort
was enjoyed by an attentive and appreciative
audience. Professor Peres, if we judge by
his lecture last night, has given much study
to language" and pursued comparative
philOlOgy beyond the usual limit. He regards
''the study Of language necessity of this age
of free speech" This study would create
inquiries as to the origin of language
where, when and by whom founded?
Is it artificial or supernatural? Is human
speech coequal with its grammaGc COM
position and constructions These are
some of the questions suggested. He does
not believe that human speech is theresult of
outbursts and exclamations, which have been
arranged IN order and classified, or that when
the Hebrew writing says Adam spoke, that
he had dictionary and perfected language.
Though such theories have able champions,
such does not stand the test of criticism. As
to the origin of language, man always had
the power to utilize speech and ornament his
language, thereby making a difference be-
tween man and the brute. Every race being
clothed with mental qualifications manifests
these, and makes as many different
languages. The phenomenon of the same
primitive words or roots in different Ian
guages show that the primitive races must
have lived In close proximity; there must
LIE
politics or war Thus the lecturer illustrated
bya comparison of the words "eden, - from the
Arian family of languages, and 'h-n-d," of
Scientific origin, no vOwels being used in the
latter language. Man in the beginning has the
faculty of speech, and this is superiority
above the brute creation. While the brute
may think, reason and initiate sounds, it pos
sesses no language, for this is a Rubicon it
cannot pass. No race of humans, however
low in the order, was ever found without
language. The art of writing participates
in the same mode of proceeding as reason
ing, both leading to prehistoric ages.
Primitive language contained a few words of
the simplest form, called roots. There are
only FIVE hundred or a thousand primitive
roots in language of thirty and forty thou
sand words, and who knows how many DIFF
ferent expressions these may produce? The
life of a nation reveals itself in its language;
its moral and intellectual development are
pictured as well as its history, politics and
religion, As archaeology and other means
had failed to determine the origin and Ian
guage of the American aborgines, the sci
ence of language when applied, would secure
better and more satisfactory results, for the
Investigator must be acquainted not only with
the Arian and Turanian, but also with the
Scientific and other kindred languages.
Professor Peres here gave illustrations of
this, and presented many interesting facts
relative to comparative philOlOgy. We regret
that our space does not allow an outline Of
this lecture, and permit few critical re