The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-24
HARD TIM Es.
Lecture by Rev. Henry Ward Beeeler.

Lecture by Rev. Henry Ward Beeeller.
A CROWD OF FIVE OR SIX HUNDRED PEO-
PIE AT THE TFEATRE@sKETCH OF THE
APPEARANCE OF THE CELEBRATED d.
yINE-A COLD AUDIENCE WON OVER By
ELooUENCE-THE SPEAKERS EFFORTS
RAPTUROUSLY APPLAUDED-A TRIBUTE
TO v1RGINIA-MR. BEECHER's PECULIAR.
IT1Es, ETC.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, pastor OF
Plymouth church, made his appearance in
Richmond for the frsttime yesterday morn
ing, having arrived from Baltimore at s
o'clock. He went at once to the Exchange
Hotel and kept his room nearly all day.
The weather without being cloudy, damp,
and cherries, with the fatigues OF railroad
travel, afforded sufficient excuse for his not
visiting historical points or receiving many
of the people who called upon him. Last
night he lectured at the Theatre. The
crowd gathered slowly at first, and at one
time it seemed probable that he would not
have hundred to hear him. At half-past7
there were more persons standing on the
sidewalk in front Of the Theatre and ia the
lobby than there were in the building.
It was amusing to watch these walters
outside. They really wished to go in, but
they wanted company. They did not feel
strong and self-reliant enough to ego it
alone" But one encouraged another, aud the
audience gradually increased from fifty to a
hundred, from hundred to two hundred,
and so on more rapidly till finally it num-
bered five or six hundred. The deputy
commissioner OF the revenue, who attends
all the places of amusements to collect the
tax, and who no doubt has larger experience
in estimating crowds than any one in the
city, says there were during the lecture at
least six hundred present. OF these were
only seven or eight ladies.
On account OF Mr.. Beecher's very harsh
expressions about the South in years gone
by, and because Of the unenViable notoriety
he attained in connection with the Tilton-
Beecher scandal, there was on the part OF
many yhighly-respectable people much reluc-
tance to giving him the least bit OF coun-
tenance. Many who had admiration for
his talents, and no little curiosity to hear
him and compare him with the pictures
hundreds of writers have given, from stern
sense OF duty and proprlety kept away.
Others, inspired by q firm determination to
see this famous man and to hear bis elo-
quent utterances, and not caring to burden
themselves with the thought OF what he is
or what he had done, but rather desiring to
be amused, and, if possible, instructed,
went as matter OF course, as they would
to any good show.
His audience contained men OF all callings,
except clergymen. Plenty OF members OF
the Legislature, lawyers, doctors, city
officials, and businessmen graced the occa-
h,,k In 1olt tho ,roapInrc
conspicuous by their absence.
THE LECTURER.
About 8 O'Clock .'supe" dashed upon
the stage from side door, and with nervous
consequence, amid the usual idiotic boots,
arranged in the centre Of the stage, and five
or six feet distant from the curtain, which
was down, four chairs in row. Soon
afterwards Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, pre-
ceded by his agent, Mr.. Pond, big and
rather good-looking man, marched in and
took possession of two. The others re-
mained vacant.
MIR. Beecher is a man of about five feet
seven inches high, and is thick-set and
tleshy, and probably weighs 175 pounds
He was dressed in a suit OF black. His coat
had sort of clerical cut, but was not but
toned, and substantial gold watch-chair
attached to button hole showed itself very
plainly against his vest. He looks like
man who is well fed, and who is at peace
with all the world and has no poor kin tx
bother around-in TACT, satisfed-content
His face was cleaR-shaven, and is OF forlt
appearance. His mouth is large and hi!
| lips thick and loose, and his nose big. Hi!
| eyes are dark blue $50 they seemed in tht
gus-lighth his forehead broad and high, ant
| his hair gTay-almost iron-gEay-with ar
understanding OF white. 1t is worn long
thrown back over the ears, and, so disposed
almost covers bald place oR the crown.
| Mr. Beecher's agent state9 that it was. th'
intention OF the former to deliver here hi
lectlase on "Tke Ministrysef Wealth." bu
that having lectured ia Baltimore OF
Hard Timeso with much success, the.
had concluded to repeat the same here, ant
he accordingly introduced Mr.. Beecher. Ia
other cities MIR. Beecnsr is usually intro
dnced by some disting ulshed divine.
HARD T1MEs.
! Neyerdid q speaker commence an addres
to an audience less in sympathy with him
1t was cold as charity, ready to hear ans
e1iticise, and render.a cold, calm yerdic
upon the literary effort-nothing more. 81
commenced by describing the panic o
1873; how suddenly it came, like the break
ing of great watef-Wheel and the sudden
surprising. stoppage Of all the looms, an
spindles, and shtEtles OF factory; O
Nnot hike winter coming through the eas,
| gradation Of autumn. but as il frost hat
fallen in August, .hlighting every green am
growing thing" Then he went on t.
show that panics would come periodically
once in ten or fifteen years-and that the
were the result of the expansion OF credit
Credit, he however maintained, was neees
sary in growing country Like this ID
explained how the credit system grew AMI
yidmed, and how one mans business be
came interWoVen with another's, and Uni
yersal web was formed, till at last some
thing occurred and caused the multitud
to lose confidence, ana the creditor, puttini
his hand upon the throat OF the debtor
would say, q Fay me what thou owest,
and the debtor would be unable to do
because unable to collect what was due him
and then wollld come the great crash, tn
breaking of fortunes and ruin of house
holds. .r
The condition of the country just preyl
GUS to the panic Mr. Beecher compared to
man drinking lager beer and growins
stouter and stouter every day, and saying
TO Lis wIfe, "See how healthy l am-hoy
fat Pm getting, and all the time it would b.
not fat but bloat.''
HUMOROUS TOUCHES.
In drawing picture of the years OF bus,
industry that preceded the panic he had oc
casion to speak OF the confagration o
1867 and to state what an enormous de
mand the war gave to labor, at least in th'
North. AS for the southern States, fol
reasons of convenience" said he, "I wal
not among you" This was enid with I
shrus that implied that he did not care tl