The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-14
MIR. CHARLES DAVIES LECTURE
A Rare Treat-Wii, HumOr and Flo
nueuee-A son of W nom the Elmer
aid Isle May Well be Proud.
MoEGANTowN, Dec. II.

a Rare Treat-Wif, HumOr and Eio-
aueuee-A son Of whom the Elmer
aid Isle May Well be Proud.
MoEGANTowN, Dec. II.
CoIresnondence Of the Register.
The University ard the literary por-
ton of MorgautOwns citizens are GER
t.in,y highly favored. Well may we
say that "tGe lines have fallen to US IN
pla,sant places All things combined
this evening TO induce the largest posi-
bic attendance ii the University, and
consequently the Chapel hall Was crowd
ei with an attentive and appreciatiVe au'
dience 20 greet the lecturer, Mr.. Cnaries
Davies, the pearIy-tOned scion OF EIln,
with ms inimilsble lecture.
At precisely hslt-psst seven the lee
tlrer was gracefully introduced by
President Thompson in few wel-tlmed
remarks upon the fact that this age has
been repro.ched with being too practl.
cal; sacrificing TIE intellectual, the
spiritual, beauty and the right TO the
physical, the carnsl, to use and expedI-
ercy, and that he was happy to introduce
y SON O, Erin who believed with all the
fervur OF hIs race that the study OF these
things should not be neglected, and that
the true ref Of an age is It's poetry ana
no. its history.
Mr.. Davis L. man OF striking appear
a0ce. about 80 years OF age, OF fire
physique, WITH Il fuli, open, honest brow
a bright, clear eye, and fOrid complex
ion and was iaultiessly sttired.
With brief mention OF the nervous.
ness ana confusion which he felt upon
thus appearing Tor the hrst time IN the
capacity OF puojic lecturer, and COM
rlmouting the literary. refined and
courteous appearance Of the students
and audience, remarkiag that literature,
culture, kindness and courtesy are the
most gracious Jewels of hfe-dlamonds
dropped to the cup of life, and you
have but TO drink to feel glad, he
launched forth upon beautiful and ele-
cant discourse of which no synopsis can
give an adequate idea. Let my subject
ne called English Literature and no
doubt there are many here who need not
10 be told that the best history OF peo-
pie Is not 10 be found in the histories So
called, but in the literature, especially the
p.s,ry. Literature would indeed be u
msagrc thing without poetry. in the
short time all tiled 10 u lecture, 1t would
ha impossible even To name ali those
who have impressed themselves o.
their age by their poetry. An
eminent man delivered ten lectures
ca the subject l propose 10 discuss, and
WAS obliged 10 deliver the eleventh in
order 10 compass MS end. Just here let
me PROFOUND problem to you. Why Is
i! ,nat you Can listen to lawyer defend
ing some scoundrel who has probably
murdered his nearest friend, Tor hours,
AID yet you begrudge to the lecturer
N0Ir attention tor one short hour? L
leave this li.t.e problem with you. Not
wIthslaudug the development lltera-
ture has experienced IN the many centu
RES that have passed, II Is yet lncom-
piete.
In the great cycles of time century is
but span, and the attslnments possible
Iolt are but imperfect. OF all literature,
history = tie most lmper ect the most
erroneous. God grant that true history
may yet be written!
Although Germany may deny 1t, an
cIent Greece, modern France
and England are the only IA
Tons that have q literature
sufficiently connected TO be given in u
C oar history. a halt dozen swallows do
not make summer, nor do y half dozen
writers make q literature.
HISTORY AND POETRY.
Sly proposition laid down tonight Is,
tn4t literature, cspccslly poetry, but
literature Is the true reflex OF An age, and
not history proper. Rollins gives US sc
counts oil battles, Hume OF opinions and
disputes, and Giobon u, court lie snd
political intrigueS; but YOU want to know
the lie OF the people their feelings,
thoughts and emotions. Historians tor
The most part have al IKE ct tnelr own
40 grlnd. They have certain prejudices
u assert. certain political Interests 10
foster, and thus biased they SIT down and
write u history. Literature has, In ali
ages, been more abused IN the depart
ment OF history than IN any other. There
il better history in Pauis EPlstles, IN
Lutuprs Table Oaks and IL Srhiiler's
poems. In one hundred yesrs from
now New York FrijUHs and y
vo,amo OF Wmtlier's poems will
give better reflection OF tins period
than the best history that can be ritten.
Just here the lecturer, as Illustrative Of
his position in the capacity ot lecturer,
related, in most iaughabie manner, the
well-known anecdole OF MacCresdy,
Flanagan aud the nail, st New York
Park Theatre.
Bat, jscla ala est Will do the best
| can"
THE SAX.US.
The life Of nation, is the life OF q
man, 1t changes with changing time.
A mans opinions and habits change
greatly. from youth 10 old age, and so DO
the books when attract him. the same
Is true of nation. Let us transfer our
selves back W old Saxon England, and
race in their literature the life OF the
English.
In these early Saxon times there were
wars, but there was pluck, ard fearless
clans. They loved women then, not as
the French do now, but as their wives.
0, brave, plucky, tender hearted race!
But 1t is not from history LGst we learn
Of tbsir pIuck and tender hearted