The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-08
OLIVER GOLDSMITH.
LECTURE LAST EVENING BEFORE THE YOUNG
MEMS HEBREW ASSOCIATION By HON.

LECTURE LAST EVENING BEFORE THE YOUNG
MEMS HEBREW ASSOCIATION By HON.
RICHARD o'GoRMAN.
The Hon. Richard O'Gorman delivered lecture last
evening before the Young Mems Hebrew Association,
on the subject OF .sThe Life and Friends Of Oliver
Goldsmith" After happy ausion 10 Hans Anders-
sens story of the ugly duck, which driven OF
the companionshp OF its fellows on account Of it's ug
ness but which eventually proved TO BIO swan, the
lecturer proceeded to say that there are ugly ducks
among mankind-awkward, uneainly unfinished char
acters misunderstood by their kindred, and,Hgoing
out into the world to seek their fortunes somatimes
succeed In winning respect denied them at home.
EARLY LrE or THE GENIUS
century and quarter ago a specimen Of this class
infested the little village Of Baymahon In the county
OF Longford and Kingdom OF Ireland IN the person OF
a lad fresh from the Dublin University His father.
who had been q minister OF the Church OF England
had shortly before died, leaving his widow and family
In straitened circumstances Harry, the oldest son.
kept school, and the second SON, called BY tho neigh
bors "Young Nol." who had just got his de-
grco in Trinity College, helped his brother He was
a short, coarse.built, awkward young fellow, with
face ugly pale and deeply pittcd with the smallpox.
COLLEGE FREAKS
HIS career in Trinity College gave promise OF fu
ture excellence. but he had acquired reputation there
OF having leader in all sorts OF college freaks ard
Irregularities. There report that. instead OF at
tending to Greek and Latin, he used to spend his
time In the composition of street ballads which he
soli to publisher at the rate OF five shings ballad,
and took great delight In hearing them sung In the
strocts The fact IS, the young man was very proud
and very poor-and very generous.
An unclc Of his, by the name Of Contarine took
fancy to him and beirended him, and got him tutor.
ship IN a genteman's family.
WHY NOT EMGRArE TO AMERICA
the ho uda mn
mind emgrate TO America and starred for the city
OF Cork take passage But the society in the city Of
ana tho port wine excellent aud abundant Tho result
was that young Oliver. instead of getting on board
out q penny in his pocket His kind uncle Contar
again helped him, gave HIM ESQ., and advised HIM 10 80
10 London. Oliver had to 90 through Dublin In Dub.
lin oliver met some OF his old chums and one way and
another the ESQ melted among Them. He made his
way back to his uncle With considerable addition to
his heavy load OF disgrace. 2
Tho case was growing desperate, but the whole fam
iIy made up their minds to get rid Of him somehow,
and as a last resort, they determined to make HIM
physician aud sent him to Edinburgh In the hope
probably that II he got lar or no could never
not back again. So he there aud returned
to ireland more He spent eighteen months In Edn.
wnle there 70 Accumulate debts SO last that the ey
struck him of attending the lectures Of an eminent
physician IN Lcyden, Holland How no got his living
in Ieyaen no one ever knew.
ORIGINAL TRAMP.
But at last he became wholly bankrupt and started
rope. He had some knowledge OF the iute, aud wan
dered through Switzerland, Italy and France, getting
his living well he could by his performances
that dismal instrument AT last he made his way
how TO London, and lived there Tor some time IN utter
Indulgence. He attempted TO practise medicine Ia the
poo's' = MS FIRST LITERARY EMPLOYMENT.
For awhile Goldsmith xas usher In boys school
at PecKham, but he was too gentle to the boys and
was turned away Soon alterward he got literary EN-.
ployment from man OF the name OF Griffith who had
lust started review in London and from that out
Goldsmith steadily followed the career OF writer.
He once applied Tor tho position OF hospital mate on
board q man of.war, but could not pass his examine
ton and failed This disaster seems TO have told upon
him very much, when by good luck he made the ac-
ouaiptance OF tho man who then stood the head OF
the literary people IN Lonuon, Sam Johnson.
There never was, said the lecturer, man worse
tempered, worse hammered, more obstinate IN his
prejudices moro Thoroughly unit Tor the society OF
civilized beings, than Sam johnson. 1t was Thomas
Percy compiler Of tho celebrated roles Of ancient
English poetry, who brought Goldsmith and johnson
together. He gave them little supper ~ TAVERN
and friendship was then formed between them which
lasted their lives For awhile Goldsmith wrote essays
biographies anything that camc TO hand very much
cheersd by the support and advice Of Johnson.
GoLDsMiTH's GRAND SUCCESS.
Tho lecturer then referred to the various works Of
Goldsmith, commencing with the first book 70 which
he affixed mis- name as author, Fhe traveller, which
asonlshed all his friends 10 the club and took the
town by storm. Even Sir Joshua Reynolds sister,
Who when called upon once IN company 10 name III
person respond the toast OF ''rhe ugliest man
aiven without hesitation said 'Ollver Gold
smith," when she read 'rhe Traveller she protested
that she .woud think the little Doctor ugly any
more" And yet IN the midst OF his various works.
history grammar &c, Goldsmith did his work upon q
| remarkably small stock Of actual knowledge.
| ssnE srOoPs TO CONQUER"
II appears that in oil his journeys In Ireland IN his
/ young days he had found himself In the town OF Ar
| dagh with guinea in his pocket Full OF seIf-lmpor.
tance he asked the rst person he met 10 direct MN
to the best house OF entertainment. This person hap.
pened 10 be noted wag, and, seeing the lads sim.
plicity, recommended him to put up a. line mansion
| TO which he pointed, telling him that there he would
be sure nnd every thing the best The house was
| no inn but the mansion Of tho weathest and most
hosptablc gentleman In the place. Goldsmith knocked
al the door. himself home ordered the servants
about and the OF the mansion seeing the Joke,
humoreu It to tho utmost. IL only next morning
when Goldsmith offered 10 pay his bill that he had
mistaken gentlemans house for an inn. On this in
cidcnt is founded the play Of 'Shc Stops to Con-
quer."
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
The lecturer touchngly described the last sickness
Of Goldsmith and his DEATH and tho universal ainen
tation OF his friends at his loss his tomb Is West
minister Abbey. between the monuments Of tho poet
Grey and tho Duke OF Argyle. johnson wrote POM
pous cpaph in Latin, but at the CLUB, with tears IN
bis eyes, said, "Let not poor DIVERS fratcs be
\ remembered against him. He was great man. Let
say OF him. much has been forgiven hun because no
! loved much.