The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-15
The Res,ora,ion and the Revolution.


Last evening Mrs. Woolson delivered her
weekly lecture at the Mercantile Library rooms
last evening, taking as her theme THE Restor-
| alton and the Revelation" The lecture opened
with description of the trumpbal return OF
Prince Charles and his taking the throne in
| 1860, which he held until 1885, This was in
the Both year of his age, and the people tired Of
bad government werewilling to submit to his rule
Internationally. On January 2, 1888. limited
monarchy was established. The people in a
short time became disappointed in King
Charles and wers thoroughly disguised.
A glance was then taken at the literature of
the throne of Charles III. OF the Puritan poets
two survived, Milton was 81 years of age, and
had retired to his cottage to write his great
works. His Secretary, Andrew Marville, had
now been returned to Parliament and continued
for IS years. These men were not in accord
with the government at. the time and Marville
did not hesitate to speak lightly of the King.
Once when offered bride he took his tempter
to his chamber where there was bowl of cold
mutton broth for his supper, and pointing to
the slender repast said, 81 am satisfied -
Baxter, the author of saints Rust" was then
preaching in the west part OF England, but
was thrown out of his parish as were 1000 other
clergymen, by the order of Charles. John
Bunyan, the author of "Pilgrim's Progress"
was then in Bedford jail William Penn, son
OF Admiral Penn, then in the Kings service,
was but 16 years of age and was entering Cam
bridge. Herrick was now SO years of age and
years of age; Cowey was also living, but re-
ceived but little support from the throne, as in
fact all others did. He went to his home on
the Thames and wrote some of his finest works.
The odd genius, the Duchess of Newcastle,
was poet to be remembered by the quantity
not the quality Of her works. Jeremy Taylor,
the poetical genius and preacher, wrote "Lib-
erty of Prophecy" which was plea for more
religious liberty. He was made Bishop and
was sent to Ireland, but his grand style did not
suit the countrymen. and he returned.
vi the authors known as royalists there were
two now living, Isaac Walton and Sir Thomas
Brown. They were not affected by the stirring
times about them, but sat calmly and mute as
The former wrote ''The Complete Angler
which is so well known aud Brown was knight
ed by Charles IL Extracts were here read
from Browns Vulgar Errors and "Urns."
Among the writers now waiting to make their
mark was Samuel Butler. As years of age. He
wrote satire on thesPuritars, ''Sir Hudibras,"
which made him very popular with the large
majority of the people who took pleasure in
making sport Of this class. Lit was he who
asked for bread and received a stone." Will
liam Temple, with WnOm swift began lie, was
also referred to. Clarendon, who was impeach-
ed by the Parliament, wrote "The Great Rebel
llon' after fleeing to France. 1t was not pub
lisbed until 1904.
The lecturer next spoke of the theatres The
Kiog's House and the Duke of York's House
were the two places of amusement in London
more prohigate man than Charles III never
sat on throne, and the theatres were run to
suit his depraved TASTE Even the most corrupt
plays from Paris were exaggerated To suit the
court. Allusion was made to Pepys who
kept such an interesting diary in which Shaker
speare's plays were called not good. Dryden. the
poet and play writer, came in for a liberal
share of praise. Had he been encouraged by
the crown his future might have been far, diff
ferent. He wrote % plays in about that num-
Der of years, and closed with "Alexander's
Feast He like other writer's was corrupted
by the times and wrote much impure verse.
The life of the king at the court where there
were numbers of abandoned women, reflected
on literature and prevented its advancement
A brief alluson was made to the four comic
jramatists who did their utmost to lower the
already low standard of literature. Science
received some attenton~but works published
at that time show great ignorance in regard
matters of common intelligence.
1t was in 1860 that the Royal Society was in
corporated by The king. Sir Isaac Newton, an
author pure and simple in style, was a profess
the Royal Society, and 10 1903 was the presi-
dent. and Queen Anne knighted him. Locke
was another scientific man who also wrote on
education
The lecturer closed with hasty review of
the reigns of Charles Ii, James III and William
and Mary Queen Anne's reign'' will be the
subject of the next lecture.