The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-07-25
HENRY WARD BEECHER.

An audience numbering about $50,
assembled at the Lyceum Rooms in the
city OF Appleton on Saturday evening, to
hear Rev. Henry Ward Beecher on the
WASTES and Burdens of Society" Beech
er's fame as lecturer stands foremost IN
the United States. His advent to place
where he is known only by reputation,
opens the Gear Of expectation" and
sharpens criticism by stimulating atten-
ton and arousing curiosity. If great men
have the prestige of their reputation to
aid them, they have also the disadvantage
of being expected to satisfy opinion so
exalted as to be ideal. Beecher's personal
magnetism and the display of his fine
mental powers are not sufficient to dispel
a feeling of disappointment at finding
him, III ones estimation, vulnerable to
criticism. Perfection is an attribute with
which the personally unknown great are
invested, and when they are found to be
human they suffer a corresponding de-
probation The writer acknowledges a
feeling Of disappointment in Beecher's
having failed to reach the ''high top gal
liant" of his conception.
Beecher requires an audience of more
than average intelligence to produce an
impression commensurate with his fame.
Though his subject was not of an abstruse
character nor his thoughts so profound
us to be recondite, his reasoning was too
philosophic and his concentrations too
comprehensive to meet the requirements
OF mind not accustomed to systematic
habits of thought. Those whose princi-
pal source of delight in lecture is the
display of elocutionary power, will find
bat little in Beecher that will prove en-
tertaining. Thought is expressed with
all that beauty Of diction which charac-
terizes a cOnsummate master of the En-
glish language, but without any APP
parent attention to nicely of gesture
or theatrical effect. There is nothing
mechanical about him and he employs
no art to improve upon nature. He
becomes animated III manner, not SO
much because he is conscious that
the thoughts to which he is giving
utterauce require vigorous delivery,
as that he is in perfect sympathy
with that which he enunciates. There
are many speakers who are capable of
producing more pleasurable emotions,
whose elOquence awahens greater fervor
and enthusiasm, but none whose words
take deeper root or work more on the
convictions. Beecher is evidently a
stranger to that extreme caution which
defers somewhat to the prejudices of
his hearers. He does not seem to sup
press opinions through the fear that they
may be unpopular. His powers of MIN
icry and sarcasm are of the first order
and his wit though OF q pungent charac
ter, frequently broadens into humor.
Beechcr has but little stateliness of
person and no grace of movement while
on the rostrum. lie has many pecuiiari-
ties which in man of less note would
be called uncouthness. His thoughts
are more solid than brilliant more happi
" conceived than beautifully delivered.
His voice has considerable volume, is
deep, flexible and musical. His style is
more conversational than oratorical and
is earnest without being eXtravagant.
FoREPAUGH's circus and menagerie
gave general satisfaction to the immense
crowds that were present i'll the afternoon
and evening. Tie performances Of the
acrobats and athletes were excellent, dis
playing a wonderful amount os agility,
nerve and muscle. The horsemanship
was as good as is usually exhibited at
circUses, while the performance of the
trained elephants excelled anything of
the kind ever before presented to
Manitowoc audience. The elephants are
large, admirably trained and are made to
perform some very difficult feats. Those
ponderous animals excited more wonder
than any other actors that appeared in
the sawdust arena.
The menagerie was the best that ever
visited ManItowOc, the animals being
numerous, much larger than are usu-
ally found in travelling circuses and in
good condition. The lions and tigers
seem to have considerable OF the fierce
ness which they display in their native
jungles and when reused exhibit all the
ferocity of their nature. 4 number of
the animals were of rare kind. The
hippopotamus, rlinocGros and sea lion
were exhibited as advertised.
The ticket agents, vendors of packages
and ropers-iE were unprinciplel and as
dishonest as their practices can make
them. Many who attended the circus
complain of being cheated, by the ticket
agent, in such way as to differ but little
from the highwayman' ':stand and de-
liver. The usual accompaniment of
/ gamblers, scoundrels and shoulder hit
ters was not wanting and as usual, helped
| to make the circus disrepqtahle.
THE procession of Forepaugh's circus
through the streets on Tuesday was real
/ ly a grand sight ana served as an excel
! lent advertisement. Beasts of prey, ele-
plants, camels and liliputian horses
| paraded the streets to the delight of the
many spectators. The large uncaged
lion perched on the top OF display
wagon was new and startling feature,
a feature always advertised but never be-
fore presented. While .'paniel" in the
lions den seemed to the spectators to be
| in he f,lI o,,r,,-,,.