Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-05-22
The Talmsge Entertainment.
Jul
II own rark Correspondent.

From our own ~,ark Correspondent.
The ed,fice Cot say schur ch")
is built just like a theatre, and hav
ing one semi.circular gallery. But
there is no drop curtain, no "boxes,"
and you do t.st buy tickets, though
you are made to pay before the SER
mon begins. The stage or platform is
q long, narrow extension, projecting
from the organ which is stretched
out the entire length of that side oil
the building. and above, the pipes
are painted in loud alterations OF
red, blue and gilt. These last efforts
were evidently thought beautiful, for
the chandeliers suspended about at
intervals, are the bluest and reddest
things | ever saw; the gilt being OF
course supplied by the blazing gas
lights. The carpet is red, and red
cushions on the seats. The organist
sits below the platform, and plays
lively airs while the audience assem-.
bles. After time a door opens on
the right hand, apparently below the
organ A shutting figure of medium
height and build, energies with fur.
tive air, ascends flight of steps aud
seats himself in the solitary chair
standing beside small table which
is used as a support to Bible. This
is Talmage. His unkempt brown
hair refuses to grow on top of his
head, but comes out in long shaggy
tufts at the sides which quite conceal
the ears and form combination
with pair of dried brown whiskers
The latter ara q frame work to face
in which may be noted an enormous
mouth. A nose in keeping, extremely
small eye, set very far back under
overhanging eyebrows, a receding
forehead and pallid complexion
There is a kind CT Uriah Heep air
about him and l think the world has
lost much from the fact that Dickens
never saw him. If he had, Chadband
would have been nowhere, and the
pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle
would have been immortalized. Urlah
was remarkable for peculiar use OF
bis hands. So is Talmage, for he in
cessantly claws at everything about
him; usually clutching the air, for he
has no reading desk or pulpit to
pound. For the latter purpose how
ever, his left hand is constantly made
to do duty, spread wide open and the
recipient of innumerable blows from
the right These performances are
added to also by numerous grima-
ces; the precise object and market
value OF which, [ was unable to de-
termine. His voice is hard and croak-
ing; his pronunciation very bad, nor
has he the slightest claim to elo
quence His amen is the most re
markable sound | ever listened to,
and may be classed as a cross be.
tween groan and below. But
words (such as they are) trundle out
rapidly enough, and this fact proba-
bly,, together with the gesticulations
and grimaces above mentioned; the
whole being seasoned with a strong
flavor OF vulgar irreverence and Dip
pancy, may cause some persons to
regard him as an orator. / should
set down the majority'of his listeners
as Bowery clerks, and sewing girls.
A more ignorant assemblage of faces
| never beheld, and if there were any
cultured, well dressed people there, l
did not see them.
Taking the Bible from the stand,
he begins to read but evidently sup
posing that the simple variations of
the gospel would be improved upon
by variations of his own, he reads
and then makes some independent
observations; going on afterwards to
another verse and SO on. AS an ex-
ample of his peculiar style, l will
quote his opening sentence, in some-
thing which was probably intended
as prayer-"Oh Lord, we thank
Thee that thou hast not turned us
out on the commons to die" / must
ackn 0 wledge l was unmoved, nor
have | after much reflection been
able to discover the point. The mu
sic has as little music in it as any to
which have ever been condemned
to listeu.I suppose it would be classed
as congregational" though the
sound of the voices was almost
drowned by the piercing tones of the
cornet which combined dlsagreeably
Tor rather don't combine) with the
organ. The muse stand is placed
on the platform at the left of the or
ganist, and Arbuckle the cornetist
from some unknown depths,
places his music thereupon, giving a
signal with his right hand for the
congregation to arise and follow him.
He certainly lowers himself by hav
ing anything to do with such per
but then he is married
man, and one has to look out for dol.
lars and cents.
A badly shaped urn of flowers
about four feet high stood on the
right hand of the stage; this doubt
less in imitation of the Plymouth ar
At Plymouth church
however the floral decorations are
very tastetully disposed. Fortunately
Talmage did not tumble the urn over.
Sometime in consequence of his exu-
berance Of spirits, | expect to hear
that he has wrought devastation to
everything within reach.
Altogether the whole thing i'm.
pressed me as a coarse and unat-
tractive parody on Beecher. A des-
perate attempt at imitation.
Lucy CARTER.