The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-18
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
HYGIENE

HYGIENE
DR.. Geo. f. French delivered very valuable
and interesting lecture, on Hygiene, 10 the Y.
M. c. A. course, before a large audience last
evening.
The doctor commenced by saying that the
public mind is at present agit .ted on the SUBJ
iect of epldemics and shat it naturally turns
towards better means of protection shan at
present possessed. Tie country is celebrating
on the adVisablity of establishing and
State associations are trying to es.
tsblish boards of health at home "a
we'll as abroad. The Woodwork system was
explained which, in health matters, is the
Counterpart CT the signal ssrvice or weather Of.
fee. The province Of the ply stefan is to preach
the gospel of health and to inculcate the pre-
cepts of clean life 10 souadness OF body and
mind. Medicine, with its modern develop
menss, is a source of prevention, and with Its
care and aid the actual presence of disease Is
averted or robbed of much of its power to in
jure. The sanitary science, according to
Charles Kingsley, is a second crusade-its aim
the perfection of type. freedom from disease,
and death from old age. The doctor portrayed
the actual condition of the racs. According to
the census Of 1870, 60 per cent. of the mortality
was under % Years of age, aud only three in a
thousand attained to their preordained longevi-
ty Oae half of the children under five years
of age die Out of the table of mortality in
England in 1875 125, 600 deaths we're due to pre-
ventable csu.es.
Ual.ke Achilles man is vulnerable at every
point. The doleful picture presented from
mouast!c view of life, that mans diseases are
ind ,es of the divine disapprobation, and that
af1 ctions are sent for spiritual improvement,
was disDelled. On the contrary it was shown
that destructive diseases are of mau's creation
and subject to bis will. We must exonerate
God aud nature from the consequences OF
mans folly. The speaker then discussed the
question of longevity of men, its causes and
hindrances. How far can human AGENCIES ex-
ercise heir influence in this matter? Phil0s0-
pliers, for years. sought the elixir of life. 9th
ers stadisd the baoits aud diet of those who at
tanned old age. Tue doctor said man can ex-
ercse an arbitrary control over the diseases
which affect the race or over his owo hsbIrs
Even Inherited defects are eradicab'e through
the recuperstive power of nature The speak,
er then presenter the Sanitary decalOgue: che
lungs require pure air fourteen times minute.
Suitable clothing is necessary for the seasons;
sunlight; freedom of all natural movements of
the Dody moderation in eating aud drinking;
tlEocuUu tTOm SILluihutS auu udICOtlCe, CIoauus
ness; oDgfnial temperature. The doctor
go ks of the narrow view which legislators nsu.
ally take of these matters; to let mon die by q
preventable disease is man-slaugner Toe
State of Maine sDsods annually 100000 to
make provisions for her blighted specimens
of humanity and gives not dollar to stay the
tide that keeps their Institutions full. The
doctor closed with a showing of the connection
between health, disease, and crime.
MRS. SCOTT sIDDoNs.
1t is several years since Mrs. Soott-SijdoLs
appeared before Portland audience and be-
sides her former ad nirers, there were Of course
many of the rising generation who had
desire to see the actress whose face is familiar
to all, thanks to the art of the photographer;
consequently the large City Hall was almost
thrre-quarters full last night. Toe lady was
somewhat disappointed because no footlights
had been provided, bu', nevertheless, their
absence was rot very material, although thty
would, of course, have added to the general
eff ct of her i'm person atoms.
However much Mrs. Siddons' beauty may
have faded in the opinion of some of the
critics, or as seeo 10 tho broad glare of day,
we are not able to judge. Oar view of her
features was obtained while delivering her
Rotations on City FL all stage, and We cannot
see that she has lost 1.-THE of it. We never
saw Mrs. Siddons when she appeared to as
good advantage as last night. We have rot
space or time to 60 into defects of elocution on
this occasion. Many of these are due to her
physique, others to carelessness. still others to
a misconception, evidently, OF the author.
But Mrs SIddons also has abilities that it
would bs folly to deny her; an occasional
tragic pose, or tuln of the head, that reminds
the spectators of like movement her great
ancestor would have made In q like situation.
Her recitation of "Tne Maniac" was excellent.
Not only WAS the declamatioa good but the
acting was tragic and thrilling. Tae picture
of beautiful despair represented in the face
thrown back, as with outstretched arms she
swung to and fro with the bell in
"Curfew must not toll t0-uight," was very
striking. 10 fact one Alf of the enjoy msnt of
Mrs. Sddons' readings CONSISTS 10 studying her
face and poses.
Rev. A. P. Tinker delivered very interest,"
ing lecture on "Ths S,a" at Plymouth vestry
last evening. Mr.. Tinker is very eloquent
speaker and graceful writer, aud the subject
was one to which he was especially able to do
justice.
LECTURE AT PINE STREET CHURCH
Rev. J. w. Johnston of Boston Highlands
lectures at Pine street church tomorrow even
ing, under the auspices of the Ladies' Circle.
His subject is not get announced, and it makes
but little difference whether it is an old one,-
A Trip to London, Utopia, Abraham Lincoln,
or a new one To hear him even second time
is to be deeply interested and entirely satisfied
with time aud money spent The low price of
tickets should secure for him full house.
uUSIC AND THE DRAMA.