The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-10
SPAIN.
John L. stoddard's Complimentary Lee
ture,

Last evening Mr.. John L. Stoddard, whose
reputation as a most brilliant lecturer upon the
cities and scenes of the old world, is national,
made his first appearance in Portland, Civ
ing complimentary lecture, descriptive of
short run through Spain, to many Eof our best
known citizens The hall was completely fill
ed with most appreoiative saudience, and the
lecturers remarks were frequently interrupted
by applause as some more Than ordinarily beau
tiful view was thrown upon the screen.
Mr.. Stoddard possesses fine stage presence, a
very clear and distinct enunoiation that is
pleasure to listen to- and his descriptions are
word-pictures in themselves. He was intro
duced to the audience by Mr.. Stanley Pullen
OF the PRESS, as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: The thought of voy-
age across the Atlantic ocean In the month OF
December is not very attractive. Yet many
persons for love of travel, and for the sake OF
the instruction and amusement to be found in
seeing the historic places and watching the
differing customs of the people will brave the
bardships of the winter passage. thinking
themselves fully repaid for the danger and dis
comfort by the things they will see and hear
We are more fortunate than they; for while
they 60 to Europe we sit serene in this COM
Portable hall and have Europe brought to us.
Nose people on a first journey abroad attend IN
such confused way to things that are not
worth WHILE that they fail TO know of many
things best worth knowing. Tonight we are
happy in the presence of one who has eyes to
see, taste to appreciate and tongue to tell.
Those who have had the advantage of foreign
travel will find themselvesdelightfuly remind
ed of past pleasures, while those who are yet
to go will gain a zest for seeing and informa-
tion how TO see, which will be of the greatest
value. l have now the pleasui of Introducing
to You the magician who Tor tonight Will abol-
sh the Atlantic, and bring us face to face with
the wonders and beauties of lands beyond the
sea. Permit me to present Mr.. j. L. Stoddard.
Mr.. Stoddard expressed his pleasure at meet
ing Portland audience and began his lecture
by saying that in former times when one began
to travel in Spain he sent for priest to absolve
his sins, a doctor to furnish him medicine and
lawyer to make his will. Now however.
nothing more was required than full purse
and good guidebook Commencing with q
brief sketch of the early days of Moorish great
ness the lecturer began his tour with view OF
the ancient city of Toledo; its scenes, battle
ments and streets, followed by scenes on the
silent Tagus, with the remarkable aqueducts
and bridges that span its gentle tide views of
Cordova, the Spanish Athens, with magnif
1196.marble and jasper columns,t spoils gath
cred FROM Carthaginian and Roman cities
many interesting pictures of the great national
sport, the bull-fght; Granada, the Damascus
of the west, with its architectural glory, the
Alhambra; and finally the rock of Gibraltar,
which looks upon two continents.
Such is a brief sketch of some OF the most
important of the scenes presented last night by
Mr.. Stoddard They were all remarkable for
their beauty and artistic value. Clearer views
were never thrown upon the canvass, nor any
approach to thosel descriptive of the Alham-
bra. The beautiful Moorish arabesque-a lace
work in stone-was SO wildly reproduced it
seemed as if the spectator must be gazing on the
original. The Court of Lires was wonderful in
Its fidelity to the original. Mr.. Stoddard is
fortunate in most excellent assistant by whose
skill every scene comes in at the right moment
without necessitating the slightest pause on
the part of the lecture, each view dissolving
into the next SO quickly and delicately that the
change is hardly noticeable.
This morning the sale of seats for the regu-
lar course course will commence at Stock
bridges, and if we are not greatly mistaken,
there will be tremendous rush for seats.