New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-06
THE LECTURE PLATFORM.


HAWTHORNE AS SHOWN IN HIS BOOKS.
GEORGE p. LATHRoPs LECTURE AT THE uNioN
LEAGUE THEATRE.
George p. Lathrop delivered a lecture yes
teraay afternoon at the Union League Theatre on Ma
thanel Hawthorne. illustrated by readings from ms
works The audience was attentive anu Hoque""'
manifested us pleasure in applause
Hawthorne said Mr. Latbrop. Is seldom spoken OF as
humor1st vet he ono In certain sense nc was
emnenty possessed OF that wayward fancy
which when applied 70 those things usually
regarded as ordinary Is very Startling
One OF the best OF this faculty Is When ne ais
courses average English woman OF uncertain age
He says that she effect OF seyeDty-iour gun
chip In tine peace and leads you 10 wonder "hat
would be the effect If she were aroused Hawthotnes
love for quiet In the famous cnaper OH INC
Salem Custsm House in /" The Scarlet Letter. 1t IL
question whether he had lived longer ne mlgut no'
have developed to higher oegree this iacuiy, NE
marriage tended greatly to foster his genial qual"es
large and sweet sympathy existed between III" ~"
his WIFE Mrs Hawthorne, and to near her speA'
were to know the whole meaning OF TIE worn eu''ue
lis broadest sense expressed the opinion that De'
husband had lived longer, be would nave aooP'eu VI"
tone OF humormore and more
To speak Of HIM a bumorst seems nconsr Se'
he saws that weeping is weakness when uoe7 'o ~
tacn itself to those men who have 1.-THE deeper anu NV"
tragic power of laughter" His lighter huulor was ''
Iant,s. his heavier humor like Dr. johnson = !"
hoinr and sstirizuQ the pecu4Tes OF human nature
Theso neeularies usually an incongrulty between
on, ward seeming aud inward reality Ido no, uea" "
say that Hawthorne laughs al spiritual anoma"cs' o'
he stands asde and points out the gloomy VI
certain natures lie relief m this species oil hu'r
when the minister IN 1.-The Scarlet Letter came oa.A
from meeting Hester IN inc ioioe' "0 i
all sorts OF evil ,, n.
The lecturer read the passage which he referred lie
so read The description OF the chickens IN the Incheon
garden " The Houst OF tue sven Saors r,aaiuH
that II was a satire the degeneration OF uoo y,
Here. the lecturer continued we ste paiS"' ~ "s
would have seemed painful to I'm nru fhehOoi ,dGn
tins same gift which enabled ia lhorn' 10 huu III =,
rcsemhiances IN human characters. Henry james y.'
,t,ha hi te las enOwn a weakness for small things
and points his diary as evidence ot THIS nc luo.s
tne entry about the setting sun lghtlng up zoe
- nr,s1n Mr. James thinks that he suffered from
general vacancy Of the neld oi VsICn huu Ians.s o
fact that he AID IN Europe where mere Is tonl,
tblug to see II is privilege OF genus never 10 nuu
the stars Wearisome nor the sun lrlte' I"i I',
things Infer that II was tbs genera Nasany
made shaKespearr note ma tnr uuIer su never
uf an extraordinary mind was brought 70 pear upon se
suI lest things he found. One OF ls earliest sh,Wnc7
was simply "a rll the town pump when Is tepit-
senied as speaking. The lecturer READ var " lne
ssetch1 As It happen-d. not one writer before haW-
thn,nr ad Thought OF usiug The town pump as III AIRY
tnrnr; but III, ntle sEech went al over the cluht9
hawthorne could never give hi, persons IeansHe
nnrure he does not gu into detail about hom, does not
q scribe their dress their appearance thelr i.h'Ir,'
IL i. common TO sy that awtbOrne was au4y ne, n9t
dramatic YET MS aDaivses he does not lei hIu'til
duu INTO broad laeonns 81 hoiaIl.E , ~ - ,
winters 81 fiction have zone. 40 not MINK We r"n
Il NN ~
,hr ,nnaiti,,ns OF porte iDind Hawthorne NJ no ume
duiiug his career cev'd enough rom ms M,'nu,
sunuIrt nm We must look. 100. al Tue condiiloh 81
| A,srlcan society. Ii W. pctute-que bu, ne H i
Ia WORK 10 make tie invested diy ihcis WIN ny
etloas beauty 1hs tact mat our S"clc} was ny
l. r IN re To his credit Tor the beauty he Aidca 10 IL
cit our sunic~ III ne Was l"t9 t'S
| v.,rs old He Was a whole man. Iheie WA- no hoi,l
so M dedicate h. dld not respond 10 II le
drIghtrd 10 tayrTDS aud isiru 10 me c"hNti'H
| a. .onmOu meu. lie always dlftnuhheh"hrrh NuiA''lf
lv silence, He had Of tue rougbuc-so I tno -t
H. nu.ifes ~ h 4ire-tors lie h1i also me gentle
| ,f IA II
,yro, he W,s .I.nty acquaiI 81 his shiurss an ,i'n
mn, sc thar ms hands troubled Yet BE- was robust
man Al nome he WAS cheerful aud hunnr0hs III IAel
| be mad remarLaLir gathering oi qualities INC coue
nous Of his time were not iaN0iaht, pu' ui- eI"n-
/ nsture Was lie learned 10 b. aueut ana 10 p'cfIe
/ RE dew Of his youth. he won't on WHINE W
bfs own way sINayr serving us gen Us ~ u s
vsnrs afer me publication OF tue " Iwlrr. loh @'S
.td tins fact ha- ben made puDnc neloit-
,nhush.r mai 80 .tle conf ia him that he rlnlel
ou,y 900 copies OF 'Tnr Scaret Letter ana did not
correct,on IL was oug uei0rc he revealed the iu force
nj ms genius, During tins time ur was tirehgi hvhlng
ms feeling or American nature. Ills hrst reward oAhe
fran England sadpit there saw the l8Tg ness {" ils
natur, and did not Judge nim 10y hi- answer 10 Tue
| question Are you "A ID mocrat or "a IL publican Ha"
| deeper than tue OF
,nps W, mus. TAKE truths ~ W. nId Ihrin woven
MO the weD ~ hrs work lie Is uo" ackno"ieustu 20
no tbe most cbararierislc Of American prose writer"
I'M fact aut hitn that be l. an idrshst Yet ne
Is nrtraI Wueu we mud Thai his Keen sui Hecu ~
mind is type New Ens and natures We Dcilete lh'
al the bO ON national chdi acler tusIe Is iouHa
Inf tltaIs