Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-06-05
Hon. Daniel Dougherty.

thanks of the community, for the in
tellectual repast furnished through
their instrnmentality, on Tuesday
evening last With a fine perception
of what would please, and desire to
extend that pleasure to all, an inri-
tation was given by them to the Hon.
Daniel Dougherty, of Philadelphia,
to deliver his celebrated lecture on
'sOratory," at Washington Hail.
This lecture has been delivered in
Baltimore, Wheeling and other cities,
and every where has it been received
with encores on the part of the au-
diences. and highest encomiums on
the part of the press How ever much
the fame of the orator had raised the
expectation of our people, that an
ticipation was far short of the reality.
An attempt to impart a clear. idea OF
the lecture would necessarily fail, it
''beggared all description Grand in
conception, still grander in delivery,
the orator held all spell-bound, and
won all who listened. He reached
Charlestown on the morning train, was
met by committee of reception and
escorted to the Watson House. Du-
ring the day he spent some time in
the Courthouse, where many Jest
was parted and laughter-making in
cident of his career and those of his
contemporaries at the bar, related. In
the afternoon he and his daughter,
who accompanied him, were driven
out to view the surrounding country,
and we venture to say, that none more
fertile or beautiful was ever witnessed
by him, however varied may have
been his former journeyings. At the
time appointed for the lecture, large
and highly appreciative audience had
assembled in the hall. Mr.. Dougherty
was introduced by Captain George
Baylor, as the distinguished orator
from the Keystone State. He is a
man of splendid form and handsome
face, his features clear-cut and well
marked; his personal appearance is
sufficient of itself to impress an au-
dience- His lecture was nearly two
hours in length, yet no sign of fatigue
was visible among his hearers. Some
times grave, sometimes humorous,
now depicting the sublime actions OF
men, now tracing the quaint oddities
of human nature, he moved them to
tears or provoked them to laughter at
his Will He gave his definition OF
true oratory, and traced it's effect in
the history of the world From Greece
to Rome, from Rome to the medieval
times, to England, ancient and modern,
step by step, recounting the pecu-
liarities, the power and influence OF
the men of different times end coun-
tries whom the world had dignified as
orators, and yet so few in his cstima-
ton, that he could number them on
his fingers. Like Lord Lytten. he
considered siacting'' as essential to
the true orator, and gave presentations
of individual characteristics. For the
first half-hour he was grave, logical
anl Spc+ rrofi,.o. HI xl;ot:a. g.. L..
manner impressive and stately; but
suddenly changing, he displayed his
wonderful facilities as humorist,
recounting many of his own youthful
experiences before his name was
known to fame. He considered the
greatest field for oratory the pulpit,
and graphically described the banefuI
tendencies of many who belonged to
this high calling, in choice of subject,
habit of information, and severity of
aspect His imagery in the narration
of the opportunities Of the clergyman
for true oratory, was the best we have
heard. and truly inimitabIe In his
conclusion lie passed an eloquent en-
comium upon a power. now universal
and all potent before which oratory
had quailed-the power of the press.
Its birth was the death of the orator.
his usefulness had been diminished.
his necessity destroyed He COM
mended that great power to the gui-
dance of virtue, depicting its influence
for good, its corroding power for evil
when abused Among the character
istics OF the true orator enumerated
by him. were common sense. memory,
action, self-possession. His definition
of an orator, s'He that has the power
to move an audience to immediate &C
tion," and we are convinced that all
who heard him that evening are of
opinion that he lacks none of those
qualifications, and that he is up to the
full standard of his definition. At
the conclusion, the Hon. C. j. Faulk-
ner was called upon to present to him
a bouquet of flowers, which he did in