The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-02-03
A LECTURE BY BEECHER.

piedmont, w. VA, Jan. 20.-The
name Of Henry Ward Beccher in con
nection with lecture, is sufficient
to insure a crowd in any city or town
in the United States.
We read, and hear of Beecher
Tourists in New York docking to his
Church. He is to-day the lion Of
the platform and pulpit. Few there
are who would not sacrifice some
thing to see and hear this remarka-
bic man. Though some from con
science and some from political preju-
dice, may speak lightly Of bis moral
relations, yet none doubt his talent
and few indeed are not little proud
that Beecher is an American-all our
own a friend of the oppressed-an
enemy to whatever shackles, labor
or letters human liberty.
The opportunity of seeing and
hearing Beecher was given on the
night of the l4th Cumberland, Md,
is about 30 miles from here in which
place Beecher lectured on the 14th to
which place the c. dg p. r. r. carried
whoever desired to attend
The "Academy Of Music" in Cum
borland is a large square building,
finely furnished and arranged, and is
structure Of which the city is justly
proud Its large seating capacity
occupied by citizens Of Cumberland
and those brought by the excursion
trains to hear the lecture. At few
minutes past 8 P. NJ. he was escorted
to the st sc. A ripple Of applause
was given by the waiting and anx
ious audience. Fifteen hundred PEG
pie sat staring-some with glasses
that the view of the orator might be
more distinct.
A person oft hearing Of any OBJ
jcct or other person always formu-
lates an idea of the appearance Of
such object or person. So in this
case. We had an image of the old
man which required slight modifca-
ton in the presence of the the origi
nal. He is oflarge stout build, rather
more corpulent than was expected.
His face is large and full as his pic
lures show, and clean shaved. His
brow is massive and slightly pre- ject-
ing His hair, almost white and
somewhat thinned by age,is long and
combed hack from his expansive fore
head. His features seemed regular
and rather free from the burrows of
time for one of his age-69 He was
dressed in suit Of plain black-an
easy fitting frock coat. His collar
was ''lay down with plain black
chow"
When introduced he sauntered to
the front of the stage with his left
hand at his back and his right by
his side. He did nothing you would
call bow. His position was one of
ease. His coat was a little ruffied
and his pantaloons wrinkled at his
ankle which we suppose would shut
out the notion Of perfect gracefulness.
All eyes were turned to the speaker
and all ears listened for the first &C
cents that would fall from his lips.
I'D III oU NoiNS WClC IdtliCl INV, Ouu
distinct. Throughout he was free
from the declamatory. His gestures
were few but expressive. His argu-
ments were clear, convincing, plain,
sometimes homely He grasped that
with which he dealt and clothed his
thought in such language that left
no doubtful impression. Once in
while his voice would well up from
it copious depths and ring out in
silvery peal.
Through the lecture was enough
wit introduced for seasoning and en-
oyment-enough to attract the at
tention Of the audience if anything
had been necessary. Sometimes
there was applause, sometimes spell
bound establishment. The lecture
progressed. An hour and half was
consumed and the end came. The
audience sat in establishment. Did
the lecturer bow himself from the
stage as the faQle; or was that the
close Of the first act after which he
might be expected to return? The
audience sat for few moments al
most as still as during the lecture,