Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-02
TALKS ON LITERATURE.
Donald c. MItchell's Lecture at g1l
 Redeemer Church.

Donald c. Mltchell'S Lecture at She
 Redeemer Church.
 The first of 8 new series of "Talks on Literature" was given by MT. Mitchell on Monday last in the lecture room of the Church of the Redeemer. before an audience composed of pupils of Miss Orton and Miss Nichols, and other subscribers. It's subject was "Some Moors of Colonial Times" and that these moors were of @ very palatable description was evidenced by the close at tention of the listeners. MT. Mitchell began by saying that he should not aim so much to give instruction on the subjects to be brought under review as to kindle interest in them, and incite to wider study of the historical words of those early days. He showed that the beginnings of literary development on this side of the Atlantic must necessarily be crude, and partake largely of the nature of the diaries and letters, for that the settlers I in the New England, would wish before all things to acquaint their friends and relatives | in the old England, with the conditions of | their life in these western wilds. There were ' that day. Although many of them had been graduated from Oxford and Cambride the need to do things seemed much larger to their minds than the need to write about them. The speaker doubted whether ! if even Milton had accompanied his friend Winthrop to the new world, there could ever have been Paradise Lost dating from Hig- ganum or Pawtucket; he thought the great | Western rivers would have drowned Castalia. The sentimental MT. Waller, too, could hard \ ly have plucked rose for his Sanharitta in \ New England bog lands. But though little \ fine writing, there was much plain common sense setting down of such matters as came | into their daily life. Governor Bradford | left journal which is almost history and has proved very useful to many a eribbing annalist of succeeding days. MT. Mitchell \ then read an extract from the journal of Antony Thatcher which he thought not un- l worthy in touches of psthos to work with | the best of the author of Dr. Jekyl. Then followed @ very entertaining account ot Thomas Morton, diariss of quite another description. He was an adventurer of toe ! lively nature to be permitted to remain
 among the godly colonists and was shipped | back to England, where he reVenged himself by writing witty lampoons upon the magis
 trates who had thrust him out from the col ny. Then followed vivid description of ! Moves Williams, who, MT. Thatcher thinks, was max, notwithstanding his faults oi ! temper, to be loved and honored for his wide | tolerance and his ever vigilant guard \ over the interests of the people. Ma. ! thaniel Ward and his "Cobbler of Ugawann, , ! next passed under review, and judging from
 the specimens cited by MT. Mitchell of the
 cobbler's diatribss against women's devotion
 to fashion, more amusing beck can hardly
 exist. Some rugged verses from the Bay
 Psalnn Book were then quoted, and extracts ! were read from the poetry of Mistress Brad street of Andover, who was called by her ad
 mirers the Tenth Muse. Mir. Michael Wig
 ellsworth, who spent large portion of his
 schooldsys in New Haven, was the author
 of an immensely popular poem, The
 Day of Doom, few verse.
 of which MT. Mitchell read \ The lecture closed with very eloquent
 account of New Englsnd's early preachers
 and theologians. Cotton Mather and his magnolia, Mr. Hooker and his wei0hty ser.
 mons, and the great mental attainments, profound learning and noble character of Dr. Jonathan Edwards were brought wildly be. fore the minds of the audience, but no briei
 abstract of this portion of the lecture car l give just idea of it's interest.
 The next lecture will treat of the Balladry
 of Revolutionary Times, the Hartford Wits
 and Poets, and the novels of Brockder ! Brown.