Telegram-herald., 1890-04-25
4 FREsCHsas'S ElOOgn
Ma o'.sat's Lestars al sssrtnsns n.1
hageyes ~ . szasn bss be
lkhGsd a AaGts2os

About four hundred and fifty g. I've
hundred people assembled at Hart
mans Hal lsst evening 10 witness tae
lecture OF "Mzx 0'Rell." A NJ.
PAU P.osov Press reporter
thus eovertly excused himself
trom reporting much Of anything
that Aonsiear BiOuet said. ''lt would
be unjust and lll-adylsea 10 reproduce
the telling hlts made by lhe lecturer;
unjust, because they were IN the man
original and happy; ill-advlsed. because
printed words could not convey The
delicate accent, etc. Very true; and he
might have added thirdly. saying,
and because no one heard them With
sufhclent dlsnnetness 10 retell them.
The delicate French accent" So high
~ appreciated by 81 Paul people, is
just what siied the eaunc.ation for
those who cared 10 hear and under
stand what Was sale. Probably there
Was not person IA the hall shO heard
more than half OF the lecture.
The above mentioned fact, however,
is gwen not IA dlsparagement, bat -
emphasize the praise that belongs 10
the lecture. The bare spectacle OF THIS
genuine French orator must have b. "a
revelation 10 those who have wondered
whefeln lies the power OF those who,
by some secret imperialism, have CON-
manded from the platform millions Of
French hearts. For. with ali the beauty
OF the language, French oTatory does
not read a. wei! az the English, unless
one be himself Faench lterateur.
The French orator IN Hsrtmans Hall,
last evening, mas helped 10 explain TINS
mystery.
When NJ. Blouet appeared upon the
stage, be flashed upon the vision of the
audience IN al the traditional elegance
OF the French gentleman. The first
promise OF NE presence WAS magnificent.
But he directly stepped TO the middle
OF the stage and wedged himself tightly
between the table and chair, and
scarcely moved his feel from that al
cove during the entire evening. Ac-
cordlng 10 al American tests this posi-
ten was not only awkward, but rude.
Moreover, his posture was at nearly all
times disrespectful. His feet were
crossed, his hands were thrust INTO his
trousers pockets, or one fist rested on
his hip during most of the time. Yet
for all these supposed faults, il is doubt
ful II Grand Rapids audience has
ever had 50 good opportunity 10 know
the incompatible power IN oratory.
OF mere posture and gesucuiat.On.
Gesture was carried 10 50 high a per
fecton OF art, that the lecture, largely
unlntelLg ble IN words, was quite IN
telllglble IN pantomine. The French
man fairly talked through every Joint
OF his body. An angle of the body, a
tip Of the chin, nod of the head, the
elevation OF finger, was performed
with such precise suiting of the action
TO the word, that deaf mute might
have understood most of the speakers
meaning. And what was marvellous
about IL was the entire absence of even
a suggestion of violent action. Anora-
tlon tnat would have driven the nervous
American all over the stage a-beating
the air IN frenzy, did not move the
nervy Erenchman from his tracks.
What would have required in the Amer
lcan orator the uplifting of both hands
TO Heaven, was accomplished by the
Frenchma n in curl of finger. Let
one illustration suffice. NJ. Blouet was
the difference of social
among the French, the En-
glish and the Americans. He said
when the French man and wife enter
hotel dining-room, the husband gives
his wife his arm thus, (lllustrating.)
Wnen the English man and wife enter
the dining hall, Johnny Bull goes
ahead and the wife follows, thus, (il-
lustratlng) When the American man
and wife enter, the wife, with shoul-
ders thrown back and the
head thrown up, enters first
and the husband follows, thus, (illus-
tratiDg.) Now, if an American orator
were 10 illustrate these movements he |
would have TO make great fuss about |
1t and waltz all over the stage with his /
lady. No so NJ. Blouet. |
Without moving from his tracks, by an
wave of his French hand, he |
sent these imaginary couples around |
the dining hall as realistically as II they |
were there before the audience on the |
stage. After the performance OF last 1
evening many Of the audience will be- |
lleve that no one of the Anglo-Saxon |
race has yet come TO realize the orator |
lcal power of mere gesticulatiOn.
The lecture itself might well have |
been entitled a comparative view of 1
the French, British, Scotch and Ameri- /
can people" IL bristled throughout /
with Wit, satire and ane. lte. The au- /
5lence were abundantIv appreciative, /
and listened to the end with evident de- /
light. without any sign Of impatence /
Or fatigue.