Evening journal., 1890-10-02
CURIOUS CHARACTERS.
REV. FATHER M'cALLAN TALKS OF
THEIR LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

| MoEoso anu Ah-natured Onaracters-
Father James A. AEcCallan, s. s., re-
Gently professor of elocution In st.
Marys University, Baltimore, delivered
an interesting, entertaining and in
structive lecture to about 400 people in
the basement of st. Mary's church Tues
day evening on the subject, Lights and
/ Shadows in Human Character. The
lecture was given for the benefit of
orphans. He is fine. excellent elocu-
tionist and lecturer, and he said in part :
Character is the disposition of per.
son. We might tell the difference in
people by the style Of talking. There is
the nasal twang, the gruff voice and
many intermediate stages. all of which
classify some particular people. We could
tell the difference from the varying color
OF the hair and the different manner of
conversation. But all this concerns only
the outward person, his disposition and
the inclinatiens of his heart show his
real character and distinguish him from
his fellow men. And the women, too,
they must not feel that they are being
neglected for will give them the greater
part of my lecture.
Now, let me speak OF the cheerful
woman ard her great influence for good.
| will give her the foreground in this
word-p.cture which | am painting
What great character the mother
plays. She is the centre Of the world of
cheerfulness when she is present. from
darkness flows light, and The grieved
heart forRets its sorrows in her com
psny. There is no end to the good this
cheerful woman does. She drives off fits
OF blues does not vary with every ad-
verse Circumstance; and Is the same
winter or summer. How happy is a home
which possesses such woman which has
a mothers softening influence. With
what JOY the husband or father seeks
such a home. He will not spend his
evenings on the streets, in the tavern or
even IN the cl9b room, She is indeed a
great treasure.
Now let speak Of the gloomy person.
II were painting a real picture on real
canvas, | think could depict a gloomy
person by few broad strokes A gloomy
person takes a greatly exaggerated view
of everything. She sits all day and
broods over her own and others real or
imaginary misfortune, or sickness, talks
of death, counts on the prospect Of hav.
ing q blizzard next winter and other
such things. She never laughs oh my,
MOI She is like the old gentleman who
took his nephew to hear Mark Twain
speak. just before the lecture the boy
went to Twain and told him that his
uncle was morbid and said he would like
to make him laugh and asked the humor
list to help him. he was told to put the
old gentleman in the front row. 4 will
spring some jokes which will make him
laugh, and If they do not effect him, l
have some which will make him cry or
kill him
The man was put in the front row, and
all kinds of jokes we're told all OF which
pointed at the old gentleman, but he did
not even smile. Twain was asked why
he told so many bad jokes. why" he
said, II wanted to make that old man
laugh. We'll you could hardly do that
as be is deaf, dumb and blind, was the
reply.
The gloomy woman is the same as il
she were without senses When her
husband comes home he hears groans in
stead of cheerful smiles VIII such a
hame prove attractivef VIII the temper
ance cause be aided by such a woman2
No, not at all Let them remove this
shadow which has fallen over them.
The witty Person.
1.-THE sharp-witted person is much
sought after in society. BY sharp-witted
| do not mean sharper, but one who is
quick with retort. 1t is pleasant to hear
good joke The Irish people as a class
are noted as having the sharpest and
keenest retort. But the Irishman's
humor is not caustic unless provoked,
and even then it is so good naturally
given that the victim cannot take
offense."
He spoke of o'Conneps wit and gave
an illustration Of his encounter with
''Biddy" Moriarity.
"We now come to something which
comes under this head, but is not a
separate character. This is the inter
| viewer"
The lecturer here gave as an illustra-
ton Mark Twain's encounter with an
interviewer, in which Mark Twain put
the latter to flight by making fun Of
him. Father McCallan then gave an
illustration of some of his own adven-
lures with this class and condemned
reporters and newspapers without stint
or mitigation.
He next spoke Of the good, Industrious
man in the highest praise.
he then took up the lazy man. he
1
ished the audience and his humorous
manner made the story all the better
/ The man who Is unemployed is liable to
commit any crime as sloth is the mother
Of all vices. The tramp is the beau ideal
of the lazy man. In some cities they get
rid of this lazy creature simply by having
some work on hand when be comes
there Father McCallan gave many in
| faraatinp and Amusing instanpaa and
anecdotes of the inherent laziness of the
tramp.
He gave an amusing. but instructive
description Of the sour, ill-tempered,
pugnscious person.
The next character was that Of the
drunkard. This description was all
pathos. The story of wrecked lives and
blighted homes aud hopes was told in
such a manner that the audience was
greatly moved He advocated only pity
for the drunkard, but asked that the
temperance cause be upheld. He told
the story partly in poetry, recited in ex-
eellent style.
The next character described was that
of the temperate man and he exborted
his hearers to become such. He treated
In rapid succession the naughty, meek.
noble, and minor characters in an able
manner. He advocated the scheme OF
home education and thought that this
was the solution of the problem Of max
ing all good tempered.
J All kinds of heaters, galvanized and shee
iron work, Frank A. Mitchell, 4l5 IN pie,
street
Stopped ON Account of Rain.
, TN a