The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-07-18
TALMAGE DAY.
The Great Preacher Eleotriies His Audi
enoe in His Lecture, ''The Bright Side
Of Things'-The Usual Number
Of Interesting Events.
Monday.

HOW THE CROWD CAME.
Not since the Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage
was here two years ago, has the auditor
ium been 50 packed as it was yesterday
afternoon. Fully $500 were sandwiched
into the vast amphitheater, the country
around Madison for twenty miles con-
tributing Of it's best class OF citizens.
| An hour before the lecture began peo-
pie had taken up their seats and waited
patiently. 1t was warm too, but there
was no complaining. All were eager on
hearing the great preacher. We say
preacher, for it is as a preacher land not
as a lecturer that Talmage has made his
reputation. 1t is in his preaching that
the genuine earnestness, the hidden fire,
the sublime imagery, the spiritual force
of his delivery breaks forth, and though
he is still Talmage in his lectures he is
not 80 much Talmage as in his preach
ing.
"THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE"
The 4th regiment band playing a
| selection which delighted the audience
and put them in good humor to begin
with and then the great preacher talked
| for two hours or more and stirred up his
hearers from the depths of their souls in
humorous contemplation of almost
everything on earth. He declared him
self an optimist and thought this world
and it's opportunities beautiful. All is
perfect except the grumbler. Who
| could criticise the works of God. A lit
erary lecture, he thought, should be
something cheerful. Not SO deep that
neither the people who listen nor the
| speaker who delivers the lecture could
understand. Mr.. Talmage's way of put
| ting all these thoughts was unique,
humorous, simple and in his word
| pictures striking, beautiful and elevat-
ing. The way we see things about us
depends entirely upon our own way OF
looking at them. We should listen
rather for sweet notes rather than dis
cord. The man of bad manners sees the
duplicity and dark side of everything.
He told of a mar SO mean, who, invited
to take a drink, said: mo, | do not
drink, but I will take a cigar and three
cents" If there is one lank sheep in a
pasture, there are always cartons to sit
on it ante-mortem. 1t is not SO much in
words as in the way OF doing things that
offends. Luther's austerity could well
have been softened by Melancthon's
suavity. How important it is that
parents teach their children good
manners. A man may be courteous and
urbane and yet successful in the great
battle Of life. The visiting bore and
speaking bore and bad temper we're held
up to ridicule in the richest fashion. TIC
be cheerful keep IN the open air, use
your horse. Lost health can be taken
up on the fly at ball or cricket. The on
ly way to drive out bad amusemcnts il
to introduce good ones. The condition
OF our country ia not so bad as some PEG.
pie would try to make out. It's preserv.
alton not dependent upon party but
upon the Almighty. Truth and liberty
and justice shall be triumphant over all
foes. Heaven and earth shall remain
forever. In elaboration of this thought
the speaker in his preroration pictured
out the burning of the magnificent
Smithsonian institute which he witness
ed some years ago and the description
was simply powerful and grand
Throughout the entire lecture the audi.
ence was kept in the happiest vein and
frequent laughter and prolonged ap'
plause by the speakers sallies of wit and
good humor. We have heard nothing
but universal praise OF the effort.
ROUND TABLE.
1t was so late when the Talmage lee
ture was over, that the Chautauquani
simply talked oyer the plans far Recog
milton Day and enrolled orders for new
books. A club list is being formed
through which the Chautauqua books o
1884 can be obtained at s4.5O for tn,
entire set, freight prepaid. This is TIT
cheapest possible. ANY who wish book
should give in their names to the secre
tary at once.
EVENT EXERCISES.
The band concert was the usual trea
and the vast audience, nearly as great q
in the afternoon, went wild owe tn,
playing Of the Hunting Scene" which
was repeated by request OF many out
siders. Miss Rush followed in q violil
solo, and then Robertson and Ransom
began their unique performances. Thes
consisted OF playing tunes on strings o
sleigh-bells and glass tutnblers, b.
MI. Robinson. The bells and glasses wer'
very artlstically handled, the must,
produced, especially by the glasses, yer,
sweet, clear and resonant. Mr.. Ransom
is a genuine Bishop in his smart tricks
and kept the house in a roar of merri
ment and excitement. The smoking
100