The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-18
THE LAKE COUNTRY OF ENGLAND.
Interesting illustrated Lecture by
Mrs. Horace G.. Wait.

Interesting illustrated Lecture by
Mrs. Horace G.. Wait.
The literary class which has been con-
Quoted by Mrs. Horace C. Wait on Friday
afternoons during the past season, held its
first reception and illustrated talk last Sat
urday night at Hasbrouck Hall. The room
had been given an atmosphere of sociability
not to have been expected from its size. The
chairs, two hundred in number, were an
ranged in amphitheatrical form and the re-
naming space used as for a drawing room,
with rugs, lamps, easy chairs and such aids
to comfort.
The evening was to be devoted to the Lake
Country of England and the great spirits
that made it famous, while even the music
was in keeping with the plan. Shelley's
poem, Gloves Philosophy, set to music, was
sung by Miss Florence Turner as the opening.
number. Then Mrs. Horace C. Wait gave a
short Introductory sketch without the
lantern, saying that it was her purpose to
conduct the audience on a coaching tour
from Windermere to Keswick, along the
beaten track, since side excursions would
make the subject endless. She gave a brief
sketch of the life of Wordsworth, showing
how it was he who drew to himself the poets
who make the Lake Country famous. and
his poetry that is the best guide-book to this
to the world-recently discovered land.
The lights were lowered and the lecture
proper began. A word as to the views
Some time ago Mrs. Wait had made for her,
in the Lake Country, fifty views of points
connected with the lives of the lake poets.
They were made by a photographer, who
was also an artist-made at his leisure, when
the light was exactly right, made with due
regard to artistic as well as literary values
in fact, ideal examples of Photographic art.
1t may be understood how far above the or
binary lantern-slides these were, and how
much they added to the evenings enjoy
ment.
The leader followed the coaching route
past the homes of Wordsworth, for there
are several; Nab Cottage, around which SO
many beautiful associations cluster. the
home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Brathay
Vale, to Ambleside. Here there was a side
excursion through Brentwood, Coniston. the
nome of Ruskin, past the land of Harriet'
Martineau to Firness Abbey. Then the
main route went on through the beautiful
doubly consecrated Rydal Vale, and Thrill
mere Vale with the houses where Matthew
Arnold, Taber and Rosetti loved to STAY.
Thence through st. Johns Vale, where Mrs.
Wait quoted SCOTS beautiful description of
Castle Rock At Keswick she touched
upon the history Of Little Britain.
showed the home of Shelley, and Greta
Hall, home Of Southey G.. Coleridge; passed
through Derwent Water with the famors
cataract that comes down at Lodoren and
concludes with the Borrowdale Views and
Pillar Rock, which may be called one of the
aristoerats not only of the Lake country, but
of the world, since these mountains were OF
the first to rise in prilneval times.
Miss Turner sang with Miss Speer
Gounod's arrangement of Little Celandine,n
and the programme was over. Afterwards
the ladies passed to the r-efreshment rooms
beyond, where under four large yellow lamps,
Maresi served IN elaborate supper. Itswas
late before the guests felt it time to relina
quish SO thoroughly delightful an evening.