The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-19
A BRILLIANT YOUNG Orator.
Kev. Thomas Dixon. dr., Thrills Large
and Cuitu' ed Audience.

anu eu tuufrntt.
A large and cultivated audience, among
whom were number Of the members OF
the General Assembly and other promi-
ncnt people greeted Rev. Thomas Dixon,
Jr., Of New Yoi.., last evening az the
Y. NJ. c. A.
Rev. II. a. Bagby. of Calvary Baptist
church, introduced the speaker, whom he
said was no stranger to Richmond peo-
pie. having lectured I'm this city upon
three former occasions.
MIR. Dixon took as his subject. THE
Gates Of Heaven and Hell In Modern
Babylon and when he concluded. there
was not person In the audience who did
not agree that the speaker was an orator
in every sense OF the word.
The lecturer stated that when he went
TO New York To live he was fascinated
with the beauty and grandeur of the
great city: but after a residence OF five
years in the metropolis his heart was
filled with sadness whenever he contem-
plated the wickedness and misery to be
seen on every street. He reviewed the
great suffering and poverty in the city.
which. he declared. was largely due to
the thousands of saloons open day and
night and pictured graphically the evil
influences arising from this source.
Mr. Dixon then took occasion TO eX-
coriate the metropolitan press, which he
declared was corrupt from the very
bottom. and was doing an immeasurabie
amount OF harm in enormously framing
public opinion. The men at the head
OF the New York press. said he, were
paid liberal salaries to lie, and that the
10 70 of greed was the chief cause I'm the
absolute lack Of conscience and principle
on the part Of these great corporations
Down ON the -Four hundred
The lecturer then pictured clearly the
rapid ruin OF young men who. upon re-
moving 10 New York were inspired by
love of gold TO surrender their character
and principle. and dwelt at some length
upon the mockery and absolute emptiness
| Of New York society. lie made some Keen
| thrusts at the -Four Hundred, held up
| to ridiculc the sham or high lie III great
| cities. and supplemental this part OF the
lecture with apt and original illustra-
lions. His excorlation Of the corrupt pc
/ litical cliques and the demoralZed con-
dltion of the municipal government OF the
city in which he lived, was as piercing as
II was fearless He concluded win q
powerful discussion as to the proper
! methods of abollshing these great eVlis
| so prevalent In large cities, ana thrlllee
| his hearers with flights OF oratory, ii
which were skilfully combined patnos
satire. imagination. and Judgment. lie
| was listened TO with the closest atten'
| ton throughout. and was frequently IN
| terr1ipted with liberal applause
| Mr.. Dixon through rare gitts OF impul
s,veness. which expresses itself In out
bursts without rant, leaves no DOUBT il
| the minds Of his hearers as TO MS spieh
! ala talents. He combines reason, discre
| tion. fancy, and force. His delivery y
incisive. eloquent. touched with rhetori
| cal finish that is highly pleasing his Zee
| tnre last evening abounded in bright say
| ines beautiful figures. and clear stronl
exnositions of the deplorable Weaknesses
| of human nature. with many Naluapi'
s,orestions as 10 their correction. Beior'
he closed. few doubted his capacity ,1
| "cau a shade a spade. lie Is TAN
strairht slender man, with a wealth. OF
midnight hair pale face, and coal pia ,,
eves that flash with animation as INC
sneaker CLOVIS with his theme. lie Is
| trained eiocutionist and actor haNils ~
1 earlier years decided to go on the s'"S
| Nv facial expressions, coupled WIN nl'
| remarkable picturings, he possesses won
! derful mower to dsmay his hearers WIZ
horror. fill their eyes with tears OF arous'
them TO high degrees of mirth' nous
scarcely thirty years of age, ms repu .,'
| ton spreads through many states III 'n'
! North as we'll as the South