Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-21
THINGS DRAMATIC.


 lecture, Shakespeare, at O'Bren's last night-a lecture famous not only because it is delivered by Ingersoll.
 ' At S:30 o'clock the parquet and dress circle were filled to their capacity by the in- telligence and elite of the city.
 Colonel Ingersol came upon the stage with grace and ease, and began his lecture with manner of inconsistencies which would not permit of the disturbance of ap. plause. He opened his address by saying:
 "LADIEs AND GENTLEMEN: Shake- speare was the greatest genius Of our world. The theme is too great-he who would speak of this dramatist should have short and amusing history of Shake- speare's early life. He was glad that there was no royal blood in his veins. There was nothing to account for what he did; there was no throne great enough to honor Shakespeare. He referred to the obscurity of his family, but said that no great man ever lived who did not have great mother-some great mothers did not have great sons, but the opposite has never been known. "Pignies are often born in palaces, while genius opens eyes under the thatch of straw.''
 Among his general characterizatious of Shakespeare he said: ''He was the master spirit of mankind. Shakespeare erected the many colored dome which surmounts the intellectual Heaven. He was a n idealist;
 
 the real. The intellectual spendthrift of the world. The greatest poet, the great est artist, the greatest sculptor, the greatest thinker and the greatest dramatlst of all time. As original as nature. He exceeded all others; he goes to the limit. The master of the human heart. The lord of language. He had the eyes that really see, the ears that really hear. He excelled all the sons of men in the splendor of his imagination. He lived all lives I'm Io1 cto in Ghot ra q brain.'
 His lecture was interspersed with gems of wit that got their luster from his vigor.. ous, various and versatile intellect, and brought forth unauimous applause. Among his general comments he said: "We know but little of the outer man, but perhaps 1t is better so; still we know more of him than any other man-there is more to know. Shakespeare's family was not respectable, but he made money, ana among the Anglo Saxon race that has always been respectable. John Calvin died the year Shakespeare was born. What q magnificent exchange for this world Of ours. Prosperity is the mother of genius. Famine and faith go together. He who eats crust thanks God, but he who slts man reads Shakespeare over and over again and fails to find newer and more beautiful thought his mind IS failing. Shakespeare knew that the sun shines as kindly on the coffin as on the cradle. 1 don't believe any man ever believed in the miraculous until it became so com mon that it ceased to be miraculous. In
 making his frame Shakespeare was often negligent, but the picture was always per feet. Looking upon the human race he said 'the only crime is ign norance.' When this truth is understood it fills the human
 heart with pity. He nas done more for woman than any other man. ~ He said: "The most marvellous thing in all of Shake speare's writings is the fact that he did not mention single man or
 woman who lived in his time-though
 period filled with interest and great deeds.'
 He closed by saying: "Shakespeare was an intellectual ocean, into which all rivers
 ran and whose mighty waves touched every shore of thought.'
 His lecture was feast of thought, a flower of oratoTy, and masterly effort from every point of view.
 JAMES DWELL. James O'Neill's performance of "Vir- ginius,' in Sheridan Knowles tragedy by l that name, has been one of this and last season's banner events. Although the pub. | lie for the last twenty years has recognized | the dramatic treasure it possessed in this popular actor, it is doubtful if any of his great interpretations, that of Monte Cristo | included, has left such deep impression | upon his audiences as his grand portrayal l of his classical Roman hero. In fact, MT. | O'Neill is said to be the noblest Roman of them all, com bining Edwin Forrest virile | strength with John McCullough's infinite tenderness. The public may convince itself of the truth of this statement by going to the opera house tomorrow night, when "Virginius' will be played the first night, while the phenix-like "Monte Cristo" will follow on the second. MT. O'Neill's in- spred performance of Dumas' hero is as l familiar to all theater- goers as Joe Jeffer- son s Rip Van Winkle. It's charm is ever- lasting. Mir. O'Neill's company is said to be excellent, and both plays will be mounted in a magnificent manner. Tickets will be on sale tomorrow morning at the box office.
 JOHN l.. COMING.