The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18

VII.
Apropos OF Ian Maclaren as a lecturer.
Mr. Gerald Stanley Lee writes thus in
an Exchange:
1t behooyes the English lecturer to
make wary approach 10 the great capt.
tails Of criticism, on his first American
tour. as
over his keys the musing organist,
beginning doubtfully and faraway,"
Ian Maclaren moves upon New York,
And builds a bridge from Springfield
for his lay"
His first public lecture delivered before
n crowded house in this city. last night.
was an auspicious beginning. The assid-
uous Major Pond. having duly penetrated
10 Drlmtochty. and brought its genial
parson forth 10 the full blaze of Ameri-
can curiosity. well may walk the theatre
foyer with pride and rub his hands WITH
low The Majors conviction that innum-
cradle people arc only waiting beside
their Bonnie Brier Bushes. TO spring out
ana nut their dollars IN his hands the
moment Maclaren appears, bids fair TO
be justified. That people viii DO lido L
whether Bryan IS elected or not-is in
consistent, Of course. and disappointing.
and inconsiderate. in an almost ruined
country. which ought TO keep up appear
anccs before the world and before dis
tlnruished visitors. But this is one Of
those facts that politicians must deHI
with as best they may. Il Is certainly
discouraging for newspapers.
The curtain rose with comparatively
barren stage: and with q little plain
scenery at his taCk-mostly ministers
DR.. watson made his first appearance
before a miscellaneous New England
audience. But the stage-sotting. as ii
happened. could not possibly have been
more wisely designed. Major Ponds re-
fnemont of the French claque-his UNI
bounded trust in the clcrgymen OF his ma
tive land, that they could be relied on, as
holders of complimentary tickets. rs
guardians Of the public spirit, TO do their
smiling and crying at the proper time
was nohly rewarded. Their handker-
chiefs were the unfailing signal Of wide
spread and unavailing grief, in one of the
tenderest assemblies that has gathered
in the Court Square for many q day
bound 10 get its moneys worth.
II Is n perfectly sincere and rather
naive personality that is presented TO MS
The subtle posing Of an audience-its
deliberate determination TO feel pathetic
and amused-almost inevitable in the
reading Of one who has a definite laugh
ing and crying record. like Ian Maclaren.
IS a disadvantage which could only have
been overcome by a man whose soul Is
very real to him. whose first instinct
would probably be to resent the require
ments Of his advertisements, and be n
post-in spite Of himself-fOr the sheer
luxury, the humor, OF seeing how people
would look. A really great humorist
would do this. But as between himself
and a thousand dollars. whom shall we
expect TO be great enough 10 see the
Joke? The average humorist takes his
money and sets his teeth. BE funny or
dier' he commands his daemon. Grimly
suavc. expectant and smiling, the people
wait: and when two thousand men and
women. having duly paid their dollar
down. have come 10 the hall with con-
viction OF tears with a right 10 laugh
* is "a tribute to the soundness Of DR..
Wats0n's sympathy. TO the realncss of
his creations. that he can forget the peo-
uie before him in the old comrades Of his
spirit. can produce his effects by retreat
ing from his audience to the Glen of
Drumtochty.
lie IS a somewhat enthusiastic speaker
has q big. gentle alertness about him, is
as fond of all sides Of his desk as he IS
Of his subject. has n way Of overhang-
ing his audience at times. and Of throw
10 be sure Of their getting something's
habit which. as il Is quite unnecessary.
can hardly be said TO add to the grace or
effectiveness OF his speech. II gives,
however Just that touch Of awkwardncss
which makes him lovable, which men are
wont. perhaps. to take as conlding
neighborly trait. a guarantee that the
man before them is simply abandoning
himself 10 their pleasure. His manner
might be considered a little deliberately
conversational by some listeners; ana his
voice tends TO the extremes OF his style
being very high at times and very low
and soft at others. but always intimate
with HIS feeling. lie confines himself for
the most part TO talking. and when he
finds his place to read. he does not seem
to be immodestiy familiar with his
works The reading has simplicity and
charm. but the lecturer has too much OF
the spontancousness Of his stories not to
prefer telling new ones and not 10 be
more interesting in doing so.
II is both a criticism and an apDrecia-
ton. OF course. Of the author OF THE
Bonnie Brier Bush" u say that ne u at
his best with anybody-a fact which Is
more important In its bearing upon his
manager than in its bearing upon litera-
turc. It Is apparent that IL Is on essen
flnIlN pastoral ttIll0 Niill ist' A'tN'ti ia
artistic form In Ian Maclaren. The more
intellectual emphasis which would have
characterized the same work In another
man would probably have failed to get
such q complete Cross-scctiOn OF the pub
&c as has fallen 10 the lot OF the Drum
toc'ty parson; giving him. both as man
and a writer a most remarkable oppOr-
tunity 10 discover TO the hearts Of mon
the lovableness. the humanness. the gen.
:le understanding. the vision and beauty
Of tho pastors llfe We have our Theron
Wares: but this old world always at
heart an ideal world. struggling 20 be-
lleve. worshiping him who compcs IL 10
believe. needs above all things. at this
critical time its Ian Naclarens. And the
hidden ones. I'm their plodding away shall
look into the faces OF their Margct Hoos
and Donald Ienzies and Domsies and
Drumsheuehs and learn 10 guess the an
swer there with n dumb signal or so.
with love like a secret locked In his Inns
our brother goes. perhaps. n silent stolid
captive walking 10 his grave. To have
freed one soul Ike this-to have LET the
furtive Scotsman's spirit out TO have
brought II into the great open OF book
where all the world can come and say
MY brotherr'-this Is literature-making
tho dumb 10 speak.
II Is a sad sayine-"Art for arts sake"
No one quite means n. lie who is artist
enough 10 say H. Will. It's masterful half
truth. shall be artist enough. we know. 70
forget II sometimes: 10 be lifted out Of
A. - ~