The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-22
ON "STONEW JACKSON
Lecture at Turner Hall by George
X. Vending.
A PATRIOTIC THEME WELL HANDLED.
rho Most Polished Lecture Heard
I'm Houston This sc"son-ihe
\. VI. &. A. Star Course.

Last night, in the Young Mems Chris
tian association star course at Turner hall.
occurred the finest lecture, perhaps,
heard in Houston this season. the subject,
"Stoncwall Jackson and the speaker
George r. Vending, one who has been on
the lecture platform for over twenty years
with marked success. 10th in the manner
OF delivery and in the material of his dis
courses.
Mr.. Vending is man of priost-like as
pect with clean shayen face. strongly
marked by lines Of character and indlvld-
uality, and with a voice which changes
from the power Of eloquence &c the trite
tones of sarcasm and lightness of humor
Mr.. Vending is a citizen OF Washington
City, Vrglnlan by association but an
Illinois man by birth and education, and
1t is interesting at this time to note that
he was the youngest member. while the
father of William Jennings bryan was the
Oldest member of the body which framed
the present constitution OF Illinois in 1879.
MIR. Vending began his lecture by dwell
ing upon the characteristics of great
man, saying that one never was an accl-
dent. He then traced, rapidly but viVidly,
the beginnings OF the war. from the call
for troops by Abraham Lincoln on April
10. 1851 to the time when Jackson. then a
professor of natural philosophy and mill
tary tactics in the State Military academy
Of Virginia follows the lead Of his STATE.
leaves his home and is given command OF
four troops as colonel.
\ startling description of the hero to b.
followed. He was about five feet ten
inches in height. angular, extremely awk-
ward and given to strange and silent
moods. Notwithstanding his unprepos-
sossing appearance in very short Time he
had Unprecedented power over his men,
for word had been passed from camp to
camp that he had been fearless fighter In
tho Mexican war and that he was a God
fearing man.
Events thckened aSd rapidly he rose by
exhibiting marks OF ftS- -cssness. When he
had received his permanent commission
and was promoted to the office OF brga-
der general. he wrote to his wife: II now
have all that | ought to have in the way OF
promotion.
Scarcely ever has such strange com
bination Of humble picty and vaulling am
bition been shown in one mans nature.
The speaker then told in such a thrilling
manner that his audience was breathless
OF the battle at Manassas. where the Gay waa
almost lost to the Confederate side, and
word had already been sent to the North
that a glorious victory for them was AT
hand when. in an agony Of despair. Jack
son pushed to the front and the men fol-
lowed him because he stood alone on the
field. like stone wall From that time
Tho indomtable man was given new
name
Mr. Vending then made some very in
torestng remarks upon the subject of
slavery and tho late war He said that
the differences OF the North aud South
originated far below the tariff question. or
the States right question or African sav
cry. 1t was the fact that the Puritan elc-
mcnt, which settled in New England. aud
tho cavalier element which settled Vir
ginia and laid the basis Of Southern So
ciotY. were autarunistic in nature and
never could and never Will agree
Just as long as one Yankee believed that
he was better. Intellectually aud morally.
than five Southorncrs, and just ms long as
ono Southorner believed that he was
better gentleman than five Yankees there
was bound to be Il cinflct, darly or no
darby.
Tho description Of tho maneuvers Of the
war then was resumed by the speaker,
Stcnowall Jackson with 5000 men was
without cXaggeration. controlling 100000
Union men and parayzing the movements
OF McClclland as we'll. Several minor in
stances illustrated the marvellous coolncss
and courage of Jackson upon the field Of
battle when confronted by appalling disas-
ter and approaching defeat.
The description Of the exciting defeat OF
Banks by jackson through the latter's far
sighted generalship and almost superhuman
courage and the brilliant campaign which
followed were given In less than ninety
days with $4,000 men, he with his sagac-
iouS boldness. whips four separate armies
scatters Banks. Shields and Freemont and
then writes that he is ready to march on
to Richmond. His success lies, AS well i,
one can define marks OF genius in war. In
rapidly moving masses of men to the point
OF attack.
The wonderful and awful second battle
on the plains of Manassas followed when
Stoncwall Jackson. after one OF the most
marvellous marches in the history OF war.
driven to the point OF defeat in his manau-
Vers. fought like a wild animal at bay on
ragged the battle, Jackson straining his
eyes upon the horizon for aid until an
pcared Robert Il. Lee himself
Tho baltic of charlottesville followed.
with its fine exhibition OF gcneralship and
its heights Of valor. Sixty days after the
great general was fired upon by his own
troops who mistook him for an enemy.
Thus fell this hero. this God fearing man.
this marvel OF Southern gcncralship and
valCr.
Events soon shaped themselves and Ap-
pomattoX followed.
The lecture ended happily. with rise
Of eloQuence aud thrilling climax
Mr.. Weddings delivery is striking and
distinct and every hearer seemed thrilled
with a new sense NJ admiration for this
great hero Of the With. the subject of the
lecture, Stonewall Jackson.
Victoria Bricfs.
Victoria, Texas January 2l--Couluct- r