The gold leaf., 1898-04-28
COL. 1OWBRAY'S LECTURE.
Tore Extended Notice of His Splendid
Address Here Last Week.

AOOEcSS 11cTC Last week
Owing to the short time in which
we had to write and the limited
space at our command, it was i'm
possible to refer to the really admira-
BILE address of Col. j. E. Mowbrav, of
Philadelphia. at the Methodist Epis-
copal church Wednesday night of
last week. as it deserved. And we
have felt it was but due the distin-
guished speaker and the cause in
which he is devoting at least a por-
ton of his time and talents to notice
1t more at length.
Col. Mowbray is native of Mary
land and a vetran of the Confederate
army. He is a gentleman by birth,
training and environment, and in re-
citing his life-story he does it not as
one lost to shame at his own degrada-
ton. But as one who love shis fellow
man, by the powerful example of his
own bitter experience be would save
or reclaim him from the terrible
thralldom of strong drink.
Col. Mowbray has story to tell
one of intense and thrilling interest
and he tells it we'll. While listening
to his graphic portrayals of the
drunkard's life, his words of SYM
Pathy, Of hope, of encouragement,
his splendid descriptions of places
and things as personally observed in
all parts of the world, one is charmed
and enchanted as if under the spell
OF some strange and exhilarating in
tluence.
His subject as announced last week
was: '.Shackles Stricken from Human
Limbs, and Fangs Extracted from
Human Souls,' which he treated in
a mastery manner. charming and
edifying and entertaining his audi
ence as only one of rare erudition,
polished mind, and gifted speech
can.
Col. Mowbray has a pleasing per-
sonality, and the moment his faces
his audience they are brought in full
sympathy with him. Before he has
spoken dozen words they instructive
ly feel that real treat is in store for
them. He is magnetic speaker, in
tellectually and oratorically a peer "a
mong platform lecturers. His language
is superb-even poetic. His delivery
is excellent, his illustrations vivid,
his descriptive powers marvellous.
There is charm and fragrance and
freshness about the address quite un-
like the average temperance lecture.
One must hear him to fully appreci-
ate him. and the GOLD LEAF regrets
that the coming among us of such a
splendidly furnished speaker, whose
every word and phrase and gesture
bespeak culture and refinement, was
not more generally known. He de-
served larger audience and it was
due our people that they should have
had an opportunity to hear him.
The speaker said he was not con-
nected with any kind of institution
for the cure of inebriates. He was
not in the employ of any such institu-
tion nor had he any financial interest
in one. But he spoke as one quail
fed to speak and he had good word
to say for DR.. Kelley and his discov-
cry (without calling any names).
He was simply a part of the Amer
lean Temperance League of 10000
people, all of whom had been drunk
ards, or the 10000 women of it's mem
bership who had been the mothers
sisters, wives or daughters of drunk
ards, and the Kelley treatment is t(
alcohol and opium what vaccination
is to smallpox.
He believed the Divine Being haC
never created poison for which HI
did not plant by it's side an antidot'
that yielded it's secret power to some
Investigating, searching mind as thi
cure for the alcohol habit (or disease)
did to DR.. Kelley.
ten. There is a uniqueness, fresh
ness, an inspiration about it, the
aroma and delightful flavor of which
will long abide as pleasant memory
with those whose good fortune it wal
to hear the gifted and richly endowed
lecturer.
From the Concord Standard we take
the following tribute to Col. Now
bray's talent and ability as an edify
ing and entertaining speaker and th'
laudable work he is so nobly engaged
in:
Fancy, if you will, an intellect towering
high above modiocrity, equipped with al
erudition limited only by the wholerealn
of fliterature; with a vocabulary spanning
the English language; with a fiuency o
language yielding at the instant com
mand of the master; with the finish OF ex
tensive travel; with power to picture, t.
a spell-bound audience, every scene tha
a metaphoric intuition can subserve tt
impress truth; with a nervous system
strung with chords like to the finest in
strument; with natural language tha
| would be eloquence without even word
with q soul all burning with eagerness t
tell the fallen that there is a balm ye
! for every wound, a star of hope for thOs
| in the gloom of darkness, freedom 70
| those bound by the efetters OF an insidiou
! habit; with zeal proportionate to tn
| highest sense of the value of the soul {
man: with the pathos of one just rescue
from thralldom, the worst possible t.
exist this side of the regions of eterns
| punishment; we say, fancy this com bins
tion all focused in one man and yO
| have some idea of Col. MOwbray's sui
lime oratory.
There were facts and figures, there wer
| graphic delineations, there were portray
| ais of wondrous combinations in arr
and ethics that the speaker interwove t
catch and hold his audience with tel
sion ofnerves whosechords would vibrat
in unison with his own, all the while dir
pensing the sweetest rhythms OF orator
| ical music to the aesthetic ear.