The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-01


celebrated Dr.. Samuel Johnson, of
! England, who was a conversationalist
| of great excellence in his day, and
many of whose talks have been
preserved to the readers of biography
in the immortal pages of Sir James
Boswell, was once asked by one of
his admirers how it was he was such
an extraordinarily master in CONVEX
sation. His reply was that when
young, before he left his native Litcn-
! neld for London, (Where he was tC
suffer so many priVatiOnS and have
such protracted struggle for liv-
| ing and for recognition, | may add
he one day said to himself "Wha,
shall I have to do oftenest?' The
answer came-to talk. Then he re-
solved that he would be guarded In
what he said, and strive to say it in
the very best way possible. AS most
people have to talk often. there is Z,
lesson in DIR. Johnson's great example
AS many must read often, it becomes
| them to cultivate asSiduously the gift
of reading well. And yet how few
really good readers there are. How
| few have clean, melodious, resonant
voices under complete control. How
| few understand intonation, enuncia-
| ton, purity of accent, correctness OIL
| pronunciation. How few does one
| hear read SO imperiously, so engag-
| ingly, so attractively that it is a de-
| light and becomes a precious remem-
| brance? In all my life I recall but
| few l have heard read-and l sup
pose l have heard a thousand-who
left upon me very decided impression
1 know who were the best readers to
whom / have listened with fascina-
ton The very best of all was the
great Universalist preacher in New
| York city about from 1S4S to 1855
DR.. Chaplin To hear him read his
hymns was a positive delight and eX-
cited rare admiration. He also
preached magnificently. The oiEel
greatest reader was the late Bisfor
Levi Silliman Ives, a New Yorker by
birth, think, but Bishop of the Epis
copal Diocese of North Caroliaa. i
is quite fifty years since L heard him
read that matchleSs service OF his
church, but it is a memory, forever II
was a supreme pleasure to hear him
for he was Incompatible 1t is i'm
possible for me to- convey by words
anything of right conception of the
mastery the rich organ-like tones
the marvellous flow of those melodi-
Gus sentenceS-eSpec of THE Lit
tany'-the majesty of the man in his
! canonicals, beyond comparison the
most imposing personality l ever saw
standing before any people, and the
general sweep and grandeur of his
sounding, rolling, charming words.
have heard nothing since in any pull
pit remotely comparable to the read
ing of Bishop Ives. He voluntarily
left his church and entered the Ro-
man Church to become a simple ID. d.
and a lecturer. He was always very
high church and exclusive before he
sought a home in the old historic
church of the ages. / have sermon
of his preached at the consecratlon
i of Bishop Johns of Virginia, that
may well had one to believe with such
views as he presented that he was al
ready steering his boat for the haven
of the Roman Church. That was
years, before he made his final de-
parture for Italy. Among lawyers anc
public men the late Hon. George T.
Badger was the best reader, the bes'
conVerSationaliSt, and best master OF
English I ever heard, excelling in the
last two particulars all other men II
whatsoever callings. When my ole
friend DIR. Charles f. Deems was III
his prime he was a capital reader
; and with the exception OF Prof. VIII
liam M. Green, of the University OF
North Carolina, afterwards Episcopa
Bishop of Mississippi, he was the moS'
accurate pronouncer of words. Bsh-
Cd Green was born in Wilmington, as
was also, / believe, Bishop Davis OF
South Carolina, brother of our late
highly venerated and eminent citizen
Hon. George Davis, Attorney Genera
in the able Jeff Davis Confederate
Cabinet Mr.. Davis was an exception
ally good reader himself. | might pos
. sibIy cite a few other good readers
but there were few that were impress
sively marked, as to superiority,
have heard many speakers who were
vigorous, impressive, even eloquent
and some of thrilling force ant
charm But I am referring to READ
ers OF all the Presbyterian, Baptls
and Methodist ministers / have heard
read | recall not one who struck mt
as a great success as reader. l have
| mentioned DR.. Deems.